Motorsport photography

[jimmy306]

Hi everyone, wasnt sure whether to post this in the motosport forum or this one, but decided here would be the best choice. Up until now i have mostly been a wildlife photographer but am now looking to expand my horizons, and hope to do some motosport photography this year.

My question is, which events are best for getting close to the action. I realise that with F1 and proabably BTCC you will not be able to get close enough trackside to get good shots. My lens gives me an equivalent (film) of 486mm telephoto, so being right next to the track isnt a neccessity but i want to be level with the track and as close as possible.

I dont mind paying a bit more to be allowed access trackside, so long as it not silly money, and i dont mind what kind of racing it is really! But the more photogenic the cars the better, so stuff like rallycross might be out .

I live on the Surrey/Sussex/Hampshire border and i dont mind a drive of a few hours, the major tracks close by are Thruxton, silverstone(ish) and Brands(ish) so any idea are greatly welcomed!!

Cheers, James

[covboy]

I'm afraid it's not just a case of "paying a bit more" to get trackside. Most Circuit and organising Clubs will only generally deal with accredited Photographers working for recognised publications or established freelancers. The bigger the meeting the tougher it is.

How do you get established I hear you ask - My best advice is go to some of the lower profile Club meetings where the whole day is generally more relaxed and laid back. Take plenty of action shots (with the equipment you have it won't be too much of a problem from public areas) and plenty of "atmosphere" shots around the paddock. Then try and circulate the results to any of the various publications around - They are always on the look out for the "missed" shot from their regulars or something offbeat

Edited by covboy on Saturday 16th January 17:53

[jimmy306]

covboy said:

I'm afraid it's not just a case of "paying a bit more" to get trackside. Most Circuit and organising Clubs will only generally deal with accredited Photographers working for recognised publications or established freelancers. The bigger the meeting the tougher it is.

How do you get established I hear you ask - My best advice is go to some of the lower profile Club meetings where the whole day is generally more relaxed and laid back. Take plenty of action shots (with the equipment you have it won't be too much of a problem from public areas) and plenty of "atmosphere" shots around the paddock. Then try and circulate the results to any of the various publications around - They are always on the look out for the "missed" shot from their regulars or something offbeat

Edited by covboy on Saturday 16th January 17:53

Thanks Covboy, i had a feeling this may be the case, i am not a professional photographer and wouldn't be looking to make money from my photography. How close are the public area's (generally) to this track?

[GJB]

You can get close enough. Just need to find places that are not obscured by catch fencing. For example inside of Druids at Brands. At the nearest point you are probaly around 25 feet from cars hitting the apex. Certainly wouldn't need a huge telephoto unless you want an album full of eyeballs!

[agent006]

If you want close, go to a hillclimb. You'll be closer there in the public areas than in many press areas at circuits.

[DKMsport]

Club rally events are great for getting close to the action and if you pick the right spots then plenty of action you shall see, especialy if you go to an event held in a forest. There will usually be a wide range of vehicles from shiney ex wrc and group N stuff to beat up 205 GTI's etc. Also good if you can find one that is running both modern and historics.

As long as your not acting like a bell end and getting yourself into danger then the marshalls will leave you alone. Although if a marshall says move, move quickly. Most marshalls are polite and friendly and will show you stage plans, stage running times and lists of the cars running in the event if you ask.


Quick example:

[GravelBen]

Have to agree about rallying getting you close to the action - my most commonly used lens at rallies is the 18-70! My longest is an 80-200 f2.8 which I've never found lacking at a rally, but can be a bit on the short side at some larger circuits.

This for example was taken at 40mm:

Edited by GravelBen on Sunday 17th January 05:43

[The Real Stig]

I'm not 100 per cent sure perhaps worth a phone call to check - but testing days at for example Silverstone:

I think they allow General public to walk round the paddocks/pits etc..

I was there 2009 working with cars - but it seemed to me they let visits in f.o.c?
I'm not sure about restrictions for camera's etc.. certain racers may not want pic's taken/track rules?

(Infact I posted to invite some one testing to take some pic's of my car for a new website!)

During summer - especially if certain events are due at a circuit following testing days the track will be very busy at testing days and you can see a wide variety of cars. Some tracks do have protective meshing but some barriers you can see over - how close do you want to get? (obviously you do not want meshing across the pic!)

One day I went testing at Silverstone it was like a car show - packed full of all sorts of race cars, The cars nearly filled the pit lane as as they were waiting to be let out!

It was like a massive show type event, the ground shaking, the heat rising and blurring the back ground, (very interesting) - rare Aston's, Jags D type, Real GT40's,classsic lotus single seaters, 5.0 ltr v8 single seaters.. I'm told ,f3 cars,retro road cars as well as modern stuff etc...etc.. One of my favourtite memories from last year
(maybe ever)

I recon testing days can some times offer more variety than race days but I supose people push harder racing if you want those kind of shots!

[Crafty_]

Your lens may also be okay for some tracks from public areas,

For BTCC avoid Rockingham, unless you are down by the tarzan hairpin you wont get close enough.

