Spa Grand Prix 2014
Now I know that this is a photomode gallery, but I am sticking this in here because it is completely relevant. If it weren't for GT photomode, I just wouldn't have seen half of what was there!
This is my first ever Grand Prix and it is my favourite track - there was always something magical about the Belgian Grand Prix as a kid watching it on TV - very similar to the old Hockenheim circuit - must be the dangerous combination of trees, weather and high speed!!!
After having explored the track on a whole range of driving games, my visit to Spa was definitley with my photomode-head on!! And after many photoshoots and comps, and after establishing the circuit as the Tactical Crew HQ, this post is dedicated to Gary, Paul, the Tactical Crew and all photomoders
After driving the 10k from the campsite and finding a car park, the rest of the pilgrimage was on foot through the town of Francorchamps - which is completely F1 mad!!! This is Friday Practice.
Armed with the circuit guide, we decided to check the rest of the circuit and head cross-country!
In the trees at the Bus Stop chicane...
What was interesting here was listening to the way the drivers downshift for this corner. Some descended the gears smoothly & equally spaced, others (especially Sutil) would have long 6th, 5th & 4th followed by very quick 3rd, 2nd & 1st.
This shot was taken from in trees here. It has been cropped and little enhancement well within the 2.0 rules!!
These 2 shots show the gradients perfectly:
Other great views:
Saturday Qualifying
It was a bit of a damp morning:
The BBC were there with David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan:
Race Day
Walking through the gates at 7.10am. The clouds are something else at Spa!!! And then the sun shone for a golden sunrise:
Unedited!
What was really funny was watching a bus go up out of Eau Rouge ferrying the marshalls to their posts around the circuit!!! I wish I'd caught that on camera!
However, under an hour later it was very foggy:
These panos captured the weather and the clouds beautifully:
The cars! I tried and mostly failed. Trying to pan the camera is a dark art - and thank goodness for digital technology!! Out of the few hundred attempts here are the handful that worked!
Unedited:
Edited - mainly cropped, minor colour adjustment, subtle vignette, frame, a touch of grain on the first Hamilton shot. Nothing else.
And for me, this one was worth all of the effort!
That's it, hope you enjoyed it!! Spa forever!!
Best wishes from Raidillon! Hallowed Ground.
Eric & the kids!
Love the action shot of the guy running!!! Class!