How do I get myself a Photographers Pass at Race Circuits? and whats the best lens?

::: CooliceT ::

::: CooliceT ::

::: CooliceT ::

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hello all.

I really want to get into Motor Racing Photography more.
I'm probably going to get myself a Seasons Pass for 4wheels at motorshort Vision, but this doesnt get me one of those shirts that allows photographers behind the Tyre wall....

they have a white jacket with.
header-msv-logo.gif

on it, so... I'm betting you need to be part of a Media Group?
but how does one start and where to look for it?

How do I start to get into it?
where to look?
Photography sites to look where to start?

and finally...

Best Canon lenses for Motorsports?

I have a 400d, but Maybe upgrade in the future. so as long as they are compatible with Canon Anything I will consider...

any help on this will be very gratefull.
I really want to do this and get out there!
 
The best lens i'd imagine would be a 70-200 F/2.8IS if you can get close enough to the track, last time i went to croft circuit i had my cheap 75-300 and didn't need the full reach of it. As for press pass i dunno i'm afraid, i'd be tempted to print my own T-shirts and ID and blag it :D
 
just contact the circuit they will tell you, all are clightly different example snetterton is now £125 per (ie if its a 2 day the cost is same £125) meet for ou to obtain photographs right "over the wall" thye often ask you to use there own jackets for there staff to identify you and allow you access.

you may need permission from the governing body of the actual meeting i question ie motogp at donnington needs a pass thru dorna as well but if you have this then the circuit has no issues with you being there (once paid) it obviously counts if you shoot for a team/person and or group including mags/newspapers

only other thing is most require a minimum 5 million public liability insurance cover.

track days can be free if you get known by circuit allthough insurance is required at all times. (to get over fence/wall)


lens wise canon 100-400L IS or a 70-200 f4L or 70-200L (and IS(with 1.4 or 2x convertors)) are popular unless your prepared to pay for the higher end from the 1k plus 70-200f2.8L IS

also sigma 70-200f2.8 with convertors are well used at many events.
 
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Yup, you'll need £5m Public Liability cover which usually costs around £200 per year. You'll also need a reason to be the other side of the fence – media, website, magazine shoot etc.
The best Motorsport lens is the Canon 300mm L F2.8 IS but you could get away with a 300mm L F4 and also a 70-200mm F4.

Good luck, you'll need it ;)
 
Its not going to be easy as they try and keep media passes for the pro media so they can do their jobs.
Try taking some photos of some sport thats going on locally, Rugby, football, water sports etc and send the images with a small editorial piece to your local papers, once you have an 'in' at the local paper build up trust and then see if they will give you accreditation to get a media pass.
There are so many people doing it these days you will struggle to get a media pass for a motor sport event without accreditation and it will be impossible for the larger events.
The only other way would be to know some one who worked at the circuit or who worked for the company organising the event.
Ive done a lot of motor sport photography professionaly over the past 15 years and its been down to 95% luck and 5% talent that I ever managed to do it.
I started off doing some work for a British super stock bike team due to my wife knowing the main sponsors, this allowed me to get a media pass for a couple of seasons to all the British Super bike events.
I was then contacted by an editor who was a friend of a friend to take some photos of some caravans (yup caravans :) ) but the same company also had a car magazine and asked me to cover a few rounds of the British rally championships.
One thing lead to another and I covered the whole of the following year of the British rally championships and most of the next year and also covered the Rally of Finland and RallyGB.
The RallyGB 2005 was the last motorsport event I covered, in fact it was the last pro job i ever did :( and I hung up my camera a few months after and haven't really taken and serious photos since ...duno why.
As SDK said a 300 f2.8 for track work, id also have a 1.4 extender with me as well just in case and a 70-200 f2.8 for Rallying and closer work and a 24-70 f2.8 for paddock work.
 
