Out of everything that I’ve shot from family portraits, pet contests, fashion shows, golf tournaments, rodeos you name it
Motorsport photography is by far the most challenging.
That’s because it goes beyond capturing a nice shot of a car on the track.
It’s about showcasing the motion and capturing the essence of speed in the images.
That’s why it’s super important to have your camera settings dialed.
Shutter Speed
The key element for capturing motorsports action shots is shutter speed.
It’s basically how fast the camera’s shutter opens and closes to capture the frame.
In motorsport photography there are basically two types of action shots: freeze frames and panning shots.
A freeze frame is when the car looks completely still even though it’s moving.
A panning shot is when the background is blurred out with trails to enhance the motion.
Freeze Frame
Freeze frames require a high shutter speed which freezes the action and almost feels like time has stopped.
It’s really cool for capturing cars in the paddock or cars zooming down the straightaway, and stuff like that.
Basically, head-on shots which are easy to do.
The trick is to find a sweet spot with a shutter speed that has the car in focus, yet allows the tires to have a slight blur, conveying a sense of motion while still maintaining a sharp image.
A lot of this is determined by how fast the car is moving.
If you’re not sure I’d recommend starting with a shutter speed anywhere between 1/300th-1/500th of a second and adjust based on the results.
But be careful not overdo it, or you’ll end up with a car that looks like it’s parked on the racetrack.
Panning Shot
To effectively capture speed and motion in a photo you need to do a panning shot.
Panning is when you use your camera to track the subject’s movement, blurring the background while keeping the car in focus.
As opposed to using a fast shutter speed, for head-on shots, panning shots require a lower shutter speed to create the motion blur effect.
The combination of a slow shutter speed and camera motion following a fast-moving object. Makes this a difficult shot to master.
What worked for me was starting at a higher shutter speed of 1/120th and gradually work my way down to 1/60th of a sec.
Burst mode
Besides shutter speed, there are a few other settings to help with getting better panning shots.
The first is setting your camera to Continuous shooting or burst mode.
Make sure that it is set to high-speed burst so it can shoot several images per second.
This increases the chances of capturing an image of the car in focus.
Focus Settings
The biggest challenge in motorsport photography is getting shots that are in focus.
This is where having your focus setting dialed is helpful.
For panning shots where I’m maintaining the same distance between the cars, I’ll use manual focus.
For other types of shots where the distance between me and the car changes like a head-on shot, I’ll set it to auto focus.
This way the camera will continually refocus as it tracks the subject.
Mirrorless cameras like my Fuji XH2 and XT4 have amazing autofocus tracking modes that do a great job follow your subject once you’ve made your selection.
This can sometimes have mixed results which is you want to make sure they set up correctly.
To begin, set your camera to continuous autofocus mode and set the focus mode to area.
You can also adjust the auto focus tracking and sensitivity settings to optimize results.
I set my tracking sensitivity and auto focus speed to high, so it stays locked on to the subject and refocus quickly.
If your camera has the option, turn on subject detection and select Automobile.
Even with all of your camera settings optimized, it’s critical to begin tracking your subject before releasing the shutter.
Align your camera with the approaching vehicle and smoothly follow its path.
Time the shutter release as it reaches the desired spot, utilizing the continuous high-speed mode to capture multiple images.
Maintaining a steady pan is of utmost importance.
Panning too slowly or quickly will cause the subject to be lost, resulting in an undesired outcome.
Additionally, ensure your camera remains perfectly level throughout the motion.
Any upward or downward movement will compromise the desired effect.
Aperture
The aperture setting on your camera not only determines the amount of light that is let in the lens but how much of the image is in focus.
For panning shots, it’s best to use a large aperture (low f-number) such as f/2.8 or lower to create a bokeh effect and blur out any distracting backgrounds.
A narrower aperture like f/6-f/8 is ideal for capturing intricate details or photographing multiple cars but depending on your shutter speed can result in loss of light.
Though I mainly shoot in manual mode there are times when I’ll set the camera to Aperture priority so it will auto-adjust the Aperture for me.
ISO
The ISO setting on your camera affects how sensitive the camera is to light.
it is highly recommended to use a low ISO setting, typically ranging from 100 to 400.
By doing this, you can ensure that your images are filled with intricate details while minimizing the presence of unwanted noise.
White Balance
The white balance setting on your camera determines how the colors of your image will appear.
For motorsports photography, it’s best to set the white balance to “auto” or “daylight” to make sure the colors of your photos look accurate.
Pre-program your camera settings
The racetrack is a fast-paced environment, and you don’t want to waste time fumbling around with your camera, trying to change settings.
To avoid this, it’s important to pre-program specific settings for different situations.
For example, I have one setting specifically optimized for panning shots, and another setting for shots that require a faster shutter speed.
Both settings are configured for burst mode, allowing me to capture multiple shots in quick succession.
Additionally, I have a separate manual focus setting for capturing other types of images, such as shots of drivers, parked cars, and scenes around the paddock. This one I have set for single shots.
By pre-programming these settings, I can ensure that I’m always ready to capture the perfect shot, without wasting precious time adjusting my camera.
Areas on tracks to get the best shots
Try coming back to same area at different times to see how the position sun affects the exposure.
Anticipation is crucial in all sports photography, and this holds true for motorsports as well.
If you’re not familiar with the track, it’s advisable to arrive early and observe the practice rounds.
Different areas at different times of day will yield different results.
Note where the sun moves throughout the day and how it affects the different areas of the track throughout the day.
This way you can plan where to be at certain times of the day for the best light.
When it comes to circular tracks, the curves often generate the most action.
As cars navigate a turn, their slower pace can be leveraged to your advantage.
Furthermore, turns provide opportunities to capture multiple cars in a single frame.
Straightaways are perfect for capturing motion blur.
Just be sure you have enough distance to smoothly follow the car for a pan shot.
Whether viewed from above or below, hillside landscapes work great.
Areas with trees, can add an extra layer of creativity to your shots.
Conclusion
To maximize the potential of your motorsports photography, your motorsports photography, experiment with settings and find what yields the best results that match your style and preferences.
Keep in mind that capturing exceptional images often requires taking multiple shots, some of which may not meet your standards.
In fact, if about 10% of your images turn out usable, you’re doing g