Motor Sports Photography
May 2, 2018 13:01:03 #
Wanderer2
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains
<<NASCAR is now bigger than the NFL"
If you've been following & photographing motorsports as long as I have you know that's a stretch...>>
Actually if all levels of NASCAR racing are included that may be true. Many of those small town race tracks that race almost every weekend during the good weather months are affiliated with and are considered to be NASCAR racing. I read a few years ago that when all tracks, major and minor, are counted that NASCAR has a higher yearly attendance total than any other US sport, not just motorsports.
If you've been following & photographing motorsports as long as I have you know that's a stretch...>>
Actually if all levels of NASCAR racing are included that may be true. Many of those small town race tracks that race almost every weekend during the good weather months are affiliated with and are considered to be NASCAR racing. I read a few years ago that when all tracks, major and minor, are counted that NASCAR has a higher yearly attendance total than any other US sport, not just motorsports.
May 2, 2018 13:16:19 #
I love motorsports and frequently photograph them. I have many photos of track action at Sebring International Raceway and also have photographed drag racing at several tracks in Florida. Before moving South I regularly attended the Regattes de Valleyfield in Quebec and have many photos of the hydros, Jersey Speed Skiffs and Can Am and K-boat Flatbottoms. Really miss the powerboat races!
May 2, 2018 16:24:51 #
May 2, 2018 16:30:42 #
Look up Mark Rebilas Photography. He's the best in the business. I worked on the NHRA on ESPN show for 12 years and he is the MAN when it comes to motorsports photography.
May 2, 2018 17:32:36 #
EmilMiller
Loc: Miramar, FL
I shot a lot of motor sports in the 80's & 90's in FL; everything from motorcycles to NASCAR to IMSA and drag racing. One thing I learned from SI photog Heinz Kluetmeier years ago was, "Get the eyes!". It holds true for any sport. I've got some shots from the sunrise/sunset at 12/24 hr racing of the cockpit illuminated and you can see where the drive is looking. As far as shutter speed, I always wanted to pan, get the car sharp, with just a hint of blur in the tires to show the speed. Same thing for high speed passes; pan to get the vehicle sharp and the background a blur. With practice, you can get your background blurs as long as 10-12 feet. Looks great, especially when there are bright colors in the background, like team trailers. Get the crowd; when something interesting is happening, the crowd can add a lot of drama to a photograph. I've made shots at drag races during the burnout where every one in the stands has their hands over their ears. It says a lot about the experience. As the OP said; practice, practice, practice. It's cheap now with digital. I can remember buying 100 rolls of film, paying for E-6 processing and throwing a lot of it away.
May 2, 2018 19:01:31 #
Abo wrote:
Bro, with the almost limitless ways to shoot motor... (show quote)
I agree, learning how to shoot while panning, complete the follow through, is the greatest skill for motorsport. You are so right, if I want stopped wheels I will shoot it standing still, I want movement.
May 2, 2018 19:58:00 #
Just some this and that.
Lee Petty Richards father at Langhorne.
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Johnny Tompson and Fango ar Trenton Speedway.
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Fangio checking out a go kart.
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Flat head Ford midget For sale.
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A local racer.
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I wont say what my friend used to call that color.
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Allard with a catty engine.
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Race around the yard.
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An old one but good one.
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Here we go, four miles to the gallon.
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May 2, 2018 20:29:34 #
May 2, 2018 21:21:32 #
4 Gallons to the Mile...
Best,
Todd Ferguson
Best,
Todd Ferguson
The Patriot at GALOT Motorsports Park
May 2, 2018 22:15:45 #
May 2, 2018 22:43:07 #
Hal81 wrote:
Just some this and that.
Fangio and Petty from the fifties? Nice work, Hal.
May 2, 2018 22:47:18 #
Hal81 wrote:
Just some this and that.
A great blast from the past.
Thanks
May 2, 2018 22:53:12 #
Yes, they race model trains!! At our G Scale model train layout, we have two tracks for the kids to control...one has a Thomas locomotive and the other a Percy locomotive. Both from the Thomas & Friends show. The kids race these two locomotives, as the tracks run in two circles, one inside the other. It got so bad at one point we finally had to run them in opposite directions to stop the racing....they were wearing out the locomotives.
May 3, 2018 06:55:36 #
Georgews
Loc: Wellington, New Zealand
Had a friend who made his living largely from photographing Motorsport - as photog of the year at it more than once and he was also a to notch landscape photog as well. So you can combine the two genres
May 11, 2018 13:05:14 #
BigGWells wrote:
I find it most interesting that when you search ou... (show quote)
I love road racing, sports cars and open wheel, and have taken thousands of photos (mostly at Laguna Seca and Sears Point- both local for me). As has been previously mentioned, practice is the key, as well as trying to learn from what you have done. Toward the front of each Road & Track issue is a section called "Go, capturing the life at speed" that has several outstanding photos that include the camera and lens used, the focal length, ISO, shutter speed and aperture. You can learn a lot just by looking at that section of the magazine.
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