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Useful Hacks For Taking Great Motor Racing Shots
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Useful Hacks For Taking Great Motor Racing Shots
Lucy Wyndham
3 May 2021
From the
Indy 500 and Rolex 24 to the Daytona 500 and Knoxville Nationals, there's no denying that the USA is a motor racing-loving nation. While catching all the action on television or as a spectator is nothing short of thrilling, being able to take good photos at a race is even better. Unfortunately, it is a common occurrence to return home with nothing but a bunch of very lackluster photos that don’t do justice to the
excitement that racing is known for. Thankfully, a few basic photography hacks will enable any motorsport enthusiast to take better racing shots.
Make sure you have the right gear
If you want to
capture spectacular motor racing photos, you need to have the right gear at your disposal. Apart from a camera that boasts all the features you require, you will also need a range of lenses, a UV filter, an external flash, and a lens hood to avoid flaring and ghosting. If you're still a rookie photographer, you can invest in a decent basic camera kit that will allow you to
take good photos in various racing conditions. A compact, lightweight camera body coupled with a lens with a medium telephoto range is a good place to start. You might also want to invest in a tripod to help steady your camera and keep your photos looking sharp.
Anticipate the action
One of the greatest pieces of advice you will ever receive as a sports photographer is to anticipate the action. As most types of motor racing take place on a track, anticipation is considerably easier than it is during a football or basketball game. The curves on a circular track tend to produce the most action, and are bound to produce at least a dozen great action shots. If you are already familiar with a track, you will have an idea of where to position yourself to get good shots. If it is the first time you will be taking photos at a particular track, however, be sure to arrive early enough to watch the practice rounds, as it will give you a clear indication of where the excitement will be.
Don’t be scared to experiment
In sports photography, safe shots may land you pretty pictures, but if you're trying to capture the essence of motor racing on camera, you have to experiment with more creative shots. Try some angles you haven’t used before to see the shots they deliver. Taking photos from a lower angle will add extra height to the entire shot, while you can also experiment with various techniques such as panning and motion blurring to give
added depth to your photos. Don’t be afraid to use a wide-angle lens if you have one, and also try to get in as close as possible to your subjects for a set of photos with a completely different composition.
Taking motor racing photos can be a very exhilarating experience. Even if you're not a professional photographer, you are bound to capture some of the sheer excitement that motor racing events are known for.
