The 2006 A1 Grand Prix in Durban, South Africa

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Back at the media centre I plonk myself down at a table and one of the professional photographers I know asks why I carry that huge bag around with me when there are lockers in the room next door. I remain deadpan and stifle an irresistable urge to scream... Looking at my pictures on my laptop it appears that from an exposure point of view they are pretty good, except that the cars look like they are parked on the track. Everything has a very static look to it. Obviously the trick here is to pan or use a slower shutter speed so as to give the wheels and background a little blur, but the trouble with that theory is that panning through the trackside fence is impossible. As I am thinking about this one of the photographers from Touchline is dicussing the very same thing with another English lady who runs the media centre. We need holes, bigger holes, he says, being backed up in his request by myself and a few other photogs. In her marmalade English accent she says, "Not to worry lads, we'll sort it out for you tonight. Where would you like the holes?" Jolly grand, we'll have them here, here, here and here.

A map of the circuit is summarily splotched with crosses.

Saturday, 28 January. Day 2.
On waking early I discover that my prayers have been answered. Glorious sunshine is streaming through the windows in my lounge and there's not a cloud in sight, or a breath of wind to speak of. Looks like its going to be a lovely summers day in Durban. In reality no such thing exists because as anyone with half a brain will tell you, Durban in January is like a portal to the fires of Hades - not pleasant at all. This is bourne out by the fact that it is already over 30ºc by the time I arrive back at the track (around 8am).

On track conditions are considerably improved now that the rain has gone and I stride out carrying only my Leica M6 and the Epson R-D1. Gee, movement is suddenly a lot better. Another walk around the track takes myself and a fellow photographer who is working for Reuters to the first chicane, about a third of the way around the circuit. Along the way we see that the media center people have kept their promise and they have opened up a few little shooting holes at various points around the track. The only problem I can see with this arrangement is that there are going to be too many photographers to each hole.

A photographer's shooting hole

The cars are now on the track at the start of the first session for the day and from my position at the first chicane I am perfectly positioned to catch them as they hit the rumble strips. I have set the focus of the 135mm Leica lens which is mounted onto the R-D1 digital rangefinder by using the depth of field scales engraved on it, and as the cars hit the apex I should (theoretically) be able to catch them in sharp focus because they have to slow down quite a bit at that point.

No sooner are the first three cars past me and my ears are begging for mercy! There is just no way I can continue to photograph without earplugs, so I abandon my position at the hole on the fence and head off in the direction of the flea market just outside the circuit to find earplugs. Amongst a myriad of gazebos and a fair sized tent village you can buy anything from African curios to donuts, to A1GP merchandise and even the daily newspaper. Fortunately I don't have to walk too far before I am relieved of a R5 coin in exchange for a pair of luminous pink and yellow earplugs by a very happy sales executive. These things make a big difference and I am now able to shoot with considerably less aural distress.

After about 30 minutes of shooting the same thing boredom kicks in and I start looking for something else to shoot. I head back across the circuit by means of the pedestrian bridge and notice for the first time that they have now blanketed off the bridge with sponsors hoarding, in effect stopping people from watching the race from atop these temporary structures. Probably a safety measure.

It's really hot and humid so I head back to the refuge of the air-conditioned media centre, but on the way I encounter a photo-opportunity that is one of the main reasons I wanted to shoot this event. Pitbabes! Yeah! They are leaning over the edge of one of the corporate hospitality suites and I get off a really nice shot using the R-D1, plus a couple on film with the Leica M6. Ain't this what living is really all about? Fast cars, gals and cameras.

Back at the media center there is still no sign of any free food (or beer), but plenty of bottled water, tea and coffee. What is it about these Brits and the constant need for tea? It's like the middle of the jungle out there but the foreign press members are drinking tea as if it was a lovely day in the rose gardens of Buckingham Palace.

I review the shots taken with the Epson R-D1 on my laptop before the start of qualifying and I realise quickly that despite having the track in focus, the blur on the cars as they head towards you isn't really indicative of speed, it just looks like the cars are out of focus. If they were travelling across the plane of focus things would be a lot better as I would be able to pan. However, even with the holes in the fence, panning just isn't going to happen easily, especially not using a rangefinder. The shots of the pit-babes are just great though!

Hospitality girls give me a reason to hope!

There is an old saying that goes something like this: Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun. Well, today I believe that adage has extended to include sports photographers. It is blisteringly hot by the time qualifying gets underway and to be perfectly honest, I have had enough of trying to photograph these cars, so I stay in the media centre and work on a few images, putting them up on my website with ease using the wireless connection provided by one of the sponsors. What did photographers do before digital cameras became the mainstream?

