~ The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race ~

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Start your Engines!"

Traditionally in the Indianapolis area, the month of May has  been packed with race related events leading up to the pageantry and excitement of "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

I have lived here for the past 21 years and I enjoy going out to The Indianapolis Motor Speedway with camera in hand to capture the spirit of the fans, the celebrities, the symbols and, of course- the race! The photo ops are endless...

The opening photo of this week's blog is the top of the Borg Warner Trophy presented to the winner of the 500 mile race. On Community Day, the public can get a close view of the 153 pound, 5-foot 4-inch sterling silver trophy. I took advantage of being 'up close and personal' and photographed the trophy from all angles. The photo above was my favorite of the bunch. I decided to process this iconic symbol in black and white, giving it an historic feel. (After all, it has been in the winner's circle since 1936!)

(Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, Canon 70-300mm DO IS lens, 1/1250 second @ f 6.3, ISO 200)

Most areas of the track are open to the public on Community Day, including "Gasoline Alley" where all the race teams work on their cars. This image was made kneeling beside this pit crew member during a pit stop practice session in one of the garages. I chose to shoot this photograph with a Lensbaby, making the 'sweet spot' frame the words 'Indy 500' on the tire. The blurred edges create motion to an otherwise static image.

(Canon EOS 1-D Mark II, Original Lensbaby, 1/1600 sec @ f 4.0, ISO 200)