Kyle Ryde Donington Park May 2023 Settings: F6.3 1/60 sec ISO 250 @600mm
The essential guide to motorcycle photography and motorcycle racing: If you've ever attended a thrilling motorsport event, you'll understand the raw power, speed, and excitement that radiates from the roaring engines, screeching tires, and the sheer adrenaline in the air. It's an exhilarating experience that begs to be captured. Whether you're an amateur photographer or a seasoned pro, motorsport photography can be an awe-inspiring challenge. In this article, we'll explore the essential techniques and equipment needed to capture dynamic motorsport shots that truly encapsulate the essence of the sport.
The Location
Motorsport photography is more than just snapping pictures; it's about telling a compelling story. To achieve this, you need to immerse yourself in the atmosphere. Feel the vibration of the engines, anticipate the action, and understand the ebb and flow of the race. This empathy with the sport is the cornerstone of your success as a motorsport photographer.
I'm very lucky to live within a few miles of a smaller circuit and within 1 hours' drive from Donnington Park. In this article I will be focusing on a recent shoot (July 2021) at a local kart track that is hired out to motorcycle riders and teams every Thursday for testing during the summer months. The venue is called Lockwell Hill.
For those of you who are interested to read more about Lockwell Hill full details can be found here: Lockwell Hill Track, Farnsfield, NG22 8JG
The facility is a karting hire track during the day, with additional activities like 4x4 driving, quad hire and segways etc. On Thursday evenings during the summer the kart circuit is used for motorcycle race practice sessions from 5pm to 9pm. You can usually expect Pit Bikes, Mini Race Bikes and even some specialist race teams.
The facility is fantastic, easy to access and find, free parking and a highly recommended cafe that serves hot food, drinks and snacks - the fish and chips are delicious!
Being able to work on a smaller more accessible track opens up many opportunities and vantage points. The main benefit of Lockwell Hill test evenings is the lack of background distractions such as high visibility jackets, stewards, advertising boards etc. that you generally find at major track circuits.
Forward Planning
Call the venue ahead of your planned shoot date. Carl is the track manager and is a great guy, but please ask for permission before just turning up.
As you will be shooting during the summer months light is key. If it's too sunny you will be limited to shooting positions around the track (read the article as to why). If it's rainy it won't be fun for the photographer and the chances of test riders turning up will be small.
Packing My Bag
When cars/motorbikes whiz by at breakneck speeds, you need the right equipment to keep up. A fast lens is essential. A lens with a wide aperture (e.g., f/2.8 or wider) allows more light to enter the camera, enabling you to capture sharp, dynamic shots even in low-light conditions. It also creates that pleasing background blur (bokeh) that isolates your subject and adds depth to your photos.
The joy of shooting at a smaller venue like Lockwell is just how close you can get to the trackside which opens up a vast number of options. In terms of lenses, I pack everything from 14mm for those wider angles all the up to 200mm. I have learnt that when shooting if you can capture the rider coming towards you as close as you possibly can the less cropping and pixel loss you will endure.
Sony A7iii, Sigma Art 2.8 12-24mm, Sigma Art 2.8 24-70mm and Sigma Sports 2.8 70-200mm. To be honest I had the 24-70mm and 70-200mm on for the majority of the time, dependent on where I was on the track and the shot, I was aiming to capture.
There is no best camera for racing photography, getting close to the action with a sharp fast lens is the critical piece of gear to get the best motorcycle pictures.
For larger circuits a larger focal range 600mm is a must. I use the Sony 200-600 G Master lens SEL200600G.
I also packed my monopod, my MeFoto RoadTrip converts to a monopod too, but to be honest felt like I didn't need it today and it got in the way. Also pack plenty of batteries and even more storage memory cards!
On Location
Your choice of location can make or break a shot. Scout the track beforehand to identify the best vantage points. These spots should offer unobstructed views of the action, safe shooting conditions, and excellent angles to capture the car/motorbikes as they zoom by. Remember that different locations will give you diverse perspectives and storytelling possibilities.
As soon as you arrive and park up head over to the karting office to introduce yourself. It is important that you sign in, put on a high visibility vest and take the safety briefing.
First of all, head over to the rider's area. Relax, be you, be prepared to have a chat with the riders and teams, introduce yourself, tell people what you are doing and swap contact details. Remember, the more you fit in the more receptive the riders will be and open to supporting your photography.
Track Positioning and Light: It is important to keep assessing the quality, direction and strength of light to get the best images before even thinking about your camera settings.
When the sun is very high it poses challenges with harsh shadows and limits shooting positions. The answer to this problem is to position yourself so that the sun is either behind or to the side of you. I tend to settle on side light, the sun to my left or right, as shooting with the sun behind you led to very squinty riders as they come round the corners - not a pretty sight!
The best light to work with is diffused light, which provides more shooting opportunities and positions.
By getting as close to the track as safely possible and low to the ground adds a real sense of dynamism, and by using the correct camera settings you can really create a sense of speed and energy. Keep changing focal lengths, be wary of the surrounding distractions and fire away.
Many riders have the mirrored visors on, but my favourite riders to capture are those with the clear visors so you can really capture the rider's concentration and determination as they enter the bends at high speed.
The Magic of Shutter Speed and Burst Mode: Capturing the Crucial Moment
Adjusting your shutter speed is a critical element in motorsport photography. A fast shutter speed (1/500 or faster) freezes the action, while a slower speed (1/100 or so) creates motion blur. Experiment with different speeds to convey different aspects of the race - the roar of acceleration, the frenzy of a pit stop, or the adrenaline of a close overtake.
