News / Blog - Motorsport News

3am EDIT: I've just watched the Jules Holland Hootenanny and realized how many of the artists on the show I've been lucky to photograph.... then I got hooked by the BBC coverage of Glastonbury 2015..... MASSIVE & MAGNIFICENT... and I want to photograph it :-0

So to the Blog>.................

I warn you, this is going to ramble.

It's New Years eve and inevitably, like so many of my previous Blogs, it'll be late by the time I manage to upload this update. Also, as is often the case, I've partaken in a couple of pints of Real Ale and a few glasses of red wine. (3am EDIT.... add a couple of Whisky's to that list too). What could possibly go wrong!

I'm sitting here at years end (I guess like many others) thinking both about the year that is about to become history together with the future... 2016, here we come.

These moments of contemplation will always be individual and personal. But allow me to share my own thoughts.

Inevitably my mind goes back through the previous busy year of photography. Once again I have enjoyed almost every moment of my 2015 photographic year.

But things could always have been done differently... and certainly there is always room to improve and change. So that begs the question 'What could I have done differently and where did I go wrong?'

So I will allow myself to expose (nice little photographic reference there!) some of my photographic failings to you, just as long as you promise not to tell anyone else!

So where did I fail?

Well, just yesterday, I was updating a picture gallery for one of my favorite local bands... Thee Jenerators. THIS IS A LINK TO THE GALLERY

The latest gig I photographed them at was a photographers nightmare. When you combine a band that will not stand still for a moment together with light levels akin to candlelight it will always be a challenge.

I'm pleased to say that I ended up with quite a few keepers (33 out of the 49 pics taken), but could I have done better?

My personal 'style' of photography encompasses taking as few pics as I possibly can (born lazy, eh). I try and limit the shutter presses to the peak moments of action. My belief is that you give yourself a massive editing workload by being 'trigger happy'.

This was highlighted for me during 2015 when I shot an indoor sporting event alongside an ambitious young local 'photog'. He was using his camera in machine gun mode and must have gone home with 1000+ pics. I took 251 and had 170 keepers after the cull.

I have also had this experience whilst working off-island alongside top pro motorsport and festival 'togs. Some, but by no means all, fire off endless pics - seemingly with the idea that 'One of 'em has to be a keeper'! So maybe it's me who is completely wrong on this but one thing I'm sure about is that my editing time is a lot shorter than theirs!

But back to my point. I still think that restraint is a good thing. I believe that I should consider the timing and composition of each image before I press the shutter release button.

Even after taking this stance the final part of the photographic process is still to come... the edit. This is the time extra discipline and ruthlessness is needed and I think I'm failing in this area and could complete most assignments to a better standard by taking a less 'precious' view of my pics during the edit.

Although I attempt to restrain myself at the capture stage I then go on to 'fail' when it comes to the edit. I think I'm not ruthless enough when deleting the rubbish.

So let me take one step back, I mentioned that I've just updated the Thee Jenerators Gallery. This led me to be distracted by looking through some of the old pics in the Thee Jenerators gallery. Some going back five years. This was quite enlightening.

Remember that I said that Thee Jenerators were one of my favorite bands. This is because they take 'performance' beyond simply standing behind a microphone.

This then is where my lessons started and my current 'mantra' of trying to be vicious with my picture editing revels itself as still needing a bit (OK a lot) of work!

There are quite a few pics in the gallery which, I think, capture the full character and performance of this energetic band... but too many pics have crept in that are nothing more than average... or worse. These should never have seen the light of day... or the Internet! Thankfully most of them are from several years ago, including the 5 year old example below. Maybe this proves that I am getting a bit better at what I'm doing ;-)

It's clear that I still have loads to learn but take this New Years tip from me and short-cut your own scholarship. You can borrow my own New Years resolution that 'In 2016 I will try and make my picture edits more ruthless'. The delete button on the keyboard is there for a good reason..... to help us improve the quality of our work.

I'm resisting the urge to delete my 'fails' from the Thee Jenerators gallery to give you the chance to see what I am talking about here. I'd love to know which pics you think are the 'fails'. Please let me know what you think and we can compare notes.... This is my e-mail CLICK HERE TO E-MAIL ME.

You can be as ruthless with me as I like... I need the help ;-)

Oh, and one final tip from me (for FREE).... and it's one that I use myself sometimes.

I still have some old 1GB cards that only hold 36 pictures. It really focuses your mind when you shoot with one of those - just like it did when I started taking pics on real film and it cost money with every click!!

