So in case you haven't heard there was a horrible crash yesterday at LVMS during the Indy car race:
IndyCar crash: Drivers had safety concerns - CBS News

So I come down this morning and my grandma is watching the news, and they're going over the car crash. She turns to me and starts asking why anyone would go to the speedway to race, and how stupid and dangerous it is. I just kinda smiled and nodded. I think I'll wait a few days to tell her about the track day

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I was there shooting the IZOD IndyCar World Championships when this crash happened. It actually happened directly in front of me. I have been told that I got some amazing pictures of the crash, but considering that Dan Wheldon died of his injuries from that crash, I'm not all that excited about the images. To my understanding, if my media company would have gotten back to me in time, AP was going to pick up my images to put in the LVRJ for today. Unfortunately they were too late in getting back to me, so my images didn't get sold to AP.

If you look at the images on the LVRJ site, you will see a stand in the front of some of the crash pictures where there are people in yellow and orange vests standing on the stand. That is the photo stand on the tunnel at LVMS. I'm the 4th one from the right on that stand. (yellow vest) So, like I said, it literally all happened right in front of me.

Anyway, I'm not allowed to post up the images on misc sites, but I am allowed to have them on my site. If you want to see the images from the day, including the 5 lap salute all of the drivers gave to Dan Wheldon, they are on this link...

IZOD IndyCar World Championship Images from South Bay Photography

My heart and prayers go out to Dan Wheldon, his family, friends, teammates and all of the IndyCar drivers.

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If you can't beat 'em...shoot 'em!

South Bay Photography

DAYUM! Dude... as horrible as the experience must have been.... those are... amazing. Number 18 looks insane. It seriously looks like it was from a Hollywood movie.

What were you thinking when it happened? Because you have a good number of pictures.

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Thank you for the compliment. Much appreciated. I have been complimented by other media agencies and other pro photographers regarding the images I shot that day of the crash. Especially #18. That seems to be a "favorite", so to speak. It does seem like it was all out of a Hollywood movie. I think even one of the photographers said the crash looked like a scene that belonged in a Terminator movie.

Honestly, I didn't think at all. I reacted and relied on my "training" to carry me through the situation. Almost like a military move actually. I was shooting a group of two cars, right in front of the crash, that were coming over the tunnel and then I heard the crash and saw it out of the corner of my eye and swung back over and started shooting while keeping focus on what was passing me as much as I could. Kind of when a police officer or military person relies on their training. It was instinct, I guess. I'm not trying to be a smartazz or anything, but really that's what it was for me. I didn't really "think" until the entire crash was over and stopped. I just shot through, then looked at the tragedy and then the images to see what I captured.

It was after it stopped is when I thought...WTF just happened?! Then you replay it in your mind. Like one of the other photographers that was out there with me stated, "It was so unreal you have to really think to yourself, 'Did that just really happen?'"

Again, I'm proud of the images and I was there when a moment in history changed and I caught it on film (or sensor, as it were); but it's still a sad situation all around.

Again, I appreciate the compliment on the images.

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If you can't beat 'em...shoot 'em!

South Bay Photography