Photographing a Formula One Race
Whilst on my travels, I have developed a strange love for Formula One motor racing. Discovering the price of tickets to be a much cheaper aboard than in England(Some times a third of the price), I have become ever so slightly addicted to the excitement and the adrenaline rush a race invokes.
Its not just the cars provide you with spectacular photographic opportunities but also the crowd and everything that goes on around the race.
The cars are fast so planning is needed if you want to capture some crisp shots.
Here are some simple steps to help you get the most form your camera and the most from the experience, whether that be F1, Stock cars, Drag racing or a Vintage car rally!
1. A Quick Shutter Release
To photograph the cars you will need a camera that reacts instantly. Many compact digital cameras have a shutter lag, this means there is a pause between you pushing the shutter release and the photo being taken. A DSLR or SLR will take the photo instantly, meaning you will capture the car moving at 200mph.
If your shooting with a compact camera you will have to practice pointing the camera slightly in front of the car, increasing the shutter and moving the camera with the car. This is more tricky with a compact camera but with practice it can be down. (Photograph right was taken on a Panasonic compact digital camera 1/500 f5)
2. Zoom
If your using a DSLR you will need to think carefully about the lens you will use. At most motor sports evens you probably wont be able to get very close to the cars. A lens with a focal length of at least 300mm is perfect. The zoom lens will also be great for capturing some candid shots of the crowds.
3. Shutter Speed
You will need to have a fast shutter speed for motor sport photography. Use a shutter speed of 1/500 or faster. Remember if the light is low and your images are looking dark increase the size of the aperture(smaller f stop number) and increase the ISO.(Remember the higher the ISO the more photographic noise will be present in your photo).If your shooting with a compact camera that doesn’t allow manual shutter speed settings, select sports mode, this will give you a faster shutter speed.
4. Find a slow bit!
To give yourself a great chance of capturing some really crisp action shots go to the slowest corner you can. This is will give you longer to compose your shot and also lessen motion blur. Corners also give your photographs a much more exciting look as the cars wheels turn or the bike leans into the corner.
5. Use the Focus Lock
Auto focus may not be quick enough to capture the cars. Turn your camera no manual focus, focus on the point at where the car will pass and then lock the focus. This will ensure the subject is in focus.
If you are unable to lock the focus, you will have to point the lens at the car and move with it as the auto focus is working.
6. Move with the Action
A great effect to ensure that you capture the speed of the cars is to have the car in focus on a blurred back ground. To achieve this, you will need to follow the subject as it moves though the frame. Move with the subject and when its positioned where you want it take the photo, still moving with the subject. It takes a bit of practice and can be achieved on both DSLR and compact cameras. You will also need to experiment with different shutter speeds to create more or less background blur.
7. Burst mode
As with all action photography it can be just as much luck as it is skill to get the framing perfect. Switch your camera to burst mode, this will mean you get a range of images of the subject in different positions. You will also increase your changes of getting a photograph with perfect framing.
8. Get as close as your can
As with most of the motor sports events the spectators are usually protected by a wire fence. This will not look good in your photographs. There are a few options to consider:
Getting up high and shooting over the fence, although this will mean that you wont be able to shoot the action so close up.
Push your lens though the wire, this wont give you so much flexibility with movement but does work well for fixed shots. Just be careful not to damage your lens!
Increase the aperture. By opening the aperture right up your camera will blur out the wire mesh. Of course this does mean that your control over depth of field is limited, but it is a very effective method.
If you want to get inspired by a truly great F1 Photographer check out Darren Heath.
