Le Mans 24h - the race (many pictures)

[menos]

It took me a while, to find a place with enough Internet connection, to do a server update and upload some shots to the net ;-) Sorry for that - a 11" Mac Air and tethered mobile solution is on my wish list for next year's Le Mans 24h.
It has been a crazy race with some of the usual Le Mans moments, leading to 21 entries not finished.

Anthony Davidson in the No.8 Toyota TS030 Hybrid survived an horrifying high speed accident with a broken back in the 4th hour of the race. Contact between his car and a Ferrari 458, breaking for the first chicane of the Mulsanne straight, lead to the Toyota launching into the air and crashing into the tire wall of the chicane. Both drivers could leave their cars by themselves.

One car, also sacrificed to a very sad Le Mans moment, was the Highcroft Racing Delta Wing prototype. The Delta Wing was pushed off track into a concrete wall by Kazuki Nakajima, when the safety car phase was lifted. He must have completely overlooked the Delta Wing in his Toyota TS030 Hybrid.
The car had enjoyed many curious fans and only positive comments from its drivers in interviews at Radio Le Mans during the race. I have just a few shots of this racer as of it's early withdrawal, damaged beyond repair.

Please have also a look on my website for some upcoming photos.
I wish, I would have had the chance of using one of the available Leica M Monochrom pre production cameras around, but this was just not possible.

Here are some first picks for you, as planned this year, most shot with a Leica M8.2 and Canon 100 f2 LTM lens.

1

"the winning Audi R18 e-tron Quattro No.1 - Sunday morning"

2

"Flying Lizard Motorsports - Porsche 911 GT3 RSR"

3

"class winning Larbre Competition Corvette"

4

"Zytech Nissan"

5

"beautiful Norma Judd"

6
scary moment:


7


8

"Rebellion Racing Lola"

9

"Aston Marting, just for Dave ;-)"

10

"Audi No.2"

[menos]

ISO640 was the highest, I shot with the M8.2 - the Canon 100 f2 LTM wide open, this was, when the light went off. I took some shots with the Noctilux, but then called it a day and did a few hours of sleep.

11

"Noctilux @ f1"

… and a few shots around the track:

12

"at the fun fair"

13
… some had a race during the race:

"funny hat racing"

14

"sleep"

15

"cute hair style"

16
… the breakfast, that saved my life: croissant + coffee, 2x please:

"breakfast"

17
… first cigarette in the morning:


18
… the closest, one can get to the cars - the first fence:


19
It was over much too early … much too early:

[paulfish4570]

nice work. i might like the sleeping shot best ...

[kdemas]

Terrific Dirk, thanks for posting. I'm glad you got a shot of the Deltawing, fun to see a whole new concept on the track. Too bad Nakajima decided to punt it off the track.

I hope you had a great time. I think I'm going to hit it next year, it's time! Any excuse for me to go to France is a good one

[dave lackey]

Great photos, Dirk! Something I always wanted to do!

I reckon this shows what an obsolete rangefinder camera can do, huh?

Superb.

[robert blu]

A good work with many great phots, thanks for posting and ...bringing me to such an event!
robert

[dave lackey]

Hi, Dirk...

You know, the M8/M9 cameras would have been the last choice for me to shoot a race because I can't imagine getting the locations that you must have had to be able to shoot a 100 mm (yeah, I know it was a crop effective 140+ focal length due to the digital factor), but still, the location must have been very good.

And then, adding the superb talent of the photographer....

Bam! Great photos emerge that are more exciting than the race was!

[Speedfreak]

I have a feeling, these would look far better in color.

[dct]

I'm always reading RF cameras doesn't rule for sports...
Thank you for your excellent counterproof!

[Scheelings]

Amazing shots... high speed cars, f1.0, manual focus in low light. Simply outstanding!

[seakayaker1]

Enjoyed the photographs, thanks for posting!

[jay_kay]

Originally Posted by Speedfreak

I have a feeling, these would look far better in color.

This. I want to see the orange glow of those brake discs!

Still superb shots though. I love LMP cars.

[jonasv]

Not that I wouldn't want to see the colour shots, but the B&W oddly strikes me as very fitting for this subject... even though it's unusual.

The viewer's attention is drawn much more to the atmosphere, the shape of the cars, ... makes you see something different than the bright-coloured sponsor ads on the cars, for once.

[menos]

I am so sorry guys, I just found this thread burried, me never following up - it just was dig under i suppose.

