Castle Coombe Rally Course - Pics!

[Mirez]

As some will know I'm quite into my photography, thought I'd share this set I took recently with you from the Castle Coombe Rally Course. Feel free to comment good or bad, its always nice to hear opinions!

-M


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[insanitybeard]

Ha, a fellow photographer! Having said that, my pictures tend to be more of landscapes and children! As for action shots, vintage steam locomotives and trains are more my thang. They look good though, a sharp subject with a slightly out of focus background helping to isolate the subject. Were you close to the track to capture these? What sort of kit are you using?

[Mirez]

Ahh, well I normally do weddings and static cars - moving stuffs certainly harder lol. Close-ish to the track but looking over a hedge (just what you want!).

I'm waiting on my 6D to be delivered so the camera was a Canon 600D with a 70-200 f4 IS lens - all shot HH as I couldn't get a pod to clear the hedge and all at F4. Tempted to get the F2.8 but its soo expensive, even with the discount!

What about yourself?

[insanitybeard]

Another Canon man! I'm running a 7D at the moment, likewise I want to go full frame but just can't justify the outlay at the present- I'd love a 5DIII but it's a lot of dosh for a hobby.... The 6D may be the way forward. Plus most of my spare cash is going on putting this damn Galaxy back into half decent shape at the moment!    As for lenses, yep, I know what you mean, I've got the 70-200 f4 IS and it's fantastic, that was expensive enough though let alone the 2.8 version which is twice the price.... And then you've got the big white tele's that you see all the pros using at sports events, just one of those things costs more than all my current kit combined! 

[Mirez]

Ahh - well I work for Canon so its sort of compulsory lol - also I get a nice discount on most of the stuff and I can borrow those teles I did contemplate the 5d Mk3 but unless you need the ultra fast focusing of the 5, the 6 is arguably the better camera. That said, coming from a 7D you might notice more of a difference as I believe the 7 has a similar AF to the 5. I keep hearing rumours (online not internal!) about a 7D Mk2 that's supposedly coming very soon - if I don't get on (can't imagine I wont) with the 6D then I might plump for one of them. At least all my EF-S lenses would fit then!

This was from the last time I went to HQ, that's a 12K lens this end 

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[gregers]

thats a big 1 youve got there mark. , by the way.

[insanitybeard]

Heh, the 12k lens must have been the 600 f4 IS mkII version I presume? And you work for Canon.... well I'll be! What's your role? Has that always been your employment with cars just a hobby or did you decide to break free from the automotive industry?! Don't suppose you can get me any Canon stuff at a discount can you?! 

[Mirez]

TBH it a was last year so I cant 100 recall but it was a 600 so quite possibly!

I'm a systems engineer now, used to be a mechanical engineer and before that worked for Ford as an electrical consultant. That was freelance so never really in the industry as such, I still do the odd electrical job for a couple of local garages which is great.

I can sort you out with some discount Have you got something in mind?

[insanitybeard]

  I wasn't being entirely serious Mark, though if you are able to get discount that would be much appreciated! In truth though, it isn't going to be at least for another 12 months that I can look at splashing out on new kit, the lenses I'd like to add are a couple of the new IS primes- the 24 2.8 and/ or 35 f2, and I see Canon have just announced a new 16-35 f4 IS, now that's definitely on my list, though I want to see just how good that is optically in a couple of reviews before I pull the trigger!

Here's a couple of my own efforts, like I say, I'm more a landscape photographer, the only action shot there is of the Red Arrows, which is cropped a bit.

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[Mirez]

Ahh is that Dartmoor? A Truly fantastic place to take photo's - just wish I was a little closer and I'd be out walking & shooting most days - truly loving the cow and rainbow shot, that's really quite special (not that the others aren't all good!). So what lens are you using for most of those?  The clarity is quite a bit better then my lowly 600D (or quite possibly me) have ever gotten! Much post editing?

No problem on the discount, I doubt I should post up the prices publicly so I've popped you an email with the current price list, some have big discounts - others hardly any and it chops and changes monthly. If its not on the list it can be requested

[insanitybeard]

Thanks very much for that Mark, suddenly a whole load of lenses became much more appealing! I need to calm down! 

