Credit: PaddockTalk/Sam Tickell

It is that time of year again – time to choose my favourite photos. 2008 was an odd year for me. It was a year that I was able to take on more photography assignments and thanks to others in the Ptalkphoto team, I learnt a huge amount. But it was also a strange year in that I was unable to make it to the number of events I would have liked. The Australian sportscar scene – which is my preference, imploded and rebuilt itself in 2008 but it did mean that I was unable to do some events that I otherwise would have. But, no doubt, 2009 should be a great year.

Credit: PaddockTalk/Gail Shankland

Call me unconventional, call me crazy .. I don’t mind! But ever since I joined the PTalk Photography Team alongside my husband, my outlook has always been considerably different ... and frankly I’m fine with that! I’d rather be a little different than normal and boring! Besides ... if I’m doing it "my way" you can’t compare my work to anyone else’s ... which means I can’t be doing it wrong!

Since I attended my very first race, I’ve been harping on ... and on .... about how the racing series’ truly don’t show off their best assets to the fullest ... and I’m not talking about those Michelin’s ... not the Honda Engines ... and NO ... not the grid girls! In my mind, the men beneath the helmets are completely underutilized marketing tools ... and as such I set out on a slightly different journey in my strange involvement in motorsport.

That said, this year’s Fab Five Fotos by Gail Shankland are "going into the run-off" ... making a bit of a "pit stop" ... taking a bit of a different turn for 2008 (it’s kinda like turning right for all you NASCAR fans!).

Having turned more of my attention to media and public relations since 2006, I find myself more deeply entrenched in marketing and promotions year after year, which often means less time in track-side photography. I wouldn’t however, trade what I do for the world ... and I’m thrilled to enjoy opportunities that most motorsport photographers will never know ... and may never even be interested in ... (you fools!!)

Since much of my time in 2008 was absorbed in things beyond photography track-side, I’ve decided to dedicate my Fab Five Fotos of the year to a fantastic driver who just can’t seem to catch a break ... and yes ... maybe you’ll think this is a bit of shameless self-promotion for this fine young man ... but I’m okay with that ... he deserves it!

This one’s for you Andreas Wirth! Maybe this year you’ll achieve your dreams ... heaven only knows you’ve worked very hard for it, and you’re a talented and deserving young racer (I just wish race fans and teams everywhere could know what you’ve been through)!

No. 1

2007 was a little different for me – while I didn’t have the opportunity to visit any fly-away race destinations I did have the opportunity to visit two tracks I’d never been to before. Due to our schedule in ‘07 we were only able to attend three races– but each of them was memorable in their own right.

My first race of the season was at Mont Tremblant in Quebec. It’s a track I’ve always wanted to visit, but until 2007 there’d never been a real nagging reason to go - Thank you Champ Car! Switching venues from Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal to beautiful Mont Tremblant was a huge selling feature for me. While I’ve always like the Montreal race, I’d been there a few times and was ready for a change of scenery – and what a change!

If you’ve never been to the Laurentian Mountains then you owe it to yourself to make the trip. The track is beautifully laid out with plenty of elevation changes and the mountains surrounding you. The whole area is beautiful and the people in the area are very nice and accommodating.

When I was sifting through my pictures for the Fab Photos, I was surprised how many from Mont Tremblant were my favourites. Much has to do with the track layout – there really is no bad vantage points – and there are so many positions you don’t traditionally get to shoot from. Case in point:

Normally I don’t bother to shoot the rear of the cars because it’s not that interesting. But this shot of the Champ Car race was special. From my position I could see the starting lights, the flag stand and most of the competitors. As I watched the lights go on one-by-one the tension increased around me. The cars’ engines revved for the start and as soon as the lights went out I fired off a couple of shots. I love this picture because the cars haven’t even moved yet but the lights are out and the heat from the engines distorts a lot of the picture.