Sabah has the most active 4x4 challenge held locally every year apart form big event such as Borneo Safari. In fact, there are more challenges to be organized in months to come. The year 2011 for this extreme sport, Tamparuli Adventist 4 Wheel Drive Club (TA4XDC) starts the heat of the challenge with Hardcore 4x4 competition at Kampung Bawang, Tamparuli on 16 January 2011. Personally, this is my 3rd year shooting 4x4 event just for fun and at the same time promoting what we have especially the challenge to the world to know. The roaring power of even standard vehicle or heavily modified with more powerful engine with 13BT, 15BT, 1J, 2J, and QD32 are really the music to the ears. The sweat, mud, technique and skill of each competitor are the entertainment for the eyes.
In my 3rd year shooting 4x4 event, I have gained some photography insight of what to look for in such action packed competition. I'm not taking photo for something else but for fun and hobby instead. In each event I attended, I saw increasing number of fellow enthusiast photographers and this shows good sign for spreading the excitement and photos of our local 4x4 event. Even the girls like it.
I tried my self to take photos which define "action" in a photo other than classic freeze that moment. For me, corner-to-corner tack razor sharp in action 4x4 is less concern but to include some motion even it would results in some blurry part of the photo. Thus, panning is one of the techniques to do. I remember the first time I did this was total failure. With more and more trials, I got some skill for the shutter speed panning the 4x4 actions. The biggest problem is one need a steady hand and burst shutter for this. The camera shutter count will be easier to increase though. That's why I'm using old camera Olympus E-1 without fear of shutter count reaching the maximum shutter life. My E-1 had already reached its maximum shutter life (reported as 150K) and broken while taking photo at Kundasang Novice/Semi-Hardcore 4x4 Challenge in January 2010. It cost me RM290 to replace the shutter unit from Olympus Malaysia. I wonder how the Olympus E-5 performs in 4x4 photo shooting condition.
The actions in 4x4 are not as fast as F1 race or some other track race, therefore shutter speed need to be as lower as possible for panning the camera to get a motion blur while subject is in focus (or partially sharp). Of course action photos are not necessarily to be limited but in many styles. It’s up to you to take such photos with creativity and may be different from others. Do take a look at pro photographer photos to learn from them. I did that.
However, this kind of photography is somewhat tiring because you need to move here and there and almost standing all the time. You will also need to prepare for weather condition and may have fun playing with the mud. I always expecting rain than hot sunny day during 4x4 event, you know why.
Ok, enough my crappy story. Camera gear in use: Olympus E-1 (5MP), Olympus ZD ED12-60mm & Olympus ZD ED 70-300mm.
Some photos to be shared:
Some photos to be shared:
Series of photos panning the competitors running to their vehicle.
Excellent job capturing the motion and excitement of the race.
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