Fancy being a photog at Le Mans?

[Chris Dodkin]

Saw this Audi crash as part of the coverage on Speed channel.

Just look at the photogs, and how exposed they are to the shrapnel, even though the barrier stops the main body of the car.

The photog lady in blue at the bottom of the frame has the wheel, tire and suspension from that car land just inches from her - she was soooo lucky.

Just watch the video - in the one clip you'll see that wheel come crashing down beside her - she didn't see it coming.

[video]http://youtu.be/p2Nb0Ienv6k[/video]

Crazy!

 

[Pete Askew]

At least in a war zone you know someone is likely to try and shot you!!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Yet she just stood there... Nuts!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

To be fair it all happens so fast that you probably can't react - I still can't understand how the car managed to spin on top of the barrier but not fly over it.

Had a wheel and tire go over my head while shooting at Brands Hatch - the photog positions were just behind the metal barriers, but in front of the public safety fencing.

The wheel cleared us by maybe 6 foot, which was close enough, but the real threat was when it bounced off of the safety fence behind us, and came back in our direction!!!!

That's why they have you sign your life away before you shoot - it's all on you if a wheel lands on your head

 

[Alastair Cummins]

Watching this live I so feared the worst, I cant believe how anyone wasnt badly hurt in this and the other big accidents that happened during the race!

It is weird how you can end up just stood there watching/photographing with a tonne of metal flying in your direction out of control, I had it in Wyedean a couple years ago where a Mk2 Escort over steered to much (even for a mk2) and I just watched thinking thats not going to be good...... *bleep* better move and he missed me by a couple of foot, showering me in gravel!

I would love to see some of the shots taken by them photographers on the lead up to the imapact!

 

[Darren Bradley]

I was there! It was a spectacular crash but it happened in a different part of the track from where I was. I saw it on the screen. Terrifying, indeed. I'm glad everyone was OK in the end.

Here are a couple of pics from the race. I will post more later...

Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture f/18.0
Focal Length 200 mm
ISO Speed 100


Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture f/11.0
Focal Length 200 mm
ISO Speed 100

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Nice - you lucky man!

 

[Gordon Lindsay]

Like that second shot