In hindsight, I might have benefitted from burning a little midnight oil research over relying strictly on hearsay. I still know very little about the circuit . . . the hows, whys, and for whom it was originally constructed . . . and once I log this post I will take proper time to uncover those answers.
In the meantime, I would like to pass along my impressions of what proved hands down to be the toughest weekend I've encountered over my brief foray into photographing motor sport.
Trying to build a portfolio of fast cars while relegated outside the fencing of any motor sport venue is never easy. I'm beginning to understand that commanding a craft is gravy when compared against how one actually practices that craft in the real world. Shooting without the benefit of credentials is an incredible handicap . . . especially in this arena where safety precaution is paramount.
I'm not complaining. This is a pursuit that I love; I'm not one to shy away from a challenge. However there is a financial aspect and when it comes to selecting future venues at this stage of my journey, I doubt that I will return to Barber without credentials.
Please keep in mind that what follows is in no way designed to discourage anyone from attending and enjoying a motor sport event at Barber. The museum alone is a must-see for any enthusiast, and if I were looking at this through purely spectator's eyes, I'd exclaim Barber to provide a grand time for all. The circuit even runs a free shuttle running the perimeter of the facility . . . a very welcome feature indeed.
The circuit is nestled within a rolling forest which offers a surprising frequency of elevation change. For this fact alone, Barber should be a photographer's paradise. Somehow, I feel that consideration got left out of everything that transpired once the circuit was originally cut into these hills.
Barber features long, almost multi apex turns on each most northern corner, just prior and aft the pit straight. Both of these signature corners offer sweeping spectator vistas along the exterior hillside. They also offer elevation on tree lined interior hillsides, but their ideal vantage is not accessible to any non-credentialed photographer.
Blah, blah, blah. I took some quick shots in the hope that I might assist the next photographer making their first visit to road racing in Alabama. To avoid needless elaboration, I've simply referenced aspects within each photo that summarize my impression of the circuit from a photographic perspective:
The photo above depicts the rise from turn 13 heading toward turn 14 and entry to the W-NW corner described above.
A) secondary fencing (lined with shrubbery), significantly distanced, (and in this case) downhill from the crest of the hill thus making the circuit impossible to see
B) gaps in fencing are rare, even for a race course, and provide poor vantage at considerable distance, As one would expect, they are well off the probable path of debris in the event of an incident, but unusually narrow
C) runoff area and fencing arguably extreme given the entry speed into the corner (13)
The photo above depicts turn 12
D) the primary safety fencing rises to meet the height of the surrounding elevated viewing, not the height dictated by the direction and speed of travel of the cars
E) circuit incident clearance vehicles, instead of being parked inside the circuit where no accessible vantage points exist, instead serve to further limit and inhibit potential shooting angles
F) shrubbery looks nice and provides sense of being at a golf course, but in many areas is not trimmed tight enough as to not obstruct lensing
G) secondary fencing again significantly distanced . . . such that even with slow shutters, it becomes difficult to defeat the single layer of primary fencing due to the optical physics involved as related to proximity to subject and focal distance
Angle on long straight headed toward turn 12
H) despite height and distance from circuit, fencing still rises to obstruct perspective
I) kind of hard to see in shadow, but the secondary fencing is again distanced and in this instance lower than shrubbery, restricting adequate camera perspective
Angle down long straight toward exit of turn 11 chicane
This single image serves as a nice summary of the challenges facing a photographer at Barber
Top of crest between turns 13 and 14, looking toward 14
I've added this image to demonstrate that there are very few work arounds. Simply trying to devise a fresh perspective on the racing cars is not enough.
Single vantage on the turn 8 and 9 chicane, from NE corner of museum front lawn
Finally, I would be remiss to overlook the single most distressing factor of photographing a motor sport event at Barber.
The chicane which breaks the downhill entry to turn 9 is . . . for all intents and purposes . . . not visible to anyone lacking proper credentials. This is a shame as it is the only place on the circuit where, with any reasonable effort, a photographer could capture sports cars getting air over the inside curbing. This complex would also provide a photographer ample opportunity to stack cars fighting for position, as the braking entry to 8 comes off of one of the circuit's longer straights.
I brought home a couple of good images from my weekend at Barber, but nowhere near the variety and quantity of images that I expected. I was fortunate to discover a single hole in the fence near the crest of the rise out to turn 13; this was not a gift, but instead the product of sheer determination. That said, it was a very difficult blind rise to capture and I needed 400mm when I only had 500mm.
Click here if you'd like to see my bounty. I'll be updating with more images in the coming days.
Cheers
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