What is the fascination with angling motor sport photo's ?

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Is it just me? but I just don't see why people think they have to angle so many of there car shots. I am not saying it doesn't work sometimes, but for most I just don't understand it.
 
Maybe because the actual cars have trouble going up or down hill due to lack of power :rolleyes:
 
I think to some extent, it may be to accentuate the feeling of a car on the limit. A touch of suspension compression would naturally give an angle to a shot, but maybe to show this more, or even to give the impression of speed or 'effort' a tilt can perhaps make the viewer that this is happening.
Some of it may be also to try and use the angle as a compositional aid. A shot, like the anglia below doesn't really obey the rule of thirds, but by putting a slant on it, the car would be aiming more at the diagonal line and at least hinting to the rule of thirds points more.

I'm guilty of using it, but more so, when there is not a lot else to tie a shot together in terms of composition.
Also, a straight side on pan can be pretty standard and boring if taken dead square on, and central in the frame. Putting a slant on it can make it look a bit more dynamic and add interest to an otherwise standard, unremarkable shot.
I'm not saying that it should be done, however, I think that there is a time and place for it.
 
Haha personal preference :) lol at least the Motorsport folk tend to avoid the cliche Instagram filters, so it could be "worse" ;)

I agree with Matty about the compositional effect too, you often end up with an oblong subject which doesn't fit well in a 3:2 ratio frame. Angles tend to add dynamics to a shot and Motorsport lends itself to the effect well in a lot of people's opinion. It's a bit like asking why people still shoot portraiture in B+W, simply because they prefer the look and style of it... You can add all sorts of art theory to it if you like but in the end it's just a matter of taste ;)
 
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I think the Subaru shot works better, but agree it is just one of those 'effects' that often adds to motor sport photos.
Not something I have done a huge amount of - mainly Prescott Hillclimb - but I have found I use the affect too, almost subconsciously.

Awesome - tell more about the Anglia!
 
You mean they aren't just on the side of a steep hill?
 
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I find the whole angle thing really tedious. It's been done to death. Other than great lighting, a really good action shot or a good background then most images look very similar. I think it's quite hard to get a really good image with that 'wow' factor.
 
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Have to say I'm pretty guilty of it.

I think it's to add an element of drama to the shot. Especially with track racing it can be hard to get a sense of excitement (it is basically cars just driving in circles). In rallying, or drifting, there's plenty of smoke or dirt flying around to add a bit of drama. I think in these situations, you don't need "the tilt".
 
I'm guilty of it too. I think it can make the shot be different and stand out, especially if there's other photographers near you taking the same shot.
 
In my humble opinion its to add a bit a variation and sense of speed,because lets be fair that in most car motorsport there isn't a lot of difference in the way cars look if they are going 100 m.p.h. round a corner or stood still. Unless you can get stuff leaping over a track-side curb they aren't going to look very exciting.Rallying is an obvious exception to this with sideways MK2 Escorts,flying stones,water-splashes etc. Back in the good old days of touring cars using Sierra Cosworths and M3 BMW's you would get some "tail out" action but with front wheel drive then that's more or less gone. Now motorbike action is a whole different ball game.:D
 
Rob, have you been to a Rally recently? Only a very small percentage of cars are actually FWD these days.

As for tilting shots, it can work occasionally; but doing it for the sake of it ruins most shots for me. And it gives me a sore neck.
 
Fly_Half said:
Rob, have you been to a Rally recently? Only a very small percentage of cars are actually FWD these days.
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I haven't actually and I must rectify that,but you must have misunderstood what I said. I was trying to say that rallying bucks the trend of FWD cars,with a lot more RWD and 4WD and a lot more action too.
I used to go to the R.A.C. rally when it travelled the UK and wasn't the Wales only event it is now,and did some marshalling at Clumber Park stage. The popping and banging of group A supercars coming through a forest at 7am on a November morning will stay with me forever.
 
Big Rob said:
I haven't actually and I must rectify that,but you must have misunderstood what I said. I was trying to say that rallying bucks the trend of FWD cars,with a lot more RWD and 4WD and a lot more action too.
I used to go to the R.A.C. rally when it travelled the UK and wasn't the Wales only event it is now,and did some marshalling at Clumber Park stage. The popping and banging of group A supercars coming through a forest at 7am on a November morning will stay with me forever.
Click to expand...

Yep, just re-read your post and I misinterpreted your sentence! ;)
 
Blank_Canvas said:
I find the whole angle thing really tedious. It's been done to death. Other than great lighting, a really good action shot or a good background then most images look very similar. I think it's quite hard to get a really good image with that 'wow' factor.
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:agree:

Sometimes it's the only way to get the whole car in on a corner on a tight crop, but mostly it's been done to death and generally is boring. Sorry but none of the angled shots on here work, IMHO.

Love Matty's shot of the Anglia in the bottom corner
 
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