
Originally Posted by
Slapshotnerd
I wasn't at the event, and I haven't seen the layout of the track, so I don't know a lot of details of how it happened. But i've shot several drifting events (i'm probably close to 50 now over the past 2 years), so I have a little bit of experience on this...
I always watch the course for a while first, and I can usually tell which corners will be 'safe' and which ones will be more dangerous. I'll shoot in the 'safer' locations, even if they aren't the best shots.
One thing I've always tried to do is sit on the inside of a large radius, so that the car is going in an equal motion away from me. Those who are familiar with the Irwindale course know that the 'carousel' on the infield is one of these types of turns. It makes for better shots, and it's very safe (because of the way that the car is traveling, it's hard to come directly toward the photographer).
Another option, which can be used in conjunction, is to use K rails / water barriers (that are actually filled with water, not just setup) to line photo pits and provide a barrier. they don't need to be connected, just be close enough to prevent an entire car from flying between them.
I've witnessed some pretty scary things at events, including one photographer at one event shooting from directly above a cone with a wide-angle lens on the inside of a turn. But I know that the whole "spotter" thing is easier said than done at most events. Convincing someone to stand around for several hours just to watch out for you is tough, especially if they aren't being compensated.