Summernats 2011

All shots: Pentax K-x, Pentax FA 31 mm F1:1.8 lens

My first Summernats after ignoring it for years.

A scene setting photo to begin with; this was taken from near the starting line for the burnout competition, see photos toward end of this post. It was a very warm day, overcast at this stage, setting off the heavy black skid marks.

Most of these car shots were taken in hot and very bright/glarey conditions. I bracketed every shot to make sure I nailed the correct exposure. In post-processing, I have taken some licence and applied a Kodak Ektachrome or Kodachrome filter to give the shots a sense of time - film types that matched the era of the cars.

464 cubic inch Chevrolet.

A couple of VK Commodores followed by a Holden Monaro in burnr orange.

A classic EH Holden.

I can't tell you much about this ute, except it's a Chevrolet and it looked good (Kodak Ektachrome 100 filter applied).

Poor attitude number plate - grey Chrysler Sigma, perfect candidate for b&w conversion.

Classic late 60s Ford Falcon.

The rear of another classic late 60s Ford Falcon, I applied a Kodachrome filter and was careful to maintain the almost pastel red of the paintwork. Kodachrome would have been the preferred slide film at the time this car was in its prime.

Impala tail.

Classic Aussie alongside all-American Chevy.

Check out the gangster looking guy in the Chevy, pointing.... a camera. The very deep paintwork colours also work in b&w.

INTERMISSION

Jim Beam girls from Dick and Steven Johnson's racing team.

Brunette & blond were promoting something or other.

Random crowd scenes. The FBI t-shirt (left) and onlooking girls (right) caught my attention.

RESUMPTION

Serious looking dudes.

At last, the burnout competition. We were hard against the fence with a great view as entrants, up to 1600 horsepower, shredded tires and destroyed transmissions. As I was sitting below the fence-line, first two shots below, my burnout official buddy (orange shirt) grabbed my camera and reeled off a few shots for me, top guy.

Taken by Jud

These were taken by my burnout official mate, handed him my camera in auto-mode with continuous shooting enabled; he stood as close as you possibly could.

Jud and Mick