Yes, most of the landscape shots are on Dartmoor, a place I don't have much time to visit thesedays with small family unfortunately. The rainbow shot is one of my best, it was captured simply by being in the right place at the right time, as good pictures so often are. Fortuitously the cow just happened to be there to complete it. That picture was made possible by the excellent EF-S 10-22, which was able to capture the full arc of the rainbow, as were a number of the landscapes. The butterfly was thanks to the EF-S 60 macro and the moon and red arrows the 70-200 f4 IS. My other lens is the 17-40 f4 which sits on the camera as a walkaround lens most of the time.

Most of those shots are just out of camera jpegs with the exception of the rainbow shot which had a little adjustment of contrast and colour balance from the raw file, coupled with a little sharpening. To be honest, I just don't have time (and peace and quiet!) at the mo to get too heavily involved processing raw files, nor a powerful enough PC!

So is the imaging side of things a fair proportion of your job or is it more to do with the office equipment side such as printers, scanners, copiers etc?

[Mirez]

Np, let me know when you want something and I'll check the price again for you.

The EF-S 10-22 is a fantastic lens but for some reason I rarely use it - I really must get more into using that, for some reason its just not one I go to (I've probably only ever taken about 200 shots with it). Then I have the 70-200 f4 IS, same as you and finally my EF-S 17-55 F2.8. Bit pissed about that one as its my favourite and won't fit the 6D

Wow, for non adjusted shots they really are good - I always end up having to tweak my contrasts to get them looking less dull - not sure if that's a limitation of the 600D or because I'm not setting it up right...

Job wise its now the solutions / software side of the office equipment, I have virtually nothing to do with the imaging group - why'd you ask?

[gregers]

nice pics,like the moth 1.

[gregers]

this was taken using my samsung galaxy s3,couple of weekends ago.we had a vintage car show and this little beauty was doing rides down the seafront 20 mins for Ã,£10 p/person,so the missus and my 2 of my boys went.
its a 1927 rolls Royce,WITH a leather fan belt  ,worth over 100k apparently.and you couldnt even hear the engine it was that quiet.

[Mirez]

Geez 100K? Still loving the car (and your missus tbh lol) 

[gregers]

steady m8 not that much  ,actually he gave us a deal,so i only paid 20 quid for the 3 of them.

[Mirez]

Not bad, theoretically in 5000 trips its paid for itself lmao.

[gregers]

was chatting to the guy,and hes fully booked right up to next year.he does proms/weddings etc.he was really approachable and allowed me to open up the drinks cabinet in the back and take a look in the engine bay.ill try and post a pic up of that,totally amazing.

[gregers]

engine bay.

[gregers]

this pic was taken from the 14th tee of a golf course,ill let you guess where it is.

[insanitybeard]

The EF-S 10-22 is a fantastic lens but for some reason I rarely use it - I really must get more into using that, for some reason its just not one I go to (I've probably only ever taken about 200 shots with it). Then I have the 70-200 f4 IS, same as you and finally my EF-S 17-55 F2.8. Bit pissed about that one as its my favourite and won't fit the 6D

Wow, for non adjusted shots they really are good - I always end up having to tweak my contrasts to get them looking less dull - not sure if that's a limitation of the 600D or because I'm not setting it up right...

Job wise its now the solutions / software side of the office equipment, I have virtually nothing to do with the imaging group - why'd you ask?

Just curiosity on my part, so you're not quite so fortunate then that as somebody who enjoys photography you work in a department where you get to try out, borrow and play with Canon's newest camera bodies, lenses and gadgets on a regular basis?!