Motorsport photography is about capturing split-second moments. Use your camera's burst mode to take multiple shots in quick succession. This increases your chances of getting that perfect, once-in-a-lifetime shot.
My go to camera settings are usually: Manual, F8, ISO 100, Medium Burst Rate, Continual Focus and a shutter speed of 1/250th sec to start with.
When the light changes adjust your ISO and open up the aperture when the light drops. My shutter speeds range from everything from 1/1000th sec to 1/125 sec dependent on whether I want to freeze the action or pan and create motion blur. Dropping the shutter speed and panning is tricky, but with practice it does get easier!
When the bikes are coming towards you or anchoring round the bend a fast shutter speed of around 1/800 to 1/1000 sec is perfect, utilising the instant freeze frame for sharp images.
Lockwell Hill Circuit August 2021 Settings: F4.0 1/1000 sec ISO 250 @200mm
The Art of Panning
One of the most iconic techniques in motorsport photography is panning. This involves following a moving car with your camera while using a slower shutter speed. The result is a sharp subject against a beautifully blurred background, creating a sense of speed and motion. It takes practice, but it's worth the effort.
When you want to experiment and pick out a single rider going across the frame you can drop your shutter speed down to 1/125 sec or even 1/60 sec and pan. This when done correctly will produce a super sharp bike and rider with a dreamy blurred background, brilliant at portraying a sense of speed. I focus on the rider from a distance and begin panning before hitting the shutter button, when they are at the point I want to capture the image I burst shoot through the frames. This captures many images, most blurred and not of a great quality, but there may be 1 or 2 frames in the bunch that are keepers, hence the need for lots of memory card space! Some photographers find the use of a monopod helpful to steady the panning motion.
Donington Park May 2023 Settings: F6.3 1/250 sec ISO 100 @600mm
Donington Park May 2023 Settings: F6.3 1/250 sec ISO 100 @600mm
Lockwell Hill Circuit June 2023 Settings: F6.3 1/125 sec ISO 160 @338mm
To help getting those sharp images 'focus modes' are very important. I tend to opt for 'Variable Spot Small', which allows me to set the focus point in the upper 3rd of the frame and focus on the helmet of the rider and pan. The hit rate of this method was a lot greater.
Also remember to keep experimenting with focal lengths:Sigma Art 2.8 12-24mm - you need to be close to the circuit edge, but with one main subject you can add great environmental context to your images.
Sigma Art 2.8 24-70mm - My go to lens for close subjects that I want to zoom into and create a tighter crop, allowing each pixel on my camera's sensor to capture the subject.
Sigma Sports 2.8 70-200mm - A must have and great all-rounder to captures riders from distance or focus in on the details that are closer to you. Great for panning shots and oncoming riders.
Safety First
Motorsport photography can put you in close proximity to high-speed vehicles, and safety should always be a top priority. Follow the rules and guidelines set by the event organisers and consider using a monopod or tripod for added stability and to keep yourself at a safe distance.
Remember to...
- Check in, wear a high visibility vest and always put your safety before getting the image.
- Keep trying different perspectives, focal lengths and different track locations. Variety is key.
- Keep an eye on the background distractions, particularly other riders and track side distractions.
- Take a pen and paper or take notes on your phone as riders will want to chat and share contact details so they can use the images and promote your work on social media.
Post-Processing: Fine-Tuning Your Masterpiece
Once you've taken your shots, the journey doesn't end there. The final step is post-processing. This is where you can fine-tune your images, adjust exposure, contrast, and saturation to bring out the best in your shots. Software like Adobe Lightroom or Capture One can be invaluable in enhancing your photographs.
Lightroom is my go-to for image catalogue and selection. I usually upload and catalogue and leave it for a few days to look at the images with fresh eyes. I flick through the images in Lightroom and flag the images I like with colour markers, red being my favourites, blue being 'okays' and the rest being the out of focus non-keepers (which I delete).
From the images I've kept back (red and blue's) I tend to focus on one or two images and do some basic editing, adjusting the exposure, highlights, shadows, sharpness, saturation, contrast and colour tones. When I have an image style, I like I will apply these settings to all the images, giving a consistent vibe/mood to the collection of images. I will then go through the images individually and quickly crop where needed to remove distractions and then finally add a subtle dark vignette to make the subject pop a little more from the image. I may also add a light radial filter over the subject. I will then export these images into a web suitable Jpeg export, which can be emailed to the riders.
My favourite’s images, which I highlighted in red in Lightroom, I take from the base unedited RAW images and process in Photoshop applying more localised changes and corrections. I will spend more time on these images in editing to bring them up to club/external competition standard and to a place where I am happy to post on this website.
Ending Comments.
Becoming a skilled motorsport photographer is a journey filled with ups, downs, and invaluable learning experiences. It's essential to embrace the process, learn from your mistakes, and continually refine your techniques.
In conclusion, motorsport photography is more than just capturing fast vehicles on a racetrack; it's about conveying the excitement, the emotion, and the energy that makes motorsports so thrilling. With the right equipment, techniques, and a deep understanding of the sport, you can create stunning images that transport viewers right to the heart of the action. So, gear up, hit the track, and tell your motorsport story through the lens - it's an adventure worth embarking upon.
I'm hoping this blog article has inspired you to have a go at this fantastic genre of photography. It brings many challenges that help you develop essential skills that can be applied across and into other areas of photography. I'm hoping to continue this project and develop myself further with this style of photography, so please keep an eye out for future planned shoots and Blog posts on this website.
If you have any questions or have any ideas/ tips to share, please feel free to contact me using the 'contact' methods provided on the website panel.
Thank you, stay safe and happy shooting!
Martin
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