WRC 2004 Cyprus stage pictures

Special Stage 3Special Stage 5I’ve just uploaded pictures from the two special stages that I’ve been to today. Enjoy – Special Stage 3 and Special Stage 5

I was shooting cars in aperture priority (Av) mode with aperture set to 8.0 or 9.0. After closer inspection on the big screen it seems that these aperture values are a bit too small. I will try with a slighter bigger settings tomorrow.

I also have both B&W polarizer and lens hood on. Polarizer does improve the images a lot. Lens hood protects mostly from the dust which there is an excess of. :) Light conditions still seem a bit tough to me. Even the afterlunch sun is very bright giving harsh shadows. Shadows from trees along the stages make it look kind of stripy (shadow, no shadow, shadow, no shadow…). On-camera flash is not strong enough to fill the shadows around the car and good viewpoints are hard to come up with considering the safety guards, spectators, stage track shapes and locations, and my ignorance. :) More to shoot tomorrow…

WRC 2004 Cyprus stage pictures

<%image(20040515-openning_ceremony.jpg" alt="Opening ceremony">I’ve just uploaded pictures from WRC 2004 Cyprus stage Shakedown and Openning ceremony.

Shakedown is a kind of a special stage where drivers try to determine the best settings for their cars. They drive through the same stage several times, while making adjustments. This is perfect photo opportunity, since there are several chances to get the same car in different places. They can drive in circles for several hours, so it is much easier to photograph then the Special Stages.

I have been very late to the Openning ceremony, so I’ve missed most cars on the podium and I didn’t have time to prepare for the fireworks shooting. By the time I got there they’ve almost started shooting. I was handholding the camera with the kit lens with 2 second exposures. Some images came out rather OK. :)

Van Helsing

Just came back from the movies. Watching “Van Helsing” this time. This is one of those times when IMDB’s rating is totally screwed. 5.2/10 is completely unfair. I would give it a solid 7/10 or even 8/10. Both Hazard and Olga liked it even more. :)

There are many nice things about this film and very few mildly bad ones. Effects and computer graphics are excellent. There is lots of style. There is lots of action. Soundtrack is excellent, and especially the orchestra that performed it. Somehow I didn’t notice these guys in the first half of the movie, but closer to the end they are getting really enthusiastic. And if all of that was not enough, they even do kill one of the few main characters in the end, so it’s not so happy as it is usually. Additionally, you have this “good guys are going to loose” feeling during most of the movie. :)

The only displacing part for me were those kind of stupid dialogs in the first part of the movie. I stopped noticing them later, but at first they were rather disturbing.

Everything else was very close to perfect. :)

WRC 2003 Showdown

I’ve just watched the “WRC 2003 Showdown” DVD (Hazard’s present for my birthday). It’s an excellent coverage of World Rally Championship’s year 2003. Most of the information presented is widely known by now, but the rally video clips are always a pleasure to look at. Apart from the usual display of cars, spare parts, drivers, team styles, stages, crashes, etc there are 3 (boasted unseen) full stage videos from in-car cameras. Though a bit boring without a soundtrack, they do provide an insight on the driver/co-driver experience during the special stage.

I do recommend to get this DVD for all the rally fans out there – it’s a quality collection of the favourite, atmospheric, and rare moments.

P.S.: Subaru are the greatest ever! :)

Intercollege dumped the rock concert

I’ve just got the news that Intercollege cancelled the rock concert that was planned for the next weekend. The reason is, as usual, the lack of funds. Yeah, right… :(

On the good side though, maybe “Katastrofa” band will be performing at the Amateur Song Festival coming Saturday. No guarantees yet, but the Festival is going to be lots of fun with or without the “Katastrofa” presense. :)