S2 Avant Nothelle action pics

[Key Walshe]

A friend wanted to test his new camera with some action shots, so rather than use his wife's Vauxhall Ashtray, asked if I'd like some good shots of my S2. I was only too willing to oblige, there's only so many angles you can take of your car when stationary so off we went to the twisties round Parbold (nr. Wigan) and got some pretty good action pics. He believes he has a lot more practice to get it spot on, but for a first attempt with his new camera, I think they came out pretty good.

Have a look and let me know what you think...? The first pic is my favourite, the wheels in the arches look great










A slightly used front end, needs a refresh with the black paint but it ain't a show car



... and a couple I took with my phone (HTC) whilst sat waiting for him to set his camera up!!

[anthonys2]

nice pictures!

hi mate if thats your friends first attempt with his camera hes got off to a damn good start!! the top photo is really good it certainly makes your suspension look low through the corner good job

[avants2turbo]

hmm... Im not convinced, what equipment is he using? (body and lens/lenses)

[Key Walshe]

Not convinced? About what exactly? He's had it set up for static shots in and around the house, but wanted to get out & about... he's cropped the images on the laptop as they were huge so some quality is lost, and to show more car and less scenerey too (though that top one is pretty much as it were, very pleased with that!). As for make & lense, I haven't a clue, it was black with a lense of about 3" in length and went "click"

I'll ask for you though...

Cheers for the compliments Anthony, I was really pleased with them - they make a change to the usual ones I have, infront of a mountain/hill all angles, on the drive after a wash all angles, side of the road all angles. Not as much body roll as I thought either, it has H&R's on and feels stiff but still expected to show more

[Gompa]

hmm... Im not convinced, what equipment is he using? (body and lens/lenses)

how much more convincing do you need? The pics are above and id put good money on a camera being used

pics are realy like the top pic, still not sure if I like the black rings or not look well on yours but dont think they would work on a lighter colour

[bad8008]

pics 3 & 5 looks great.
most of them are out of focus (pic 1,2,4).
pic 1 is focusing on the trunk of your car.
suggest him to adjust the focal points.

[bad8008]

is your Avant Brilliant Black?

[dest]

Awesome shots, just a shame they are out of focus, but as you said, he is learning the new camera

It has also shown me what wheels I want! Just a shame its impossible to find some

[gavs20v]

Lovely looking estate, the cup reps look spot on. One of my top 3 favourite wheels on the s2.
@Dest- i may be putting my set up for sale nxt mth ( it's not the black set that I put on the can btw)

[rob martin]

pic 7.
you need to sort the smokey back end out mate. i thought it was a james bond trick when i had my vr6.

[avants2turbo]

pics 3 & 5 looks great.
most of them are out of focus (pic 1,2,4).
pic 1 is focusing on the trunk of your car.
suggest him to adjust the focal points.

When i say not convinced, i mean about the quality of the images not that i doubt they are photographs with a camera... As the fello above says, they are out of focus! The reason i asked about the kit used, is because if it was a tiny compact with very little control over the thing the pics are ok, but even if its the most basic of dslr even with the disposable kit lens they throw in you should be able to achive more pleasing results

[macspring]

This thread is useful on loads of fronts,

Don't worry about some people's criticism about the photos, they're better that the ones I don't have.

People's criticism should be constructive.

As was mentioned at the outset, it's his first practice with the new camera.

My angle regarding this thread is having read the article in your signature about the car, what springs and shocks are currently fitted and what anti roll bars are fitted? See photo # 5.

I would be interesting to see a second car with a different suspension set up take the same line and speed through a corner and to photograph the two of them, or the same car with a before and after re the fitting of x suspension component, e.g. ARBs or springs and shocks.

Looking for forward to you mate's next set of shots. Good subject matter btw.

Kind regards.

[dest]

I should add, Ive recently got a new camera too (DSLR) and would love to have a play about getting some decent shots.
Shame no one is local enough to have a go?!

[Key Walshe]

Thanks for the, um, constructive criticism's... I'll be sure to pass the tips on.

The camera used was a "Canon 450D with Canon 18-55mm kit lense, and a Sigma 70-300mm" - I have no idea how that ranks in the world of photography, but it looks reasonable for an amateur and I know he doesn't buy cheap stuff.

Bad8008 - not it's not Brilliant Black, it's actually Amethyst Pearl, but it was a pretty overcast day in the North of England in late January, so it does look darker in that light.

Dest & Gave, cheers for the compliments, I love the alloys (though many don't - trying to look like an RS2 apparantly?) and I even have a second set which I'm hoping to refurb once other projects are done. I had to get them from German eBay though

Rob, cheeky fecka... believe it or not, that was mostly tyre smoke!! Pics 5=7 are the same bend, braking hard from above legal limits to show the dive (pic 6) and then the turn in (pic 7) to see the roll and the power out (pic 8). The roads were very broken up (as you can see with the pothole in the foreground and certainly damp, I made about 8 passes round this bend (nailing it from about 40mph) and every time it lit up the rears, though sadly that was the best pic showing the smoke. With a freshly refurbed turbo, recently done valve stem seals and all breathers, it ain't much of a smoker thankfully.

Dave (in Dublin) the shocks are H&R with a 40mm drop, or so I was told by the previous owner. They've been ok, so as of yet, I haven't felt the need to look into them anymore. I'm not sure which past owner fitted them (BRY on this forum may know more). The RARB as far as I'm aware is standard, and the rear has always felt the "loosest" and is certainly prone to kicking out. There's plenty more security up front, with regards feel. I like the idea of comparing other cars though, you up for it Rob with the RS2, see how yours looks?

[rob martin]

pics you mean ? or racing ?

you can get some pictures next week if you wish. going to be busy at the start of the week and car not yet back from it's freshen up. i need to get it mot'd next week aswell so let me know later in the week. i have some pics here if anyone want's to host them. they are on my mac and i don't know how to put them on !!! computers ???