It can be quite difficult to get the best out of ultrawide lenses, though for me it comes into it's own in the mountains or anywhere with a sweeping view, or if you want to exaggerate perspective. As for the 17-55, I'm sure you'll find on the 6D the 24-105 will be an excellent full frame equivalent to the 17-55 with a bit more range at the long end, plus L series build! As for the colours and contrast in images, in my experience and opinion the most important thing is the light, especially for landscape shots, the pictures I posted are for the most part examples of good lighting which emphasises colour and contrast, for every shot like that I've got several more which are dull and flat! As for the file processing, it's quite normal for out of camera jpegs to lack punch, vibrant colour and contrast which is when shooting raw files and processing them comes into it's own, also, some cameras tend to process jpegs better than others, I very much doubt the sensor in my 4 year old 7D is any better than your 600D, if anything they're probably very similar! 

Do you live near the famous seven sisters then Greg? Nice part of the world to be! That fanbelt on that engine looks similar to a product we sell in our industry called nutlink, unlike a standard vee belt in comes in reels and is made up of lots of little sections joined by twist-lock fasteners, so you just make the length you need and join the two ends together, very convenient!

[Chrispb]

this pic was taken from the 14th tee of a golf course,ill let you guess where it is.

Cuckmere haven

[gregers]

Do you live near the famous seven sisters then Greg? Nice part of the world to be! That fanbelt on that engine looks similar to a product we sell in our industry called nutlink, unlike a standard vee belt in comes in reels and is made up of lots of little sections joined by twist-lock fasteners, so you just make the length you need and join the two ends together, very convenient!

close by m8,actually the suntrap of the south....eastbourne.but the grass is always greener isnt it?
pic was taken on seaford head golf course so you were fairly close chris same sort of area.

yeah the chap said the idea has been around for years and is very convenient that when the belt lets go you just replace the broken bit.

[Chrispb]

A closer look shows the river mouth

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[gregers]

i take it that was taken after the pint you had at the pub  .

it is a lovely area,ive cycled up to the sea along the cuckmere.

[Chrispb]

Yeah I wish, it's one of the background themes on the computer
The closest I've been to that is going from Newhaven store to the arndale centre, across the little bridge and up over the head.

[gregers]

like everyone m8,you take your own area for granted.but if you ever get the chance i would recommend you and the good lady take a gentle stroll along the river.and your see the pub on the way back,does nice grub to.

[insanitybeard]

Very true Greg, when you live amongst it every day it just becomes normal, you only realise what you had when it's gone! I want to get back to south east sometime, go to Beachy, the Seven Sisters, Cliffs of Dover, and travel on the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch railway again, that's a great trip and the loco's are masterpieces in miniature!

[gregers]

an old m8 has been to the railways a few times and reckons its a blinding day out.something ive been meaning to do for ages.

[insanitybeard]

Did you ever get your 6D Mark? If so, how are you liking it? So much kit I'd like to buy but it's just such an expensive hobby! 

[Mirez]

Yes mate, and loving it - a significant improvement over the old 600D In the process of changing lenses as obviously the 6D is a FullFrame APS against the APS-C but I've been hanging on with just my 70-200 lens at the moment waiting for the new 28-300 to arrive - just need to buy it now!

I think I sent you a discount list some time before? The offer still stands if you ever want something...

[insanitybeard]

That's good then!  Thanks Mark, my wish list as it stands comprises the 35 f/2 IS, 28 f2.8 IS, 16-35 f4 IS and the new 100-400 f4.5-5.6 IS, plus maybe a 7D II or 6D body, no idea of timeline for this though, it's unlikely to be any time soon due to more urgent car & family related issues! 

[insanitybeard]

One of the eclipse as seen from Exeter...... the gloom just lifted enough for it to be visible, which was better than the 1999 eclipse where we saw absolutely nothing!

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[gregers]

saw bugger all,too much cloud where i was.
i remember last time,we were watching it through a welders shield.

[Mirez]

Nice

Unfortunately I was delayed to work dealing with a numpty from last night who thought it ok to reverse (and demolish) my handrail before buggering off. Sadly I was still meandering in but it was also very cloudy here

[Chrispb]

Same here just got a bit darker for a few minutes then back to normal.
Seem to remember the 1999 one being in the warmer weather as we were in our caravan at the time, the sky was clear before and after back then and was that weird light and eeriness they talk about.