Silly Question From Photographer/Spectator...

[WindShadowStudios]

Hey everyone, thanks again for an amazingly fierce 2011 season at the NJMP rounds. I was along the sidelines shooting pics for my website and really was just kind of wondering something...
How aware are you all of the photographers as you race?
I askbecause while I was at the AMA races, I saw another photog using a flash with an extension device while shooting during a race. While my first thought was that it was a good idea on his part, I wondered about your safety while using such a device... would you notice a camera flash while riding under race or practice conditions? If so, would it be detrimental to see the flash go off and or possibly cause you spots in your vision?
The thought crossed my mind that I should use these tools as well, but I have watched some riders fall and really work themselves over. I would not want a rider to be hurt, not matter how minor, on the basis of blinding or distracting them.

Any and all guidance is warmly welcomed and greatly appreciated, hope to see you all soon iin the next season!

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Unless he's shooting monster sized strobes, I doubt any rider will even notice. Hell some riders dont even notice a cornerworker waving a flag (usually the debris) at them furiously and look how close we are.


Photographer probably has it on flood fill anyways.

[Doctor]

I see flash photography when I am out there and it annoys the bejesus out of me.

[roadracer162]

I would think the flash has minimal effects on vision. What it does have is the distraction qualities much like a photographer wearing a yellow or red shirt. As a rider/racer my focus is on the task at hand but in some ways my focus can be distracted by something other than racing. There are many distractions such as parts coming off bikes that makes me think WTF was that?


We notice the debris. We notice the track conditions when it is wet. Whether we react to them I think depends on the experience level of the given rider.


It would seem to me that a flash would be useless in the conditions of racing unless the distance was much smaller than I would expect. How effective is a flash and at what distance?


Mark

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

Flash has never bothered me on the track. It does some people. Then again I wear photoreactive glasses so I'm pretty used to glares and such.


Mark, I've seen experts totally ignore a debris flag.

Most on camera flash's have a range of 15'-ish. My off camera flash maybe can hit 40' effectively. Then again I wouldnt use a flash at any race anyways. 

[roadracer162]

There again "Expert" is not necessarily the same as "Master".

[WindShadowStudios]

Thanks for the feedback. Believe it or not, with the proper equipment, the flash can be very effective at the track in improving photos. There are pieces of equipment that can extend the fill range of a flash beyond 100-200 feet. The effective light reaching the rider would not fill his vision, but would look like a little starburst off in the distance. We are required to wear the neon yellow vests they issue us. I use flash all the time in the pit and paddock, but it can be used to even lighting on the track. I don't want to be annoying, but if it works out right can get images up faster. I am mostly worried about safety. You guys have enough to worry about guiding your machines and staying safe at the tight packs you are in.

[roadracer162]

Well it seems you have answered your own question. Using reasonable judgement when taking the image depends on the angle from which you shoot. A flash from the rear or t least the rear 180 degrees will be less noticeable than from the front of the rider.

I think depending on the rider the flash can be distracting even if it is in the periphery. But for most the distraction would be minimal.

[WindShadowStudios]

THanks Mark. I worried simply because in the heat of racing and shooting, sometimes you grab an angle quick and may aim the flash at the front of the bike. I have seen riders look right at me at times (after downloading the image I see it clear) and never can tell if it was coincidence as they were looking back at the rider behind them or if I somehow made them break focus. Just want to stay safe is all.

[P_M]

As a general rule of thumb, I never use a flash during races.  I know I can get some cool effects with one, but I also fear breaking someones concentration (it's one thing if they know it's going to happen and have time to see it a few times at slow speed and such, but not in a race where for the most part they never know where I am to start with.)  So as a matter of safety, I work with what's provided by the environment.  Yeah, sometimes it sucks, but it's better for me to catch a few so so pics then to bin someone and possibly get a rider hurt.  Remember, (no offense folks) some of the riders are VERY new to this world and may not be as focused as some of the more experienced riders are.

Just my two cents really.. but it is a discussion that Mike and I can see lens to lens on.. Yes?