Photography Tips – Part 1 – Planning
Photography Tips – Part 2 – Know Your Subject
There are lots of guides and references on the techniques of capturing good motor sports photographs, but they tend to be of a mostly technical nature, dealing with equipment, and the types of picture you can shoot. In this series of articles, I am going to look in detail at the practical and planning concepts behind approaching a motor sports photo shoot
What makes a great motor sport photographer? Obviously they have mastered the mechanics of the equipment, and know the fundamental techniques, but what is the difference that makes them successful, when so many other have tried and failed?
Some years ago at a photo club I was attending as a guest speaker, one of the regulars made a presentation on the benefits of keeping a plastic button in your camera bag to open the battery compartment on your camera rather than a coin, as intended by the manufacturers. This would avoid scratching the metal of the battery compartment, he opined, thus keeping your precious equipment in pristine, just-out-of-the-box condition. I have to admit that I found this trivial concern with equipment hilarious, and my thinly stifled guffaw was met with icy stares from the rest of the members. I wasn’t invited back.
Battery Compartment Blues
I was reminded of this episode a few years ago when I sold my old camera bodies, which after years of abuse, jumping over fences at circuits, and bashing into one another round my neck as I negotiated the forest paths on rallies, were in far from showroom condition. The price I got for my battered old equipment was more than the original cost. And I never did put a plastic button in my bag.
So if you are more worried about keeping your kit in concours condition than concentrating on getting great pictures, then these articles are probably not for you.
I have always felt that the equipment issue should not be the first priority for a photographer, sure it has its place, but don’t get distracted by the technology to the extent that you are not concentrating on the most important aspects of preparation, and developing an intimate understanding of the sport. As an example, this shot below was taken a couple of years ago at the Goodwood Festival on an ageing, second-hand point-and-shoot Canon Powershot A95 that I bought on eBay for £50, primarily for family snapshots.
Goodwood Festival - Click for Full Size Image
As I hope you agree, even with a very simple camera, the results you can achieve can be excellent, especially if you use some of the tips in these articles. Obviously in this case, I used a few tricks to overcome some of the limitations of the equipment, such as over-riding the automatic exposure setting, and setting a manual focus point, plus taking account of the slow reaction time of the camera. Even an old dog can learn some new tricks.
To sum up, you don’t need to worry about expensive photo equipment, until the lack of decent gear is a hindrance to your development as a photographer. Only then should you consider investing in better equipment. In that respect it a little like learning to drive. You wouldn’t learn to drive in a Ferrari.
The first of these articles covers the essential background research and planning that goes into motor sports photography, and can be viewed here.
Photography Tips – Part 1 – Planning
Photography Tips – Part 2 – Know Your Subject
Copyright © 2010 by Brendan McFarlane, all right reserved. If you wish to use any of these images, or content on a motorsport community website, a watermarked version can be made available, please notify me first.