I am no motor sports expert. But I’ve been assigned to shoot at Miller Motorsports Park for the last few times Superbikes have run on the track. (this is the “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV” moment).

I’ve been getting enough questions about what focal lengths are needed, and where are the good spots, that I felt a post like this might be useful.

You may experience increased levels of exhilaration, or gradual levels of frustration. Some have shown that photographers can develop “hot-dog fingers” or “hairy eyeball.”

The choices are yours.

Also, doctors disagree about the idea that these are the ONLY good angles at the track. Your doctor may give you other ideas – and in fact – surveys have shown that there are perhaps an infinite amount of cool spots to shoot from. Like anything in photography – errr, medicine – the more experience you have, the more of your own favorites you will discover.

This post is only designed to get you started. I’m sure it will be like one of those notes where someone attempts to thank all the people responsible for a given success – someone deserving is always unintentionally left off the list.

If I discover other cool spots, I’ll try to add them later.

You can get a nicer version of the map below here:

The numbered arrows correspond to the photo shot from that spot. With the photo is a description of the lens used, and other options from that area.

1) THE ATTITUDES - This is a really nice spot, but one that I fear I may be over-using. It’s a combination if a left, a right, and a left hand exit turn that also drops in elevation, so it’s a great place to stack up a few bikes (or cars) as they bunch up to take the s-turns. As with any of these, they are always better early in the race when bikes are closer. Later in the race they’ll get spaced out and you’ll have to look for individual battles where bikes are closer to each other.

Both of these were made with a 400mm from the area just inside the metal barriers where credentialed media can go. If you are shooting from a more distant spectator area, you’ll need at least a 600mm, or be ready to be happy with a looser frame that can still be nice given the mountains in the background.

Also – after the turns is a nice straightaway where you can make a good slow shutter pan:

2 – FIRST ATTITUDE - This (below) was shot from just before the Attitudes turns, as the bikes prepare to bank for that first left-hander. It’s also at least a 400mm with a crop:

3 – RIGHT HOOK – This is a good spot for shorter lenses. The bikes take a pretty sharp right turn here, and make a nice sweeping turn where they bank toward the camera. If the light is right, and their visors are not too dark or reflective, you can get a look at their faces. The uncredentialed spots are not too far from where you end up with a photo pass, so it’s a nice place for spectators with a 70-200 or 300mm.

4 – BLACK ROCK HAIRPIN - This is spot I need to check out from the front (the frame below is from the other side). I’m betting it would be a good spot for a spectator with some serious glass. A 600mm with a coverter from atop one of the motorhomes there (you can see them in the background) would be sweet as the bikes make that tight left-hander.

5 – SUNSET BEND – This is another long throw with a 400mm that is quite loose, but allows you to include a background with packed grandstands:

So, … like I’ve said – I’m no expert out here. But I’m hoping this may help some of you. Don’t call me about the side-effects.

News Photograph
Feature Photograph
Sports Photograph
Screenshot
Personal Vision
Photographer in Action
Photographer Portrait
Weird
Portrait
Food
Awesome!

I think I met Trent’s long lost older brother during a story on a remote island this past week.

Am I crazy? Is it the shades? Or the shirt? Thoughts?

Not sure who has the better camera …

Skyler Milne celebrates his third goal against Bingham high school, 5A soccer playoffs

I was West of Jimmy and Kim up in the mountains outside of Cedar City.  More pics of the eclipse here.

Props to Kim Raff and the Trib staff. Very clean, eye catching design. Nice!

Thought this was a fun shot of Kim working in the hot, dry sun.

Jimmy going all Skrillex on his photo… Droppin’ it!
(sorry no more lame jokes, for the remainder of this post)

Our base camp and shelter from the very thing we were photographing for about 8? hours.

Sure, it’s staged. But it makes me smile. Even Rascal had fun (we think). The goggles off to the right worked the best to actually see the eclipse.

Eclipse of the sun as viewed from Farmington, Utah on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Used the cheapo plastic glasses for viewing a solar eclipse that my wife brought home in front of the lens. Doesn’t make for a really sharp photo, but the camera seems fine.

Shot at about 3:30 today.