How to shoot pictures of race cars - the settings, lenses and bodies I use as a professional.

[@taekwondokid66]

a man on a mission.. the fact that u are so humble, with your trailer. and living quarters , the fact that photography takes priority over comfort. i went to a isma race supermods baby. i specificly wore my work class 4 safety vest to the race, and slipped right in line with the infield media crew , crossed over and into the field no questions asked.. i was so lucky no to get into trouble, i don't recommend doing this, but the shots i got were insane.

[@joepalmer75]

I traded in my 2-D850's and F mount lenses and went full in on Z9 and S lenses...best move I made.

[@loganarmstrong5776]

The wide shot of the studio at 7:15 is gold.

[@alanhigginbotham2474]

In a sea of superb, educational KZbin videos, this is without question, the best I've seen. The content is invaluable, the organization spot-on, and of course, the presentation and video production not only professional, but the definition of perfection. As a novice, hobbyist who just bought a Sony RX10 to video and shoot autocross and watersports, I feel like I've jumped off the deep end of the pool. I mean, setting up a professional portrait studio is child-play compared to this. I've put a link to your video on my home page, and will refer to it often as I practice and learn the techniques and learn the skills. Thank you for sharing!!!

[@fabiovicarijob]

Thank you so much for all the tips, and for let me see that you don't have to have an 100% completed studio to do videos helpful like this. So glad you did it (Y)

[@FlyBoyEnterprises]

This is extremely helpful. Race car & motorsports is my specialty and I am ALWAYS looking to improve my shots.

[@speedychicksgarage8182]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've done drag racing photography before but never road course photography, so I'm trying my hand at that. In drag racing I'm used to freezing the launch at 1/1000s or more depending on scenario to nail the tire wrinkle so this helps. I'll be dragging my z6 and 70-200 f2.8 to Watkins Glen next weekend to see what I can do.

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

Those close-up tire wrinkle shots are some of the coolest in all Motorsports photography if you ask me!! And if I couldn’t use only one lens the rest of my life it would be that 70-200 :) Although I may have a slight advantage in biceps size. Haha. It certainly does wear on you after a whole day

[@speedychicksgarage8182]

@@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE when I went from a D5600 and 70-200mm to the z6 I brought a 200-400mm to the track the first time to compensate for the crop factor. while I got some AMAZING portraits it was too much to haul around. I just moved up my spot and used the 70-200. I have 20 years in the auto industry, the lens isn't terrible but I know what you mean.

[@GridZilla]

Best motorsports photography tip video ever

[@silverlink2002]

thanks for the guide 3 years on still helpful thanks again

[@rileyroisin]

Quick and effective tip video! i do prefer manual over aperture/ shutter priority…..I enjoy getting to control all the aspects

[@Threeflip]

Thanks my friend! I shot a hillclimb race last week and totally fkd up in my basic manual mode. Now iam ready for the next race!

[@tonytalkstoomuch]

Thanks man. I was having trouble at the drag event I'm at. Gonna give these tips a try

[@nateabrown]

This is awesome, your expertise is so informative and really helps with planning a shoot that I would go into totally blind. Thanks dude - great work!

[@JackaHeineken]

This was super helpful video, full of important information! Today I`m participating to a sport car photo- and video graphing course and after few week I have a first shoots coming. New area to me.

[@MrDvaz]

good clean explanation of everything!!!! good job!!!! thank you!

[@jerrybegly6450]

Actually I WAS procrastinating doing something, but you were interesting and informative enough that I went to the end. Yes, come up with a tag line to sign off with. It doesn't even need to be clever. It just brings a finality to the wrapup.

[@blockpanorama]

Thanks for this, this is great. It deserves more views.

[@DaveKingMusic]

Great video! I’m off to Lime Rock tomorrow and will use some of these tips. Thanks!

[@ras_3media457]

clicked on the video because VIR.. stayed for some good tips. long time auto photographer but always nice to see others perspectives. still working on getting creds for VIR.

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

Good eye! VIR is SOOO dark at night; I shoot champcar which runs a 24 hour race there every year and other than the pits, and even the pits, it’s just pitch black!

[@CARandDRONE]

Those wide angles are epic 😍

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

Yeah I don’t use that lens nearly enough..

[@MrGuidouille]

Cool video ! I was at Spa-Francorchamps last week and I wish I saw your video before 😂 very helpfull

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

I’m here for tips before going to the Italian GP weekend after next.

