Dennis Gray Photo Gallery

Jonathan Feiber – 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 in Group 3A – 1955-1961 Sports Racing Cars over 2000cc at the 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion, Nikon 300mm f/13 at 1/250 second.

Intro by Brandes Elitch
All Photos copyright Dennis Gray

Read the Interview with Dennis Gray

In my last column, I interviewed noted photographer Dennis Gray in Modesto last month. Dennis discussed some of his techniques for race photography based on fifty plus years of work. Afterwards, we realized that we needed to show more of his output, hence this second column. The photos speak for themselves and do not require additional commentary. However, I thought I would say a few words about this subject in general to put things in perspective for our readers.

Unlike shooting in a concours or a static setting, race photography is defined by the motion of the cars at speed, and your goal is to capture this action. This is what makes these shots exciting, but it is tricky to do right. You have to capture the speed, but also the details that really capture the uniqueness of the subject, such as the supercharger on a Blower Bentley for example. Two other considerations for the photographer are the light, where it is coming from and the degree of harshness, whether a flash is required, or delayed flash, and where you place the subject within the frame – centered, to the side, top or bottom. The light is going to change as the day goes on, so you will have continually make adjustments for that too. Shooting at night is quite different from during the day.

Panning the camera is also necessary, and this is tricky too. Of course, the background will be blurred, but you want some degree of clarity and sharpness in the central focus. The choice of lens is critical, particularly with telephoto lenses. Sometimes, a wide-angle lens is called for. Sometimes you need a tripod, other time a monopod will work. In some cases, you will not be able to get close enough to the subject, so this will call for a zoom lens. You don’t want to be weighted down by carrying twenty pounds of gear for four or five hours at the track, so you have to do some strategic planning here.

Tracks are long, and often the weather is hot and can be oppressive, so it is really critical to choose the right spots to photograph from, rather than spend the day exhausting yourself scampering all around the infield. Often, you will see photographers clustered at a particular spot, so you know that that is a good venue, but if you want to stand out from the crowd you might choose somewhere else that
nobody else has found yet.

If you want to be a standout photographer, you have to first learn the rules of photography, but to create your own unique, identifiable style, sometimes you have to break the rules. Some of the rules are:
-create depth
-watch the background
-look for patterns and repetition
-frame within a frame, and fill the frame
-simplify

Over fifty years of constant output, including running his own advertising studio, Dennis has proven to be a master of race photography, and we are grateful to him for sharing some of his work with us.

Dennis and his work can be found here:

Contact Dennis at:
Dennis Gray
415.269.5419
dennisgrayphotographer.com
historicmotorprints.com
To purchase a print, send Dennis a request and he will respond within a day.
Or, visit Sports Car Digest – The Sports, Racing and Vintage Car Journal

Ned Spieker – 1957 Maserati 200SI in Group 2A – 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT Cars at the 2018 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. I have dozens of images of this driver and car it is my favorite. Sharp with lots of motion and deep color. Nikon 200mm f/10 at 1/160 second.

Peter Greenfield with 1935 Alfa Romeo 8C in turn turn two, Sears Point in a rainy Ferrari Challenge. Nikon 340mm f5.6 at 1/400 second. Looking to keep the water build up under the tires combined with the surface reflections.

2009 Two Bugatti’s going nose to tail through Sears Point’s turn eleven. I look for the front views of Buggs each front wheel going in a different direction. Nikon 300mm f7.1 at 1/640 second.

The late Peter Giddings in his 1953 Lancia D24/5 in Group 5A – 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT Cars at the 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion. In the heavy fog I was looking for a period car following Peter through turn three this Allard J2 works. Nikon 310mm f14 at 1/160 shutter. Slower shutter speed to gain a little motion blur.

Conrad Stevenson – 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 in Group 1A – Pre-1940 Sports Racing and Touring Cars/Race cars and 1927-1951 Racing Cars at the 2018 SCRAMP Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Nikon 200mm f/9.5 1/250 second.

Hans Hugenholtz – 1950 Talbot T26 in Group 1A at the 2019 Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion. You can see Hans’ left knee extending out of the cockpit. Nikon 500mm
f/5.6 1/750 second.

Joseph Nastasi – 1967 Alfa Romeo 33-2 Floreon in Group 7A – 1963-1973 FIA Manufacturers Championship Cars at the 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion. Run under an overcast and lots of yellow ash from local wild fires. Nikon 260mm f/9.5 1/180 second.

Tonis Kasemets – 1967 Alfa Romeo T33/2.5 Daytona in Group 7A – 1963-1973 FIA Manufacturers Championship Cars at the 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Nikon 310mm f//9.5 1/180 second. I used a longer lens to compress images and hold detail in the Alfa Romeo.

David Love and Phil Hill. Two of the great faces of West Coast Vintage Sports Car Racing. Canon EOS 10D 41mm f/5.6 at 1/90 second.

Rebuilding the electronics on the Piccolo Maserati 250F. Nikon 50mm f1.4 at 1/400 second.

Jonathan Feiber driving his Maserati Birdcage into Laguna’s turn eleven, lap three during the 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Nikon 400mm f/10 1/500 second. I wanted to compress the cars in the early laps into a pattern of sheet metal shapes.

Lyn St James – 1931 Bugatti Type 51 in Group 1A – Pre-1940 Sports Racing and Touring Cars/Race cars and 1927-1951 Racing Cars at the 2018 SCRAMP Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Nikon 390mm f/10 at 1/250 second.

A tight group exits Laguna’s turn five. Blue No.26 Hans Hugenholtz – 1950 Talbot 26C , Black 26 Jeff O’Neill – 1926 Delage, 139-Conrad Stevenson – 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 tightly following. Nikon 310mm 1/250 second F/11.

Jeff O’Neill – 1926 Delage in Group 1A – Pre-1940 Sports Racing and Touring Cars/Race cars and 1927-1951 Racing Cars 2018 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Jeff leads through turn five Friday morning. Nikon 200mm f/11 at 1/250 second.

Chris MacAllister – 1976 Ferrari 312T2 in Group 4A – 1967-1984 Formula One at the 2018 SCRAMP Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Chris accelerates out of five. Nikon 200mm
f/10 at 1/400 second.

Robert Davis – 1953 Siata 208s in Group 5A – 1947-1955 Sports Racing and GT Cars at the 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Heavy overcast from local wild fires produce a yellow cast. Nikon 240mm f/8 at 1/250 second.

Denis Bigioni – 1948 Talbot-Lago T26C in Group 2A – 1927-1951 Racing Cars at the 2017 Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion run at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Denis is in turn five. Nikon 500mm f/5.6 at 1/750 second.