3.15am EDIT: Time for bed I think ;-)

Variety is the spice of photography... just as it is in life itself.

I am able to mix many genres of image taking into most of my working weeks and this keeps me interested and motivated... although maybe I should find a better way to describe what I do as the term 'working' doesn't really portray how I feel about my avocation.

My Blog often states how much I enjoy what I do and after more than a decade of life spent exclusively looking through a lens my luck, good fortune and opportunity to pursue photography full-time still feels as special as the first step I took on this amazing journey.

It is also rather special that so many people have joined me along the way by occasionally popping along to this web-site to see the latest updates.

Today I'm amazed to see that the total views on this web-site have reach another Milestone with ELEVEN MILLION VIEWS being logged!

May I say a BIG THANK YOU to you all.

As it has become traditional to mark these Milestones you might like to view a few previous Blogs:
CLICK TO VIEW A FEW PREVIOUS MILLION MILESTONE BLOGS

The day after the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club's Annual Dinner Dance can be quite a fragile place to be. Motorsport guys know how to party!

I guess that after a bacon roll for breakfast the next thing you need to effect a full recovery is a dose of fresh air.

As it happened, the fresh air was supplied in over-dose levels by gale-force winds. Maybe this was the amount of medication the doctor had ordered?

Anyway, the remedy was having affect on the Trials boys who were down at Petit Bot for the latest GMC&CC meeting!

All the sections were quite close together meaning that things were wrapped up nice and early... now that's what I call good planning. I reckon a few competitors were heading back to bed to complete their recovery ;-)

Pics are now online:
VIEW THE LATEST TRIALS PICS

Guernsey seems to be almost unique in allowing Trials bikes to ride around on its beaches. This helps to make the Guernsey 2-Day Trials Open events so popular with Jersey, UK and French riders.

Today I just managed to get to a section of the Trials meeting laid out on rocks in the pretty Bordeaux Harbour.

The rocky sections were a challenge as the Guernsey granite takes no prisoners. Its not a fair fight between Guernsey's finest 'hard stuff' and a bike frame... or worse, a riders bones!

However there were no mishaps whilst I was there :-)

That was not the case at the Autocross meeting at Chouet. We had roll-over after roll-over including a 'hospital run' for one unlucky passenger. All this drama meant the meeting had to be cut short and was also the reason I was late getting to the Trials.

But that's Motorsport, eh.

Pics are now on-line:
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOCROSS
VIEW PICS OF THE TRIALS

Why do they do it?

What possible enjoyment can there be?

When the Motocross season arrives, so does the wet and windy weather!

The riders who enter the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Motocross events must know what's in store... but they still arrive, keen and eager to mix it in the mud.

Perhaps my question should have been... Why does a photographer turn up, get wet, get blown about by the cliff-top winds and get covered in mud?

Well, of course, I happen to think it is great fun also!

So that is the scene set for last weekends GK&MC Motocross race at Pleinmont.

I did my wet and windy duty and took a few pics :-)

Check 'em out here:
VIEW PICS OF THE MOTOCROSS RACING

It's always surprising how quickly we forget what the weather was like just days before.

I've been sat in my office today looking out at a very miserable and wet day. I was quite pleased to be tucked away in the dry.

But it is only a couple of days ago that we were revelling in the glorious Guernsey weekend weather. The sun was out and the very last place anyone wanted to be was indoors!

However I suppose today's nasty turn has encouraged me to catch up with some work!

The end of month accounts have all been sent and a couple of major assignments have received their final edit. And now the evening has arrived I've completed the edit of the weekend's Motorsport.

Two new Galleries are now on-line. One features the final Round of the GK&MC Summer Kart Championship. The other is of the GMC&CC Trials meeting at The Pines.

Take a look at the pics here:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND 9 OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP
VIEW PICS OF THE TRIALS AT THE PINES

When Ozzy Ozanne is beaten in a straight fight on the sands of Chouet beach it is the stuff that makes headlines!

Ozzy is a multiple champion and seems to be almost unbeatable.

The multi-champ combines his talent for beach racing with a knack of selecting and preparing fast, competitive and reliable cars.

There is no doubt that Ozzy has earnt his championships and it is not for him to slow down but for his competitors to raise their own game to his level.

Well, just maybe, we have the first signs that there is a driver and car combination that can challenge Ozzy?

Tony Le Prevost has found himself a four-wheel-drive Subaru that is clearly fast enough as he took the top spot in Sunday's Race of Firsts - well ahead of Ozzy.