[@Jacofan5]

Seriously good advice, thanks for doing this video

[@nicholasdugdale]

So glad I found your channel man. I am an aspiring enduro racing track photographer with a few years of the style under my belt. I would love to travel and make a living from this type of work. Very passionate. Awesome App btw!

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

Its such a crazy change in life finding a job where you'd rather be working than not!

[@CsBudget]

Agreed , 💪

[@peteryavo4200]

Fantastic intro to panning photography! Super useful. I am going to visit Sonoma Raceway this weekend and try it out. Thanks for publishing it!

[@breylankemp7596]

Your videos are really neat. I enjoy shooting dirt track racing mainly sprint cars but you still help me out. Thank you!

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

I would love to get some mean, gritty, shitty, dirty pictures of dirt track racing.. I feel like those could be some of the best looking photos of racing out there

[@breylankemp7596]

@@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE man I love it I'm no pro for sure but it's a thrill taking dirt track pictures. Two of my favorite guys to take inspiration from is trent Gower photography and db3 Inc both of those guys get some amazing shots

[@donwest1869]

Great stuff. I have been shooting Laguna Seca with a D500, next round will use a D850. I have all your recommended lenses; I rent the 150-600 until I can buy the big one. I love the Indy cars. Have had some good results, and that’s without a press pass. I walk every where, and know the geography of the track. See ya at the races!

[@can5projects563]

awesome video is one of the best TY.

[@epigy7167]

Really enjoyed this. I shoot at the track regularly but have been pretty much self taught so some of the tips and information here really helped. I'm gonna setup my aperature priority more cause I always forget to do that in non-panning situations

[@Morgan_In_Motion]

Great video! I enjoyed it. I've done one race which taught me a lot (such as needing a longer lens since cropping in 100% on my 20mp body didn't do the greatest lol). Going to my second this weekend and have been studying up. Thanks.

[@paultrunfull3324]

As someone who has been doing motorsports for years, 20mp is enough to crop when I started I was using a 6.3 mp camera and had no problems cropping if I need to. Look at the Canon R3 that's a Sports Camera and that has 24.1 only 4.1 more than your camera and you crop the life out of those images. My advice would be spend your money on good glass f2.8 of f4 .

[@brokenfingergaming]

WOW a lot of information Thank you for this.

[@makalu69]

Z9 is incredible... worth the upgrade.

[@ath3263]

This was excellent

[@mofostopheles]

Great video, nice ending.

[@KnownsenseFilms]

Brilliant Stuff! Love from India

[@denisbassom172]

Good info, thanks.

[@howardhack655]

Great information

[@CRod-fl5on]

Whouahh, just love that video, really useful, helpful, with a lotte great tips. I have one question, I'm into purchasing a D5 to shoot racing cars and regular stuff. Do you think it's way better than the d850 ? Because I'm still hesitating. Thanks in advance. Blessings from France

[@NicholasJamesJohnson]

Hey, C Rod! You really couldn't go wrong with either of those cameras. Im pretty sure the D5 beats the D850 in most things, other than resolution. The added resolution allows for more cropping in post - but car photos are so raw and scrappy anyway, that cropping in to a 20MP photo is totally acceptable! Youre not going after perfect, studio quality sharpness.. youre going for the feeling of speed and danger and controlled chaos!

[@Mr.Tralfamadorian]

Great video! I appreciate the honesty!

[@selkins006]

I'll have you know I watched this. Well done!!? I wanna be in the next one 😬

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

Oh hey Scottie!

[@HV71851]

Thanks for the great tips! I shoot at Daytona, but I have not seen anyone riding a bicycle. It’s a huge place to walk it all. Do you ride around this track?

[@eletor]

Thanks for this :)

[@Howhowhow1]

thank you! any suggestions for drag racing?

[@NikCan66]

Excellent job and subscribed

[@Fotogoscar]

I'm on the expensive side "Hobby" wise. But love it. I'll be attending the Roar/Rolex and will bring my a7riii with Sony 24-105mm F4. Might rent the 100-400mm but not sure yet.

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

That’s awesome! I just got my IMSA credentials and will for the first time be at the Rolex as a pro!!

[@Fotogoscar]

@@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE That's amazing. Wish you success.

[@robraker9901]

Thanks for the video. I didn't hear you mention whether you shoot JPG or RAW when you are photographing at the track?

