With the first of the supercar events taking place last weekend, I thought this would be a good time for a few tips on Supercar and Motorsport photography. I have been photographing sport in Edinburgh, East Lothian and around Scotland for years now and more specifically as an event photographer in Scotland attending Supercar events. The season usually last from February – November, so you can imagine one of the tips involves how to do this effectively in all kinds of weather. So here are my tips below:
- Dress for the weather, this means waterproofs, boots, lots of layers of clothing etc. It also means, sun tan lotion and hat in the warmer months. I have been badly burnt before and it wasn’t event that hot
- For the colder months, try and find an ideal position for your car and shoot from there with the window open
- Take a phone and headphones, it’s a long day and there will be moments when nothing is happening
- Remember your polarising filter, you might as well go home if you don’t have one, this will enable you to see through the reflection in the windscreens so you can identify the driver
- Tilt the camera, change your position, portrait, landscape etc
- Try and get close enough to get the facial expressions of the driver. This is true of all sport, if you can capture the face you are half way there
- In better weather try and get a few shots lying flat on the ground, low angle shots are always dramatic
- Although you will use a telephoto, take another lens, you never know when you may get a dramatic supercar image, even if it is just for your own portfolio
- Shoot at the correct speed, ie about 1/800 for a long lens, although this can be reduced if you have a monopod or you are supporting the lens in your car
- Try some panning for an out of focus effect in the background. It’s a long day, if you try different things, you will find it interesting
- Don’t normally do 11 tips, but this one is essential, keep safe, whether in your car or not this is vital, it is also the one I am guilty of neglecting.
Hope that helps.
Colin
www.colinwrightphotography.co.uk