As a spectator this is great news. I think we will see some great racing for the rest of the season. I recommend that you make a diary date for 15th November when the fight continues.

My pics are now on-line:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS

The conditions were near perfect for Round-6 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's 2015 Motocross Championship at the Pleinmont track.

The racing was close in most of the Classes making sure the spectators were kept entertained :-)

The conditions also allowed the more confident riders to get a bit of air... I guess the theory is that there is less resistance to slow you down when your head is in the clouds!

Or maybe it's just a bit more fun?

This pic shows just how close some of the racing was!

Check the full Gallery here:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-6 OF THE GK&MC MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

On Sunday I decided to have a change... it's as good as a rest they say :-)

It's been a while since I have managed to get along to the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club's Sunday morning Trials.

Normally I photograph the Senior riders in the afternoon but the mornings are saved for the Youth, Sportsman and Pre 65 riders. So it was off to the Dos D'Ane on Sunday morning for me.

The atmosphere was great... busy and friendly.

The sections were close together as everything has to be fitted within the steep slope at Dos D'Ane as the junior riders aren't licensed to ride on the road. I had to have eyes in the back of my head to make sure I didn't wander into the tight sections. The juniors really enjoy the riding and I think many more youngsters would love the chance to take up the sport.

Then, in the afternoon, I made another rare visit to a Motorsport event.

The GMC&CC Autotests are very low-key. They 'pop up' in various car parks around the island. This time it was at Ronez quarry.

An Autotest meeting takes the form of a few mates driving near-wrecks of cars around tight circuits marked simply by traffic cones. The layout is changed several times and involves lots of tight turns, reversing, hard stops in the 'gates'... and lots of tyre smoking.

This is Motorspor fun on a budget. Yeah, it's a boys thing!

I've updated the Galleries here:
VIEW PICS OF THE JUNIOR TRIALS
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOTEST

Every season comes to an end.

In the case of summertime the final days are marked by the colours of Autumn taking charge.

When a Motorsport season ends it happens in the only way that racers know.... with smoke, burn-outs, speed and noise!

That was exactly how the Guernsey Kart and Motor Club said adieu to the 2015 Hillclimb and Sprint seasons... until they return again in 2016.

It has been a busy year of Motorsport in Guernsey. Maybe the additional new events have satisfied some of the racers 'need for speed' as the entry was quite small for the Vazon Sprint?

But every cloud has a silver lining. In this case it allowed loads of runs for those who had signed in.

That should keep 'em satisfied until the racing starts again in 2016!

I've updated the Gallery with todays racing:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE FINAL SPRINT OF 2015

I hope you haven't been counting, but it is several days since the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's 2-Day Motocross meeting :-)

As you might note from that statement I'm not someone who likes to exaggerate. Quite the opposite I think!

I'll leave it up to you to check how many 'several' days it has been since the 2-Day event.

Or you might just like to look at the pics now that they have arrived on-line?

It's your choice :-)
VIEW PICS OF THE MOTOCROSS 2-DAY MEETING

Another one from the weekend...

This time it is Motocross racing at Pleinmont... and it was very nice up there on the cliffs :-)

The track looked in fantastic condition. However I did manage to place myself in the firing line of mud thrown up by one of the racers. Yes, I was totally 'filled-in' together with my two cameras.

I've now made a mental note to check-out the muddy spots before leaning over the track for the best angle!

Thankfully everything is now clean and the kit is ready for the next muddy encounter.

The pics are now online:
VIEW THE LATEST MOTO-X PICS

Whilst making the Guernsey Press edit I've gone all the way and finished the Autocross Gallery for today's racing.

This was Race 2 of the new Winter Championship. There seemed a shortage of roll-overs today but that didn't spoil some really close racing.

Things look good for the rest of the season :-)

The pics are now on-line here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS

Everyone must know the the name of the famous French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Renoir spent time in and enjoyed our beautiful Channel Island of Guernsey and painted the pretty beach situated below the southern cliffs of Guernsey named Petit Bot.

Indeed Petit Bot bay is a wonderful place to be... and I have Renoir on my side when I state this.

Renoir's paintings of Petit Bot will stand the test of time and promote this lovely corner of our small isle to many people for decades to come.

I'm guessing that my own contribution to the Petit Bot area won't remain as quite such an important 'work of art'... but I have done my (little) bit too!

In my case it is a photographic record of the place. Or maybe I should add that it is a photographic record of the Motorsport of the place!

