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Lesmo, Ascari, Parabolica. The Italian Grand Prix features some of the most famous corners in F1 - combine that with variable weather conditions, and you've got yourself a spectacular photo gallery.
Below, Darren Heath explains how shooting racing cars in a rainy Monza can make for some punchy results.
"Observant photographers should be constantly aware of the creative tools all around them and as Formula 1 cars don’t always need to be shot as large-in-the-frame subjects, it pays to be mindful of one’s surrounding environment. Give your compositions a sense of place by shooting looser than you may have initially thought. Here a very wide angle lens coupled with a slow shutter speed and a smooth pan has rendered Stoffel’s MCL33 as a colourful focal point under a canopy of swirling trees."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 11-24mm, 1/6 sec @ f/22, ISO 50
"Observant photographers should be constantly aware of the creative tools all around them and as Formula 1 cars don’t always need to be shot as large-in-the-frame subjects, it pays to be mindful of one’s surrounding environment. Give your compositions a sense of place by shooting looser than you may have initially thought. Here a very wide angle lens coupled with a slow shutter speed and a smooth pan has rendered Stoffel’s MCL33 as a colourful focal point under a canopy of swirling trees."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 11-24mm, 1/6 sec @ f/22, ISO 50
"The 2018 F1 car cockpit area is a complicated place. Aerodynamic strakes, wings and fences, TV screens, fans, cables and of course the halo all contribute to a challenging visual melee. From certain angles one can really make this cocktail of shapes and colours work compositionally well, but you’ll almost always need a driver’s eyes to make the picture pop. Once you’ve settled upon your shot’s framing patience is required. Wait for it, wait for it…. Shoot! A successfully constructed capture is in the can."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 135mm, 1/160 sec @ f/2.0, ISO 250
"The 2018 F1 car cockpit area is a complicated place. Aerodynamic strakes, wings and fences, TV screens, fans, cables and of course the halo all contribute to a challenging visual melee. From certain angles one can really make this cocktail of shapes and colours work compositionally well, but you’ll almost always need a driver’s eyes to make the picture pop. Once you’ve settled upon your shot’s framing patience is required. Wait for it, wait for it…. Shoot! A successfully constructed capture is in the can."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 135mm, 1/160 sec @ f/2.0, ISO 250
"Shooting racing cars in the rain isn’t the most enjoyable of jobs but boy it can make for great pictures. There’s nothing like a speed enhancing 'rooster tail' of spray to give one’s photos some punch. Of course the slower the shutter speed used the better as that wake of water will only look more impressive the longer the exposure takes. As with dry weather condition pictures, concentrate on being smooth with both the camera/lens movement and squeezing of the trigger. Oh and keeping your kit dry is always advisable too!"
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 50mm, 1/8 sec @ f/16, ISO 50
"Shooting racing cars in the rain isn’t the most enjoyable of jobs but boy it can make for great pictures. There’s nothing like a speed enhancing 'rooster tail' of spray to give one’s photos some punch. Of course the slower the shutter speed used the better as that wake of water will only look more impressive the longer the exposure takes. As with dry weather condition pictures, concentrate on being smooth with both the camera/lens movement and squeezing of the trigger. Oh and keeping your kit dry is always advisable too!"