Sunday, 29 January. Day 3.
As we get older we notice our bodies start to slow down and protest against excessive use by delivering severe aches and pains to our muscles on days following any kind of physical activity. Backs creak and feet groan. I am no different and this morning, as I try to lift myself out of bed at 5am there are parts of me that simply refuse to co-operate. It feels as if I have run the Comrades. I stare at the face of a stranger in the mirror as I have a shave. I am sunburnt like a beetroot (except around the eyes, courtesy of the folks at Ray-Ban) and my hair resembles that of Bob Geldof. I also have severe chafing in regions I'd rather not describe. Is this the life of a professional photojournalist?

After spending 90 minutes trying to get out of the Casino carpark the night before, I thought it would be wise to arrive earlier and secure a decent parking closer to the exit, because all indications are that today, race day, is going to be a sell-out. With the closure of many of the roads around the circuit, traffic flow is not likely to be easy, so I leave home at around 5.30am, taking with me only three cameras and three lenses in a smaller Lowepro back-pack (see, experience does make you wise).

At 6am the circuit is already a buzz. There are new advertising boards up everywhere and believe it or not, people have already started to form queues at the gates! I've already been offered serious cash for my accreditation card by people who are relegated to watching from the stands. The media centre only opens at 8am so breakfast is a priority as there probably won't be much time to grab a bite to eat during the day.

Security checkpoint at pitlane (complete with x-ray)

After breakfast and once the centre has opened I stock up on complimentary spring water, taking at least 6 x 500ml bottles out of the fridge and putting them into little slip-lock bags that easily attach to sides of my Lowe-pro mini trekker. I smear myself with factor 40 sunblock and head out to the pitlane. Since yesterday security has been beefed up in a very big way. At the entrance to the pitlane there is now something resembling an airport security checkpoint, complete with metal detectors and believe it or not, x-ray machines too. We are told by Universal Soldier look-alikes to remove all articles from our pockets and pass them through the x-ray box. Wallets, keys, cellphones, bubble-gum, etc. I protest when the security guy tries to put my film camera through the machine! Fortunately he was reasonable and held onto them as I went through the metal detector.

On the other side of the security point I find that the pitlane has been closed to the media and I pretty much went through the GW Bush security zone for nothing. It would be better to be on the other side of the track, where an army of people are now streaming into the circuit, tooting vuvuzelas, wearing face paint and other extremely interesting apparel. To me this is far more interesting photographically than the super cars currently going around the track, but I resist the urge to just start shooting people without asking permission first. The trouble with public domain photography is that images showing recognisable faces can't be used commercially without a release and I just don't have the time to gather around a whole group of people in the hope of getting releases from everyone who is in any shot I take. Therefore anything I shoot can only be used for editorial purposes, for which revenues are considerably lower. Oh well, can't win 'em all.

Drivers on show, photographers go ape!

The A1GP series is brand new and amongst certain journalistic circles it's seen as one rich Arab's indulgence (namely Sheik Maktoum). Despite this negativity, its inaugural season is fast proving to be all that it claims to be - a battle on the track for the pride of nations. The racing is intense, the crowds are enthusiatic and the who's who of the SA social scene have come out to bear witness to this amazing spectacle. Thabo Mbeki is there, along with several other dignatories and they are all enjoying a day we'll be talking about for months to come.

For the most part, I am finding shooting motorsport particularly boring, but it is also very challenging, especially given the circumstances with the fencing. Today there are photographers with white A1GP tabbards everywhere. It's most alarming because it essentially means that the market for these pictures is going to be totally flooded. Unless you have a "money-shot" on your card, you are going to have to think really hard about adopting some sort of approach that will make your images stand out from the rest. This is where your creative eye becomes indispensable.

The morning passes really quickly and before I know it, the opening ceremony is underway. This is the moment I have been waiting for, because now we are allowed onto the grid and that in itself opens up a world of photo opportunities. The ceremony is basically a parade involving hundreds of dancing children and adults in a variety of costumes. There are floats too - something I haven't seen since the days of the old RAG parades. Bringing up the rear are the drivers, each of whom is accompanied by a lovely young girl and in typical Durban fashion, they are being ricksha-driven!

This is like photo heaven for me and I find myself in the middle of a media frenzy as photographers from around the world start forming a scrum to get the shots of each driver meeting the dignatories. Unless you've been in this sort of situation before it's hard to describe and definitely not for the faint-hearted.

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