I've been on two track days recently and looked at the photos that have been taken. I've noticed that they seem to be shot between a 20-30 degree angle compared to the horizon and also the car itself to make it look like it's going up and to the right. Is this a style thing or does this make the photos look better? I have an inclination to rotate them so that the car is more like 5-10 degrees rather than 20-30 degrees!
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Track Day photography shot on a slant?
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DG Phototraining
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Whether it looks better or not is in the eye of the viewer, so if you prefer yours at 5-10 stick with that
The tilt is generally considered to make the (boring to many) subject look more interesting
Dave
The tilt is generally considered to make the (boring to many) subject look more interesting
Dave
Thanks for the insight. Is the general 'rule of thumb' 20-30 degrees or does this happen to be the photographer's style?
I'm not the biggest fan of reediting other people's shots, because I assume they are better than me at their trade.
I was also wondering whether it just happened to be the easiest way to follow the motion of the cars
Genuinely just curious here!
I'm not the biggest fan of reediting other people's shots, because I assume they are better than me at their trade.
I was also wondering whether it just happened to be the easiest way to follow the motion of the cars
Genuinely just curious here!
DG Phototraining
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I think the significantly jaunty angle is a fashion / style thing, certainly many do it but quite how far is really to taste
Motor races are clearly exciting to watch, but a single frame capturing a car apparently perfectly still just looks like it was parked, so the angle adds a hint of interest
There's no 'rule' of how jaunty is best that I'm aware of
Dave
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@ukaskew conveniently just posted some great track day shots with a variety of jaunty angles, and some level 
He's used a slowish shutter speed and panning to get these more interesting photos showing movement through blur
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Dave
He's used a slowish shutter speed and panning to get these more interesting photos showing movement through blur
CSCC Castle Combe - October 2020
After the disappointment of the Castle Combe Autumn Classic being cancelled due to a flooded circuit, it was looking like I was going to go the whole of 2020 without a motorsport event. Thankfully CSCC organised a very late season race day at Combe, but they were again threatened with heavy rain...
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@ukaskew conveniently just posted some great track day shots with a variety of jaunty angles, and some level
Thanks
If I was shooting F1 with full stands or FIAWEC with colourful backgrounds etc I'd probably have a higher percentage of level shots, but a UK club circuit on a wet October day? Anything to make them a little more dynamic!
There are also sometimes entirely practical reasons (more so if shooting from behind the fence as I do, so limited options), For example I frame a lot of my shots at Quarry Corner at Castle Combe at an angle so I can still give cars a bit of room to breath in the frame whilst also cutting out the not entirely photogenic area where there is a burger bar and ambulance parked up.
I think typically official track day photographers use higher shutter speeds to make sure they have plenty of keepers to sell, so they've already lost the dynamic nature of slow shutter speeds from the equation.