So, whats the attraction with motorsport photography? Surely the idea of the high spec cameras that most of us use is to the "freeze the action", I know that thats the case in football photography so whats the point in freezing the action of something that goes along at over 100mph?? Aren't you just better off taking photos of parked racing cars?!!!
 
todd flanders said:
So, whats the attraction with motorsport photography? Surely the idea of the high spec cameras that most of us use is to the "freeze the action", I know that thats the case in football photography so whats the point in freezing the action of something that goes along at over 100mph?? Aren't you just better off taking photos of parked racing cars?!!!
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You're correct on the photo side.
On the camera aspect - A high spec camera gives the user faster more reliable focus, weather proofing, larger buffer, faster continuous shooting and more custom functions. A Pro camera doesn't give you more 'Freezing Action' ability ;)
 
todd flanders said:
So, whats the attraction with motorsport photography? Surely the idea of the high spec cameras that most of us use is to the "freeze the action", I know that thats the case in football photography so whats the point in freezing the action of something that goes along at over 100mph?? Aren't you just better off taking photos of parked racing cars?!!!
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Its so you end up with pics like this, you get a sense of speed with the blurred background.

489842319_cde0bc5627_b.jpg


Taken at oulton park, D80 with Sigma 100-300 fitted, 300mm, 1/160 @ f/4 ISO160.
Bikes are doing around 140 on the approach to the corner.
Nice thing about Oulton Park is very little catch fence in the way.
 
I suppose my point was moreso to do with cars than bikes. At least with bikes you do get to see the rider and maybe a hint of emotion. That's a nice pic BTW, although it would be much much better if he was coming the other way and you could see the rider face on :)
 
I think you're confusing technique and technology.

The technique for capturing motion in photos (Panning) can be done with any camera.
The technology exists to improves the image quality.
 
Thanks for all the help and comments.

What lens did you use for those shots SDK?

I'm thinking of the 100-300mm sigma lens, heard good things from it, and seems pretty good price compared to a simular Canon lens.

I have only been using my sigma 70-300mm but it does not have the speed and sharpness for motorsports.

here is a few I did last year with my old lens (70-300 sigma) and canon 400d
nothing great. but I'm enjoying it, and learning all the time.

car5.jpg


car9.jpg


car3.jpg


car2.jpg


car.jpg


car4.jpg


So I'm going to keep going to motor sport events, and get snapping.
i'm still pretty new too it all, so Its good to get advice and tips for everyone,

I keep at it :)
 
::: CooliceT :: said:
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I'm a drag racing junkie, its the only motorsport I enjoy shooting because the cars and classes are so varied and interesting... Its worth going down to SantaPod for either May's main event or September, its also a totally open paddock and the teams don't mind you taking pictures, i'm going to be doing some big reports on this years races so i'll be doing a lot more paddock work.
300mm is all you need most of the time, and a good monopod.
 
...and there are plenty of lenses in that price range which should be considered for the job as well. E.g. Canon 300mm F/4 L IS :)
 
::: CooliceT :: said:
Thanks for all the help and comments.

What lens did you use for those shots SDK?

I'm thinking of the 100-300mm sigma lens, heard good things from it, and seems pretty good price compared to a simular Canon lens.

I have only been using my sigma 70-300mm but it does not have the speed and sharpness for motorsports.

here is a few I did last year with my old lens (70-300 sigma) and canon 400d
nothing great. but I'm enjoying it, and learning all the time.

So I'm going to keep going to motor sport events, and get snapping.
i'm still pretty new too it all, so Its good to get advice and tips for everyone,

I keep at it :)
Click to expand...

How did you manage to get them shots? Just from the spectator areas?
 
I live quite close to Brands Hatch and would definitely be up for going along for a go at motosport photography. I only have a Sigma 70-300mm APO that would be up for it though, and I have NO experience with panning shots.

Would I be able to get decent shots from anyway, if so what would be the best part of the track?

Would anyone else be up for a Brands Hatch meet?
 
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