Originally Posted by paulfish4570

nice work. i might like the sleeping shot best ...

Thanks Paul - these are the moments of a 24h race, making it unique - it's so different from leaving a race track already, sun still shining after a afternoon's sprint race.

Originally Posted by kdemas

Terrific Dirk, thanks for posting. I'm glad you got a shot of the Deltawing, fun to see a whole new concept on the track. Too bad Nakajima decided to punt it off the track.

I hope you had a great time. I think I'm going to hit it next year, it's time! Any excuse for me to go to France is a good one

Yes Kent, that moment was so unfortunate and one really could feel, that the Delta Wing pilots had bitten their teeth very hard, not to get their true feelings about this incident out into the cameras and microphones … the car ran great.

Originally Posted by JSU

Dirk, another good year @ Le Mans for you!

This also reaffirms that the M8.2 is far from obsolete!

Oh yes, it was (not as good as I hoped, but it was. The M8.2 is far, far from getting retired. In fact, most racing shots during good light were done with the M9.

I am contemplating about a M Monochrom, once, they are available and rethought my M8.2 as well.
These racing shots really make it impossible, to sell the M8.2 even with other digital M bodies around.
The M9 is technically the worse camera, to shoot these.

Originally Posted by dave lackey

Great photos, Dirk! Something I always wanted to do!

I reckon this shows what an obsolete rangefinder camera can do, huh?

Superb.

Thanks a lot Dave ;-) The Leica M is far from obsolete, but we RFF folks should know this, eh ;-)
In fact, in regards of manual focus cameras, the rangefinder is by far the most accurate and fastest method of focussing (I can't get a SLR to focus like this at all).

Of course is the Leica M not the ideal tool for this kind of stuff, but does it matter? I love shooting RF cameras and love motor sports, so what more is needed - hehe.

Originally Posted by robert blu

A good work with many great phots, thanks for posting and ...bringing me to such an event!
robert

Thank you Robert! I hope, you get the chance to be there one day - nothing is like the Le Mans 24h!

Originally Posted by dave lackey

Hi, Dirk...

You know, the M8/M9 cameras would have been the last choice for me to shoot a race because I can't imagine getting the locations that you must have had to be able to shoot a 100 mm (yeah, I know it was a crop effective 140+ focal length due to the digital factor), but still, the location must have been very good.

And then, adding the superb talent of the photographer....

Bam! Great photos emerge that are more exciting than the race was!

Haha - no it really is just finding ways of make things work.
While with long lenses and SLRs, one has the comfort of bigger windows of operation, it's interesting, to search the accessibilities for shooting shorter glass.
It means, one is limited in a lot of places to slow shutter panning shots, making fence fragments disappear or shoot very fast lenses close up to fences, that are very close to the track (if one can get there).

Unfortunately security is getting sharper by the year, making it harder and harder for us, to get such shots.
I really hope, I can get something figured out for next year, to get behind the fence again.

Originally Posted by Speedfreak

I have a feeling, these would look far better in color.

… for folks, who like color shots maybe. I have no big interest in color, but do shoot color, when using Nikon DSLR gear with super telephotos (which frankly, I don't enjoy as much ;-)

Originally Posted by dct

I'm always reading RF cameras doesn't rule for sports...
Thank you for your excellent counterproof!

Well, actually, they really don't rule for sports, but let's see it that way - it worked half a century ago with some of the great masters of photography doing astonishing photographs from Grand Prix races back then, so why shouldn't it work today.
The only limitation today is indeed, that one cannot get as close to the action as back in the days.

Originally Posted by Scheelings

Amazing shots... high speed cars, f1.0, manual focus in low light. Simply outstanding!

Haha - thanks - most of the shots though were done with the Canon 100/2 LTM ;-)
I am really happy, I made the last minute decision, to not bring a Leica lens for the main part of the shots (my actual motor sports lens is a 135 APO-Telyt). I hope, some people see these photos also as a credit to the wonderful late Canon rangefinder lens designs, which I love!

Originally Posted by seakayaker1

Enjoyed the photographs, thanks for posting!

Thank you certainly - I love to shoot these, and like to show them … ;-)

Originally Posted by JSU

The M8 / M8.2 have a crop factor of 1.33X, thus an effective focal length of 133mm or in essence a 135mm look.

Most road courses I have photographed provide some very close vantage points, much more so than dedicated tracks.