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

I shoot RAW. I don’t shoot for news publications or anything timely; I’m hired by teams.. so I take my time like a wedding photographer and edit every shot I use

[@kevdavies3445]

very informative

[@nightlust]

Hey, I plan on making an amateur shooting of a rally event in a few months (yet on a rather tight budget.) I found a Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III and a 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM for a reaaally decent price. I have a Canon 1100D to go along with it, still with its kit lens (good ol' 18-55). Do you think it'll go well for that kind of event? Since I'll be far closer to the action than you seem to be on regular track racing events I don't really think a rather strong zoom like a 300mm lens would come equiped with? Though I'd like to be sort of "creeping" around a corner - I mean... Rallying is all about blazing through corners right? - And so I could take profit of the 200mm to have nice pics while the pilots do some prep while being a bit further away to not bother them? And also how could I like train taking pictures of cars nyooming their way to the next corner? (hello yes absolute beginner here how did ya guessed?) Anyway this video was definitely what I was looking for so, thanks a lot for the amazing explanations and advices!

[@timjourdanmedia]

I have a question about fixed aperture lenses: i have a sony a57 with the dying a mount. I have lenses going up all the way to 300mm, but recently i wanted to look into some telephoto lenses. Well there is the tamron and sigma lenses that are somewhat affordable, but sigma never released the one with the a mount so i would go with the tamron 150-600 f5-6.3 even though it didnt get the best reviews compared to the sigma. I could get it second hand for about 600bux. I was browsing the web and found a guy selling a sigma 50 to 500mm f1.4-6.3 for 340 bux and/or a tamron 200-400mm f5.6 for just 130 bucks... im tempted to get the cheap tamron but im kinda sceptical about it because of the fixed aperture... any suggestions? thing is, there are next to no A mount tele lenses out there, so it would be a steal, but idk if it makes sense thx for the help

[@nothingtoseeheremovealong...]

fixed aperture lenses will always win over variable, simply because the aperture remains consistent throughout the range, so at the 150mm lets say you can use f2.8 and then all the way up to 600mm you can also use 2.8. With variable, the range say 4.5-6.3 is your maximum aperture at each end. In terms of a Sigma 50-500 you're likely only going to be able to use it until 100mm or so (depends on the specific lens) but always go for smaller numbers when buying lenses. Equally worth noting that fixed ap zooms are hard to come by simply because of how heavy a super zoom lens is. Hope that helped!

[@viveksathish]

Really nice video ...

[@booksprite]

Could you comment on AF mode? You hinted that you use 3D AF for the panning shots, have you tried Group AF? Thanks, I enjoyed the video.

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

I am always using autofocus - especially with cars that are moving over 100mph. Group autofocus can work, too, but you have way less control.. The camera doesnt know what youre actually trying to get, and it will occasionally jump behind a car or not hit the driver. Thats why I tend to stick with continuous point focus

[@booksprite]

@@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE many thanks for the quick response!

[@gigismith4957]

Thanks for this video it was very useful. I have 4 grown children and 5 grandchildren that race Go-Karts. Part of the race is during the day part at night. Typically the pictures are fine...could be sharper! Bit my first night race pictures were terrible. High ISO, low shutter, tons of grain, soft images they just sucked. I shoot d810 70-200 So any tips were greatly appreciated!

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

This video is full of tips! Night shooting is a difficult beast to master, but its DEFINITELY possible with the D810.. You have the 70-200 f/1.8? You want to ONLY shoot at f/1.8 (at night). So put that thing in aperture priority mode, and adjust your ISO until your shutter speed is something reasonable. if you want SUPER sharp pictures also, youre going to need to shoot with a faster shutter. So if its dark AND fast shutter, youre going to have to learn to love the grain :)

[@paultrunfull3324]

If your shooting at night your have to live with the grain, but one thing that will help a little is a monopod that will help to keep the images sharper by keeping your camera steady, but remember to turn off the image stab. Some tracks/race meets will even let you use flash but CHECK with the race officials first.

[@johnosborn8881]

Great video. I've got pictures of that car you have in the background. 😁

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

No way, that’s awesome! I follow them to a lot of races throughout the year.. Owned by a family of dentists 🦷

[@johnosborn8881]

@@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE very cool. I'm the video guy for Randy Pobst so I get to come to any race he's at. Really fun

[@johnosborn8881]

@@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE I love your photos. Very good

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

@@johnosborn8881 NICE! He was just at Road Atlanta for Champcar, I believe. We got snowed out and it was nuts!!

