Before the race their were many activities including watching the grid assemble on the front straight, tens of thousands of spectators invading the cars as they sat on the front straight before the race, a Red Bull motorbike stunt show, and Michael Schumacher driving an F1 car around the circuit.The race started at 5 pm under overcast conditions, which turned to rain a few hours later, then torrential rain which led to the race being red flagged at about 11 pm for several hours. The race restarted under the Safety Car at 8 am the next day. Great photography opportunities, and the rain made some great shots. As I was shooting in the rain and cold I was thinking, this is what I live for and why I work hard at my profession (which isn’t photography, at least for now) that enables my wife and I to travel to race events throughout the world.

Stayed at the track until about 11.30 pm, then walked back to the Gastehause Fuchsrohre since the shuttle bus was stuck in traffic. As I walked back to the guesthouse under light rain in the dark (with a head light on so I could see where I was going and for cars to see me), I was thinking I’m really experiencing the Nurburgring 24 Hrs. Another great day and night of photography.

Grid girls on the front straight (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II and 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 1000; Mercedes Tribune)

Spectators and race crews at the starting grid on the front straight (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II and 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/2000, ISO 1000; Mercedes Tribune)

Red Bull FMX stunt motorbike team at the Yokahama S (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II and 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 250; Mercedes Tribune)

Michael Schumacher at the exit of the Yokahama S getting ready for the F1 demonstration lap around the Nurburgring (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II and 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 200; Mercedes Tribune)

Michael Schumacher in the Mercedes F1 W02 at the exit of the Yokahama S for a demonstration lap around the Nurburgring (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II and 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4.5, 1/1000, ISO 100; Mercedes Tribune)

The start for the group 1 cars along the front straight (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II and 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/4, 1/1000, ISO 125; Mercedes Tribune)

Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA (SP8 class) about to pass the Krumbach, André Porsche Cayman (V5 class) along the straight in front of Stand T5a (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II and 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/3.2, 1/320, ISO 100; Stand T5a)

Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA (SP8 class) entering the downhill left-hander in front of Stand T5b (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II and 1.4x extender III, 420mm, f/3.2, 1/800, ISO 1600; Through fence at bottom of Stand T5b)

BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS BMW Z4 (SP9 GT3 class) starting to brake on the front straight for the right-hand turn into the Yokahama S in the torrential rain (Canon 5D Mark III, 300mm f2.8L IS II, f/2.8, 1/200, ISO 12800; Lower rows of Stand T4 near entrance to Yokahama S)

Posted with Blogsy

Posted with Blogsy