Whatever the distinction, I've added to the history of Petit Bot by making a record of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's annual Hillclimbs.

My pics are now on-line... hopefully they add another small chapter to the story of this historic bay nestling below the Guernsey cliffs :-)

My pics can now be viewed online:
VIEW PICS OF THE 2015 PETIT BOT HILLCLIMB

Whilst I had todays folder of pics open I thought that it might be a good idea to clear the days work. At least it ticks another of those digital boxes:-)

Now that I've added a Gallery featuring the GMC&CC Twisty Sprint at The Track I can say it's 'job done' as far as today goes Motorsport events go.

Tomorrow the catch-up begins :-(
VIEW PICS OT THE TWISTY SPRINT AT THE TRACK

The last couple of weeks have left me with a load of pics to edit and upload!

So where to start?

Well it has to be the smallest photoshoot, doesn't it?

That way I get to knock one job off the list... just like that :-)

As I only spent about twenty minutes right at the end of todays GMC&CC Trials meeting I only saw about ten riders. So that's an easy update.

Job done!
VIEW PICS OF THE TRIALS MEETING

I've said it before but it's worth repeating.

Guernsey offers an incredible array of Motorsport for those who like to partake or be a spectator. Or photograph, in my case :-)

Last weekend I only managed to get to two events. Actually that isn't quite true as the third one on my list (Trials) had just finished by the time I arrived after photographing a Rugby game for the Guernsey Press.

However I did get to photograph two Motorsports. The GK&MC Summer Kart Championship at The Track and the continuation of the Autocross Championship at Chouet after their summer break.

So I had my regular Motorsport 'fix' :-)

I've now completed the edit and the pics are on-line:
VIEW PICS OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

Just a quick update to give you links to the finished Alderney '3-Event' Motorsport Galleries.

I reckon that everyone's 'Alderney Flu' has passed (at least until next year) so maybe you will be ready to take a look at your racing from the three days.

My final updates are for the 'headline' event which is the Hillclimb at Fort Tourgis. This is the days racing that makes the effort and expense worth while in most racers minds.

It's also a great event to photograph!

I love Alderney and enjoy it as much as the visiting racers, however (as you all know) it is a very expensive few days and your support by buying a couple of pics will ensure that I return to the northern isle to capture the action next year!

Go on, you know you want to :-)

These are the links to the three days Galleries:
VIEW PICS OF THE NEW ALDERNEY SPRINT
VIEW PICS OF THE ALDERNEY AIRPORT SPEED EVENT
VIEW PICS OF THE ALDERNEY HILLCLIMB

Another day, another update.

I'm now two-thirds through the Alderney edit after completing the first two events of the trilogy.

Tradition has it that the first event of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Alderney weekend takes place near Fort Corblets in the north of the Island.

So it was straight off to the racing as soon as I disembarked the 7.30am Aurigny flight on Thursday. This allowed me time to grab a bacon & sausage bap for breakfast before helping Dale Crowsley to lay out his Forest Road Garage, Mazda and Kia banners.

Dale is a committed supporter/sponsor of the Club enabling it to put on so many different events. The banners also help me photographically by making the public road look a bit more like a race track :-)

I've now added the Alderney Sprint pics to my Galleries:
VIEW PICS OF THE ALDERNEY SPRINT 2015

Maybe it's because I put an imaginary electronic pin into the digital pile?

Or perhaps I wasn't over the 'Alderney Jet Lag' yet?

Whatever the reason, I seem to have started the editing of three days worth of Alderney Motorsport photography in the middle!

It may be that I quite like a couple of the photographic 'viewpoints' that are offered to me on the Alderney Airport Speed Events track.

Unlike most of the motorsport events I photograph, there is an opportunity to add something extra to the pics captured in Alderney. What I mean by that is that I'm able to 'describe' where the racing takes place by carefully positioning the background scene to ensure that everyone knows precisely where the action took place. For example I love the view that places the Airport Control Tower as a backdrop.

Another viewpoint offers an unusual angle, where, (in complete contradiction) the background shows nothing more than sky! That angle is really tidy without distractions.

But, hopefully, I didn't get too distracted by the backgrounds and didn't forget to capture some action too!

You will be able to make up your own mind as the Galleries fill up with the three days pics.

So far you can view the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's (Airport) Speed Event at Le Grande Val, Alderney. Day 1 and 3 will follow:
VIEW SCENIC PICS OF THE ALDERNEY AIRPORT SPEED EVENT