silverstone - any tips or guides?

[surrealillusions]

Would like to know what everyones opinions are of silverstone from a photo point of view are. Namely from spectator side. As im expecting 5 mile high fences and to be about 20 miles away from the track because of bernie's demands on tracks that f1 cars should be as far away from the spectactors as possible...

I'm looking to go to the f3/gt there in august and the le mans series in september.

So just wondering if its actually worthwhile going there to take photos and to view the action.

:)

[Mike Hoyer]

It's not great from either side of the fence, fairly dull. But OK for watching a race, and the odd shot.

[Darryn]

Okey dokey... Get your a Silverstone circuit layout and see if any of these help you...
All shot between 70-420mm...

View from outside of Copse, nice low barrier (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G7136.jpg)
Similar standpoint with the pitlane exit behind (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G7191.jpg)


Maggots and Becketts is a write off imo, way too far away from the circuit for anything useful.

Heavy Braking into Club (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G8322.jpg)
Nice and Slow thru Club (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G8463.jpg)
Club Exit (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G7700.jpg)

Straight between Club and Abbey, nice low fence at the Club end of the straight (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G8706.jpg)

Fairly high vantage point from Farm Enclosure grandstand (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G8776.jpg)

View as cars disappear under Bridge (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G8908.jpg)

Exiting the Bridge up towards Priory (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G8942.jpg)

View from Priory Infield (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G9129.jpg)

View from Bridge enclosure looking over at Luffield complex (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G9032.jpg)

Shot from the BRDC grandstand within the Luffield complex (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/KX7G9496.jpg)

Shot off the back of the BRDC grandstand onto the Pit/Paddock enclosure (http://darrynreeder.com/images/FIAGT2008/LL8C7410.jpg)

[desantnik]

Did F1 testing day thing last year and it was none too impressive, 300F4 with a 1.4x TC wasn't long enough really, and that was shooting through the fence which apparently not every time are you even allowed that close to it.

Watch the racing, forget about the camera...

[Wail]

If you want to get some really great F1 shots, go to Monte Carlo ... you can be within a couple of meters away from the cars and stand right up against the fence which would let you get some spooky close shots.

[TomWilko]

Yes it's not great for taking photo's generally, but I think Darryn has covered the usual locations well!

[andrewc]

When I go to Silverstone its normally for a club meeting on the National or International Club circuits rather than the full GP circuit. Crowds depending Luffield is normally a safe bet, if you have reach you can stand at the back of the terracing and shoot over the fence. There is a viewing area on the infield just after Bridge corner which is sometimes worth looking from.

If you have a long lens, you can get into the top tier of the grandstands for a view of the pits.

For the F3/GT weekend I would imagine it would be quite busy.

[mrgubby]

You can get quite close if it's the International circuit but other than that it's a bit of a compromise :shrug:

full frame @ 300mm example :-

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brian.pitblado/FIA/silv.jpg

[surrealillusions]

never got round to saying thanks to Darryn for the tips and hints.

better (very) late than never

;)

I presume those were shot spectator side? What kinda zoom have you got on your camera to get those sorta shots?

:)

[Darryn]

np Surrealillusions, they were all taken at the FIA GT event this year.

I had a normal spectator ticket so yes, no special track access, at these non F1 events only some grandstands are open, but the ones that are open are free access (Except for the BRDC stand which i kinda blagged free access too) should be an extra £5/day iirc.

I was using my 70-200f2.8IS and 300f2.8IS both on 1dmkII bodies which give a 1.3x sensor crop, i also used my 1.4xTCII quite a bit so, so a lot are taken at 420mm(+sensor crop).

[surrealillusions]

I was using my 70-200f2.8IS and 300f2.8IS both on 1dmkII bodies which give a 1.3x sensor crop, i also used my 1.4xTCII quite a bit so, so a lot are taken at 420mm(+sensor crop).

uhh..which is what in english? :suspect: :p

I have 12x optical zoom on my camera, its just a compact(ish) camera..is that going to be good enough?

thanks

:)