The Canon LTM 100/2 is my go-to long lens for the M8.2, wide open it is very, very good; by 2.8 it is amazing. No 90mm Leica lens has impressed me as does this lens. I have had 3 different pre-asph 90 Summicrons, a couple of different thin 90 Tele Elmarits and a 90 Elmar (I still have a 90 T E and the old Elmar.)

Oh yes, how I would love, to shoot some road course tracks (Officially, the Circuit de la Sarthe is such a track, but unfortunately, all of the spectator areas are as securely detached from the circuit, as on any other modern racing track).
One of the nice examples for me is a photograph in a Leitz manual from the 50's, presenting the M3 viewfinder on a shot of a Grand Prix racer, filling the whole frame (50mm that is !!!).
I would love to do that!

Originally Posted by jay_kay

This. I want to see the orange glow of those brake discs!

Still superb shots though. I love LMP cars.

Oh, LMP racers are my absolute favorite racers!

Originally Posted by jonasv

Not that I wouldn't want to see the colour shots, but the B&W oddly strikes me as very fitting for this subject... even though it's unusual.

The viewer's attention is drawn much more to the atmosphere, the shape of the cars, ... makes you see something different than the bright-coloured sponsor ads on the cars, for once.

Thank you for these words - it's indeed one of the thoughts, that make me do these photographs (I am still very deep in developing this stuff).
I truly love vintage motorsports photographs, but don't aim to resemble or imitate such a style, rather than finding myself using similar gear and hopefully …

Here are some shots, I didn't show here yet:



One of my very first shots with the new 21 Super Elmar - what a lens!



some 1/15sec shots:





and a Porsche to go:



I am really looking forward to next year - press thumbs, so somehow, I can get something running for getting closer!

[mls64]

Fantastic work Dirk! Are you using a 90mm flange with the 100mm lens and then approximating composition with the 90mm frame lines?

[menos]

Originally Posted by mls64

Fantastic work Dirk! Are you using a 90mm flange with the 100mm lens and then approximating composition with the 90mm frame lines?

Thanks Michael, yes, I use a 90mm adapter on this lens, which works best for me.

The actual difference between the M8.2 and M9 in how their respective frame lines are calibrated actually comes as an advantage here.
I use the M9, to get shots, where I can be closer to the track, while the M8.2 is always my first choice, when I know, that 100mm will not be enough and I would have to crop (the M8 sensor does show more fine detail).

[digitalintrigue]

Great stuff. Love the Deltawing shot and the Flying Lizard Porsche.

I'm assuming you had credentials to get these vantage points?

[menos]

Originally Posted by digitalintrigue

Great stuff. Love the Deltawing shot and the Flying Lizard Porsche.

I'm assuming you had credentials to get these vantage points?

Thanks, but unfortunately, I had no real track access, which is the whole dilemma and sole reason, why i couldn't get the shots, I wanted.

Even some of my favorite spots around the track have been entirely locked from spectators and I have been refused by security to shoot, as I did last years - very frustrating experience.
I absolutely must find a way to get behind the fence next year!

This is shot with Leica M7 or MP and pushed TriX @ ISO3200 in D76:

the winning Audi coming into the pits during the night:


The same Audi, taking the win of the 2011 edition of the Le Mans 24h (Leica M9 + 135 APO-Telyt):



I absolutely love endurance racing with the Le Mans 24h always being the crown jewel each season.
I would absolutely love, to being able, to shoot with the Leica M system with short lenses as 21/35/50/85 …

[digitalintrigue]

Well, these are even more impressive if you didn't have credentials. I have shot motorsports events in the past, and it's very difficult if not impossible to get decent photo opportunities without media passes....kudos!

[raytoei@gmail.com]

very impressive. i wonder how you managed to shoot at such fast moving objectives with tele-lens even with high iso....

[menos]

Originally Posted by digitalintrigue

Well, these are even more impressive if you didn't have credentials. I have shot motorsports events in the past, and it's very difficult if not impossible to get decent photo opportunities without media passes....kudos!

Thank you very much - I really wish, I will have a chance at some point, to get real about this. There is so much love for this sport and shooting these events get's less and less satisfying, nailed behind bars.

Security is ever raised every season, especially at Le Mans since last years horrifying high speed crashes of the Audis.
This years high speed accident of Anthony Davidson in his Toyota Hybrid showed again, how important these safety regulations are (there are not only people close to the track, who have awareness of how dangerous the area close to the track actually is, but a lot of fans, partying the night through …).