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 50mm, 1/8 sec @ f/16, ISO 50
"All of the notes from the picture above are relevant here too, I’ve simply carried on panning as Stoffel raced past my position and photographed his MCL33 as he sped away from my lofty perch. The McLaren team’s orange pit wall gantry roof providing a perfect visual compliment to the car. At any given location there are always a plethora of picture taking opportunities, so be prepared to really ‘work’ the section of track you’re at. It’s a waste if you don’t..."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 135mm, 1/8 sec @ f/16, ISO 50
"All of the notes from the picture above are relevant here too, I’ve simply carried on panning as Stoffel raced past my position and photographed his MCL33 as he sped away from my lofty perch. The McLaren team’s orange pit wall gantry roof providing a perfect visual compliment to the car. At any given location there are always a plethora of picture taking opportunities, so be prepared to really ‘work’ the section of track you’re at. It’s a waste if you don’t..."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 135mm, 1/8 sec @ f/16, ISO 50
"Lando looks pensive during a break from driving in Friday morning’s FP1 session. Shooting one’s subject through objects positioned between you and your prey engenders depth, intrigue and drama to pictures and as a result is a technique I’m particularly keen on. By crouching down behind his car - and almost out of Lando’s sight - the green highlights provided by the tiny bulbs positioned atop the MCL33’s air box entrance and are rendered as a much larger shapes by using a wide open aperture and a medium telephoto lens."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 135mm, 1/400 sec @ f/2.2, ISO 250
"Lando looks pensive during a break from driving in Friday morning’s FP1 session. Shooting one’s subject through objects positioned between you and your prey engenders depth, intrigue and drama to pictures and as a result is a technique I’m particularly keen on. By crouching down behind his car - and almost out of Lando’s sight - the green highlights provided by the tiny bulbs positioned atop the MCL33’s air box entrance and are rendered as a much larger shapes by using a wide open aperture and a medium telephoto lens."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 135mm, 1/400 sec @ f/2.2, ISO 250
"During a predominately and disappointingly dull weather Italian Grand Prix weekend, the sun briefly appeared during the middle third of Sunday’s race. By shooting into the diffused-by-thin-clouds sun light at Turn 2, I’ve captured a little sparkle courtesy of the shape of Stoffel’s car's nose section. By being sensitive to the slightest change in the prevailing light one can maximise the sometimes brief opportunities on offer."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 600mm, 1/3200 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200
"During a predominately and disappointingly dull weather Italian Grand Prix weekend, the sun briefly appeared during the middle third of Sunday’s race. By shooting into the diffused-by-thin-clouds sun light at Turn 2, I’ve captured a little sparkle courtesy of the shape of Stoffel’s car's nose section. By being sensitive to the slightest change in the prevailing light one can maximise the sometimes brief opportunities on offer."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 600mm, 1/3200 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 200
"Monza as a race track is all about speed, so obviously I always go to that special venue with a plan to show maximum velocity. In this frame Fernando's approaching the first of the Lesmo corners. On a sunny day, gorgeous highlights and dark shadows would dominate my imagery but as that wasn’t the case this year I searched out alternative creative inspiration. Some well positioned emergency vehicles and a few orange suited track marshals worked just fine!"
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 11-24mm, 1/6 sec @ f/22, ISO 50
"Monza as a race track is all about speed, so obviously I always go to that special venue with a plan to show maximum velocity. In this frame Fernando's approaching the first of the Lesmo corners. On a sunny day, gorgeous highlights and dark shadows would dominate my imagery but as that wasn’t the case this year I searched out alternative creative inspiration. Some well positioned emergency vehicles and a few orange suited track marshals worked just fine!"
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 11-24mm, 1/6 sec @ f/22, ISO 50
"Due to the obsessive secrecy surrounding the technological arms race that is Formula 1, this type of picture is increasingly rare. Just occasionally one can shoot pictures of a mechanic fettling his/her car and not reveal a sensitive part’s details. Bathed in the light of a setting sun, Liam is reassembling Fernando’s front left brake assembly ready for the next day’s running. I adore the detail of F1 cars and the excessive attention that goes in to every aspect of these wonderful machines, so always enjoy photographing photos such as this."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 135mm, 1/3200 sec @ f/2.0, ISO 200
"Due to the obsessive secrecy surrounding the technological arms race that is Formula 1, this type of picture is increasingly rare. Just occasionally one can shoot pictures of a mechanic fettling his/her car and not reveal a sensitive part’s details. Bathed in the light of a setting sun, Liam is reassembling Fernando’s front left brake assembly ready for the next day’s running. I adore the detail of F1 cars and the excessive attention that goes in to every aspect of these wonderful machines, so always enjoy photographing photos such as this."
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X, Lens, 135mm, 1/3200 sec @ f/2.0, ISO 200