March To The Sound Of The Canon

You might wonder how much noise a Canon can make - in the world of motor sport, a very big noise indeed. We found out yesterday when we attended the Camera Electronic Canon workshop at Barbagallo raceway in Wanneroo.

The track is well-provided for the actual racers - we were there on a Motorcycle Club practice and tuning day. There is a function room at the start of the main straight with trackside seating - McCracken House - and we use it for a lecture theater and lunch venue.

Mark Horsburgh lectured us last year on basic race car photography but this year he added new discoveries in lighting with the Canon 600 speedlights. His work has a really new and sparkling look with these portable lights and it takes on very much of the studio illustration aspect even when taken out in the field. The ability to control three groups of flashes with radio transmissions rather than infrared is the thing...you can send the signal even in bright sunlight or around corners. My camera system uses the IR system and I am so jealous of Canon users...

Of course each year from Canon brings new lenses and bodies. The Canon reps bring some along and the troops get to fire them off out on the track. Mark mentioned trying something new each year himself - even to using tilt/shift and fisheye lenses in his work. Most of the motorcycle shots were taken using different types of telephotos but I did get some good views using a wide angle.

On the subject of the business of motorsport photography, Mark was quite candid about the time pressures and stress that are put on the shooters by the event organisers and the editors of various publications. It would appear to be a fertile field for experimentation but don't expect to eat regular...

Anyway, I took some views of the activities, including a very lovely model and an almost equally lovely set of photographers wearing fluoro vests. It was a great day and the results that the photographers got from the Canon lenses means that a number of them will be coming to talk to us over the shop counter.