It is quite gutting, to read Anthony's thoughts during the accident, if you have also seen the car crashing:

http://www.anthonydavidson.com/

Here is one shot of the beautiful Toyota Hybrid during this years Le Mans 24h event - it showed great speed and a surprising level of performance, going the speed of the top in it's first 24h race:



This is the #7 car, that unfortunately smashed the Delta Wing out of the race after a restart with Kazuki Nakajima at the wheel.
The car later had to stop the race due to engine failure.

[menos]

Originally Posted by raytoei@gmail.com

very impressive. i wonder how you managed to shoot at such fast moving objectives with tele-lens even with high iso....

Haha, Ray, as we are among RFF friends, I'll disclose all two secrets, I have about this:

1) I am using every single minute, I get, to train shooting moving subjects out of moving cars (riding a lot of taxi in Shanghai really helps training your focussing muscles)

2) When out and shooting, I just always use the chance and do some panning shots on whatever moves around me. These are mostly trivial shots, but you really have to do this a lot, to keep your feeling in shape.

This can be anything, as slow, as a human, walking by or as fast, as a race car, just make sure, you challenge yourself with slow shutter speeds and find your own borderline, which you should push:

I am also finding myself shooting a lot in low light (that's when I have time for shooting and happens to be most interesting to me anyway):






Just try to prevent, to shoot prefocussed, as so many suggest - it's bad for your quick focussing skills - much like pushing a button on a P&S camera.

I also always try out new things, to push me, for example doing, what I am not good at - shooting verticals, lens wide open and panning + focussing, …



It's all a game and I absolutely love the ergonomics and simplicity of the Leica M, as it makes this all so easy and fun.

Everytime, I touch a DSLR now, it just feels alien.

[menos]

Originally Posted by JSU

Dirk--
It is nice seeing your shot from the prior year. Can you offer any personal insight on the final image for you own shooting whether film or digital?
What software do you employ to convert your Leica DNG files to B&W, or do you use the in-camera B&W option?
Thanks,
--Steve

Hey Steve,

I shoot film and digital parallel - digital, as long, as the light is good enough, pushed TriX, once the light goes off or dynamic range of digital simply isn't enough to handle.

I develop and archive all my shots exclusively with Adobe Lightroom.
After many months of experimenting with several plugins and software, I came to the conclusion, that live is easier, to properly learn Lightroom's secrets and process just with one tool instead of futzing with all the other stuff available.

I don't use plugins or profiles but develop each shot individually form raw files.

I don't bend the files, but use individual lenses, that give a basic look and just fine tune from there.

I am not a fan of outright black and white smashing contrast shots, but like to have some tones as well - exactly, what not overcooked TriX looks like like @ 1600 or 3200 in D-76.

I don't have any restrictions to either medium (a friend recently asked me, if I would work on a series of photographs to publish with one killer limitation: all shots must be done exclusively with shooting film )

Bummer, I don't like such limitations, as that's not, how I choose digital or film.
I treat digital M bodies the same as film bodies, shooting almost exclusively in B&W, there is not much difference for me between them.
Film has a clear edge in low light and high contrast scenes, digital has the convenience and speed in good light …

I didn't shoot film at this years Le Mans, as I am completely fed up with the zombies at CDG airport Paris, handling film.
Not as a surprise was my very first bad inter-human experience exactly 2 min after leaving the airplane @ CDG with a group of service personnel.

This is, how I choose between film and digital - what is available and works better …

I would love, to shoot more bigger formats (6x6 and 4x5), once temperatures allow schlepping heavy gear again in Shanghai.

One of my dreams is, to shoot motorsports with a 4x5 rangefinder - if I could get close enough and would be sure, my film is handled respectfully.

I scan all my film for final print with a DSLR on a light table, preparing the raw files in photoshop.
Quick pre scans are done with a Minolta scanner (35mm - love the thing to death, best scanner ever) or with one shot scans from a DSLR on a light table (medium format and large format).

I don't let any lab scan or print, what I can handle - it's a hassle, to get the quality, you expect.

[robert blu]

Interesting to read about your process, thank Dirk to be so open.
robert

[menos]

Originally Posted by JSU

Dirk--

Thanks for sharing. I always find it enlightening to understand another's process. I find if an image grabs my attention that eventually I start analyzing how the image was made.



--Steve

Originally Posted by robert blu

Interesting to read about your process, thank Dirk to be so open.
robert

You're welcome, it's those kind of exchanges, that make people think and learn. I have learned so much from people in photography message boards, I have asked and asked about the strangest things. One really should share all of this …