The Cars On Track
Most of this installment will feature F1 cars in motion on the Singapore nighttime street circuit, way back in 2011. As covered in part 1, although this was a while back (2011), it still seems like yesterday. There aren't many obvious signs this was a decade ago! Apart the cars, these are about the only clues. There was no 'halo' bar and there was more variety in the shape and aerodynamic parts of the cars. KERS was a new thing, and able to be used for boost anywhere on the circuit - not just in zones. DRS was also still to arrive!
Does it look different today?
How much can change in 11 short years? If you took photos of some of the F1 circuit and surrounds in 2003, they'd have looked a lot different. No Marina Bay Sands, about a third the skyscrapers, in fact an entire chunk of CBD was just a field when I first arrived in Singapore back then! I think Singapore hasn't changed a lot and everything is familiar now. Back in 2011, F1 was still fairly new to Singapore (I think the 2nd or 3rd year it was running), as was most of the Marina Bay redevelopment. The event served to showcase and market Singapore to the world, and has been very successful in doing so. Singapore now has a glamour and panache akin to becoming the 'Monaco of South East Asia'.
The shots
Although having a ticket allowing access to virtually all areas of the track, it wasn't a press pass. I could not get down the pit lane either, that was only for elite VVIP ticket holders. I could however, get right to the fence on some key corners such as turn 1, that had a great spot both on the pit exit and first turn. All equipment was rented for the weekend. Canon EOS 7D, and sports lenses. I was able to use DoPF to eliminate the fact I was shooting through metal fencing the entire time - and in many shots it's completely hidden. You may notice the aberrations in lighting in some shots.
The Cars
2011 was a glorious year for Formula 1 livery. Some teams bought back iconic schemes, such as the Lotus black and gold, some made newly iconic ones such as the 'Mexico' sponsorship of the Sauber cars, thanks to Sergio Perez. My ticket enabled me to really go for it, and get as close to the action as possible. So it's time to stop rambling about it and spill the goods! Enjoy, and if you read this far, thank you it means a lot. See you in the next post!
An example here of difficulty in framing fast moving race cars, the front and back got chopped off. Time to change the angle or zoom out a little more
An improvement, reasonable detail here on Lewis Hamilton exiting the pitlane, but can do better!
I call this one 'MEXICO' for obvious reasons. Black and white done in post processing, it really made the shot. Notice the steward watching dead centre opposite the camera. A lot of atmosphere in this shot, I like how it turned out 'stripped down'.
The above shot in original form, before processing. Do you agree, the B&W works better here?
There's a flurry of movement as stewards and mechanics busy around the cars as they line up on the grid. I slowed the exposure to capture some of the sense of bustle, which was immense at this pre-race conjecture.
Fairly mediocre shot of the Mercedes here, practicing for the better ones you see. I improved the composition by capturing more of the corners radius in other shots.
Lewis Hamilton takes turn 1 in qualifying
It's the Force India driven by (I believe) Adrian Sutil
Another version of the Mexico shot (Sauber with Sergio Perez bringing in the big Mexican sponsors in 2011). I'd seen it in preview on the camera and wanted to get that full word 'Mexico' in frame.
Similar to the previous shot, another version of capturing the grid line up rush and bustle. Perhaps this one captures better detail.
Iconic color scheme for Lotus
The team probably almost as well known as Ferrari these days, Red Bull. It's been a long while they'd been at the very front of the sport now, and still are.
A few more successful shots
Where the car didn't zoom out of frame ... or get cut
Mercedes driven by Lewis Hamilton
HRT - a lesser known team, but after seeing this shot I wish I'd repeated it for other cars, it could be really detailed with more attempts.
Red Bull pouring itself into turn 1
Jenson Button in the #4 McLaren. One of my all time driver heroes ... more on him in part 3
Part 3 Teaser - Celebrities
I'm stood right behind JB as he readies himself to get into his car for the race. But can I capture his attention for a smile? In the next part, JB and several other drivers and celebrities I was able to shoot from the stands ..
SHOUT OUT
Having noticed a small yet very nice and steady increase in followers, I'd like to say thanks and welcome to all new followers of 
all images my own, copyright 