Let's begin with - Rule#1 Patience is key.
Patience is vital to any photographer’s success. This is true for any type of photography, be it a landscape shot or a portrait.
Patience will make the difference between an average shot and a brilliant one. As it applies to motorsports photography, patience is required at different stages of the event. When you are walking through the paddock before the race begins, you should be looking for good shot locations. You should ask yourself questions like:
Where do the cars enter and exit the track?
Where are there pit stops?
When is the best time to get the best shots?
Personally, with time you will find when you will be the most comfortable to take good shots. I find that I like to shoot most of my shots in the morning - the light is usually at its best in the morning, there are less people and the teams (in general) are more relaxed. The opposite can be said on RACE DAY. Potentially, you will get little to no access to Teams on the big day unless you ask ahead of time.
Do not just go to the race and randomly take photos of everything you see. Be patient. I know that the world of digital cameras facilitates this habit, but in the end, you will inevitably be disappointed with the overall quality of your shots. Plus, you do not want to be wasting time deleting photos when you run out of space on your memory card (note – always carry multiple memory cards, as well as batteries). If you are busy deleting photos, you risk missing out on a great photo.
Just a final note on patience, when you are dealing with race car drivers be patient - they are at work. As a fan or as a pro like myself, respect will go a long way to ensuring your ability to catch a great shot even a posed shot or a close-up. Patience is about timing, poise and precision. Getting that great shot is the end result and it will make you a better photographer.
.JPG)