In contrast Brands Hatch is quite good for photography, especially if they are running the GP loop as there is little in the way of fencing out on the loop. Pilgrims drop you can go quite wide, less than 100mm.. You get a good field of view along minter straight and out of westfield into dingle dell and on the outside of stirlings okay too.
You can use the infield around druids too, but gets busy there.
Not that familiar with Silverstone, thruxton is okay if you are down past the complex and shoot back across it.

mattsayle on here has a guide to shooting at Oulton Park, so might be worth hunting that down if you are going there.

[andyroo]

Brands Hatch is great when there is club racing on. They pretty much let you anywhere. From the 'Into the Night' Britcar race last year:

[jimmy306]

Thanks everyone for all the tips, and for everyone who suggested specific parts of the circuit, that kind of info is great

DKMsport / Gravelben, i hadn't really thought about rallying before but it seems like a great idea, a large variety of cars and you can get really close! Could be onto a winner there.

Some nice pics posted in this thread as well!

Thanks again everyone, James

[racing green]

Just a quick one Jimmy, living where you do I would recommend Goodwood although I guess you already know about it. Here are some of my pics at www.racinggreenphotography.com I'm not a professional togger but enjoy what I do. Mark

[jimmy306]

racing green said:

Just a quick one Jimmy, living where you do I would recommend Goodwood although I guess you already know about it. Here are some of my pics at www.racinggreenphotography.com I'm not a professional togger but enjoy what I do. Mark

Of course, i had forgotten about Goodwood! I was supposed to go to FOS last year but it fell through at the last minute, thanks for reminding me! Some great pics in your website as well mate! I must get out and practice my panning before i go to a race or event!

[carlosfandango]

The club sprints at Goodwood are very relaxed affairs - the VSCC and AC owners events are personal favourites...

http://www.goodwood.co.uk/site/content/circuithire...

ETA - Prescott near Cheltenham is pretty amazing as well...

Edited by carlosfandango on Monday 18th January 17:43

[Jag-D]

Forget BTCC, F1 and almost any other highbrow motorsport my man

Get your buns to some rallys such as the Roger Albert Clarke, the Chatsworth Rally show etc

Hillclimbs and sprints are always bob on too, that's where I cut my teeth

Also trackdays make for fantastic action shots (especially bikes - the look in the riders eye, the body language, the lean angles) and a great place to practice your craft with a good few circuits in the Uk being friendly to snappers.

Cadwell usually want PL insurance to get trackside, but there's lots of excellent places for snapping

Oulton isn't too bad

Mallory is fairly good too

Croft can be ok if you can get right between the hairpin barriers

Donington not so good without a long lens

Silverstone is fairly crap unless you've got a big lens and decent access

Not done Snet, Thruxton, Brands or Knockhill yet

[Scooby_snax]

I was re reading the FIA rules(terms) for F1 accreditation the other day
To continue with a season long accreditation you need to have had printed c240 images from the previous F1 season. For a freelancer when one takes into account agencies such as PA and Getty and the big motorsport agencies it doesnt leave much for the freelancer

[Jag-D]

Scooby_snax said:

I was re reading the FIA rules(terms) for F1 accreditation the other day
To continue with a season long accreditation you need to have had printed c240 images from the previous F1 season. For a freelancer when one takes into account agencies such as PA and Getty and the big motorsport agencies it doesnt leave much for the freelancer

Getting in at something like that is neigh on impossible and even for lower class racing, it's a complete and utter pain in the knackersack!

[norwichphoto]

Circuit test days & track days - generally free admission and free access to paddock. Pit wall at discretion of marshals. Trackside to accredited/insured people only.

Club level events - cheap admission, virtually no crowds and free access to paddock. Trackside / Pits accredited media only

BTCC etc - more expensive, bigger crowds and less access.

[Chicken Pox]

Jag-D said:

Forget BTCC, F1 and almost any other highbrow motorsport my man

Get your buns to some rallys such as the Roger Albert Clarke, the Chatsworth Rally show etc

Hillclimbs and sprints are always bob on too, that's where I cut my teeth

Also trackdays make for fantastic action shots (especially bikes - the look in the riders eye, the body language, the lean angles) and a great place to practice your craft with a good few circuits in the Uk being friendly to snappers.

Cadwell usually want PL insurance to get trackside, but there's lots of excellent places for snapping

Oulton isn't too bad

Mallory is fairly good too

Croft can be ok if you can get right between the hairpin barriers

Donington not so good without a long lens

Silverstone is fairly crap unless you've got a big lens and decent access

Not done Snet, Thruxton, Brands or Knockhill yet

Snetterton is very good although the new development seems to be putting grandstands at all the places I stood to get a good shot first outing of Tamron 70-300mm so not the greatest but...

Edited by Chicken Pox on Monday 25th January 21:55

[friederich]

Another vote for hillclimb venues - plenty of 700hp close-up opportunities!

130+mph through the speed trap at Shelsley Walsh, 50mm fullframe:



1st gear full noise Pardon hairpin Prescott, 35mm fullframe: