alan frost photography

This is the third and last entry about the Goodwood Festival of Speed which took place at the end of July this year. The two earlier entries were about the Art of Design and The People respectively. This entry completes the series and is simply intended to show an overall picture of the event. There is no particular theme other than trying to capture the true essence of this remarkable event which draws thousands of spectators every year.

None of these images would win a photographic competition, but they were not taken for that reason. They are a record of the event itself which I enjoy visiting as often as can. It allows me to combine my interest in photography with my love of motor cars.

In a couple of weeks time I will be at the Goodwood Revival Meeting so expect some more images from that event but in the meantime here is my final selection of shots from the Festival of Speed.

Above each image I have added a short description and my customary Exif data. All the shots were taken with either a Nikon D90 or Olympus E -PL3.

The custom built display which is constructed on the front lawn of Goodwood House every year is always something special and can often be seen from miles around. This year the theme of the display celebrated Lotus racing cars through the years.
Nikon D90 35mm f6.3 1/1250 ISO200

One person who is sure to attract the crowds is Lewis Hamilton. Here he is at the wheel of his McLaren MP4 – 26 Formula One car.
Nikon D90 70 to 300mm at 70mm f10 1/125 ISO160

The Forest Rally Stage at the top of the hill climb is a great circuit and provides plenty of photo opportunities.
Olympus E-PL3 45mm f13 1/320 ISO 200

The Skoda Fabia S2000 (above and below) makes its start. Cameras and flying dust are not a good mix, so after the shot is taken the camera is quickly hidden away!
Olympus E-PL3 45mm f6.3 1/1250 ISO200

The Festival of Speed is not just about powered vehicles. This high flying BMX biker comfortably clears the high jump……..and it yes it was high, very high.  He also landed safely.
Nikon D90 70 to 300mm at 102mm f7.1 1/500 ISO200

As well as the Lotus display there was another impressive ‘work of art’ by the rally stage. A ‘Stonehenge’ made up of several arches formed by scrap cars. Here taken with the ‘Goodwood Eye’ in the background.
Olympus E-PL3 20mm f7.1 1/800 ISO200

There is always merchandise for sale. Far from being an official stall holder here a speculative trader was displaying his rather expensive books (or I thought so anyway). There was definitely no money in the hat!
Olympus E-PL3 20mm f5.6 1/160 ISO 200

I thought this car looked superb. Its the Audi R18 e-tron Quattro which won the 24 hour race at Le Mans back in June.
Nikon D90 70 to 300mm at 70mm f14 1/125 ISO160

……and a windscreen detail of the same car below after a rain shower.
Olympus E-PL3 20mm f5.6 1/1000 ISO200

Wandering the pits also provides some interesting shots as these next two images illustrate.
Olympus E-PL3 20mm f1.7 1/320 ISO200

Tyres, cars and crowds walk by in the pits. The wonderful thing about this event is the free access the public have to get really close to the cars, their drivers and the mechanics.
Nikon D90 35mm f3.2 1/250 ISO200

…….and finally one of many stars of the show…….can you tell what it is yet?(!)
Nikon D90 35mm f5 1/160 ISO200

……..and if you need another clue?
Nikon D90 35mm f5 1/500 ISO200

I’ve photographed this magnificent piece of machinery on so many occasions but I still cant resist taking just one more. The Ferrari 250 GTO. No more to be said.
Olympus E-PL3 45mm f4.5 1/250 ISO200

So that completes my three part series about the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012. Doubtless I will back again next year.

I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of the E-PL3 and the prime lens. Not once did I use its kit lens, and the quality of the images I achieved compared very favourably with the Nikon D90. This post is though about the results and not the camera gear I was using but its an interesting observation all the same.

In an earlier post I referred to this annual event which I attended on two of the four days. The weather on the Friday was mixed with rain showers in the morning but Saturday was much better with blue skies and warm sunshine. Something of a rarity this summer even though it did not help my hayfever.

On the first of my two days I used the Olympus E PL3 as I thought this camera combined with the three fast prime lenses would encourage a more artistic approach, experimenting with depth of field etc. On the Saturday I reverted to the DSLR a Nikon D90.

I have been to this event on a number of occasions and its all too easy to take photographs of ‘whole’ cars followed by more of the same, either moving or still. So this year I tried to concentrate on taking some other images which would still say ‘Festival of Speed’ to the viewer but had a more specific theme. This is likely to be the first post of a short series on the Festival of Speed. This one reflects on the ‘Art of Design’. Yes, images of cars but perhaps simplified in composition and rarely showing the car in its entirety, although the first of these images breaks this rule straight away! It’s the JPS Lotus 72 which graced the huge sculpture which stood at the front of Goodwood House. After a morning rain shower the sun broke through the clouds momentarily and lit up the sculpture and beautiful lines of this famous Formula One car of the 1970’s.