[@johnosborn8881]

@@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE yes I was there. I just posted a video of him flying through traffic. We have a race recap coming up, but he had clutch issues so we were out before the snow got there. Are you going to pikes peak this year?

[@Myler709x]

Great video and tips. Been shooting drag racing for a few years now and starting to attend a few road course events this summer. Pretty excited to try something new! Gave you a follow IG

[@chillinthesnow6145]

Do you have a set of profiles you use on Photoshop? Really love your end look.

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

Hello again! I edit in Lightroom; I like the idea of making a follow up video of how I do edits!! By all means subscribe and I’ll explain my process in one of my next videos

[@owen9997]

Nice

[@kbdigitalpvd]

Where are you from? Noticed Woodstock, IL at 9:21... we're down the road in Rockford.

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

That’s awesome! I’m actually from Orlando Florida. But I travel with the Champcar Endurance Series so we go to all the major raceways around the US!

[@kbdigitalpvd]

@@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE pretty cool and nice work! We did our first racetrack shoot couple weeks ago. Love dragging the shutter speed for the pans.

[@brettonmartin8162]

when talking about the welding picture how do take a picture of someone welding without damaging your eyes? My dad is a welder and I would love to get some shots of him welding in the shop.

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

That shot turned out SO well.. and yeah you do have to be extremely carefully. I set my camera to burst, and lined everything up and got the focus right where he was going to be welding and then closed my eyes with my eye up to the viewfinder.. when I heard the welding start I just let the camera take like 15 pictures and that was the best one!

[@brettonmartin8162]

@@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE thank you!!

[@heathbamford8536]

How do you set up back button auto focus on Nikon d300

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

That is a great question! Ive never used one of those cameras before :/ Although, three weeks have gone by, I imagine you've figured out how by now!

[@stevetazphoto]

Do you have any tips if you have a lack of access? Like I’m going to a race as a spectator and don’t get a press pass for whatever reason what can I do to still get decent photos.

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

Well that super duper depends on the track and the size of the event. If you’re going to like an IMSA race, there will be a security guard every twenty feet and you just can’t go anywhere at all. If it’s a smaller race series, you can actually call the track or send some emails and ask about access because most tracks do have multiple areas that ARE accessible to the public. It’s just you’ll never be able to get down low right behind the barriers which is basically the divider between good pictures and crazy good pictures. If it’s a small event, though, like if you’re going to a spec Miata race, or WRL or Champcar, you can email or call those organizations and say you’d like a photo pass and they usually won’t even ask you who you’re with because they like any press they can get!! Then you get a vest and that opens a whole new world of each track

[@stevetazphoto]

Thanks for getting back to me so quick! I guess more specifically, Formula 1 at COTA and Indy Car at PIR. I know I can’t get amazing pictures that the media access guys can get, but I was hoping I could get something decent from the grandstands or maybe a GA area.

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

@@stevetazphoto For sure.. COTA is such a beautiful course, too! If you can get your hands on a really long lens, you would have no problem in Texas.. Ive actually never been to PIR so I cant speak to that. But Ive shot with both a media pass and without at COTA!

[@stevetazphoto]

@@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE Do you think a 200mm lens would suffice or would I need something like a 300-400?

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

@@stevetazphoto It would all depend on how close you can get - a 200mm would suffice if you can make youre way right to a fence. 200mm is long enough to go through fences, and if youre shooting with something like the D850 or a Sony A7r you'll get extra reach by being able to crop in. But yeah, 300-400 or the 150-600 would be much better!

[@Racing_Fox]

Why do you *need* to ‘upgrade’ to a mirrorless?

[@SPACEDESIGNWAREHOUSE]

@@Racing_Fox for me it was accurate and speedy autofocus during video recording. My Nikon D850 was perfect for taking pictures and would have stayed perfect for another ten years. But it could not lock on to a pair of eyes when recording video.

[@jakefry6679]

I was loving the video until you said the buddy jacob😑

[@donmac2091]

Thanks for the video. I'm using the 810 with 300s as backup. I was SCoNE's photographer for 5 years, and have covered a few of CHUMP/CHAMP races lately. Question: I recently picked up the 200 -400 f4 and plan to use it next weekend - do you think I should try to hand hold it, or stick with the tripod or monopod? www.turtlesway.com/Racing

[@T0ly113]

So, what did you choose?