RMM Member Track Day
After seeing some of @ta.bluepra racing/track day photos, I’ve been inspired and wanting to learn how to capture similar images to his and simply learning how to photograph fast moving subjects. We got chatting and he invited me out to a private member track day at RMM where I was lucky enough to be granted media access allowing me to get much closer to the action.
I’ve typically only ever shot static objects/people or moving at a slow speed, so this experience was completely new to me. I got a quick tutorial from Tom but then was left up to figure out the rest on my own.
It took me almost the entire morning to dial in my camera settings to be able to capture anything in focus or even in frame. I started off shooting with a low shutter speed, about 1/8th of a second, but ended up not getting a whole lot in focus or in frame. I kept stepping up the speed until I found a good fit for me. I’ve heard of many people shooting at all sorts of settings, but I found I was getting relatively good results at around 1/15th - 1/25th shooting wide open at 1.4 that day with my camera set up.
Hope you enjoy some of the photos that turned out from that day. I’m really looking forward to getting more days in at the track and/or driving events with my camera.
Vince also tagged along that day at RMM. Seeing him fly around the track was great fun for me as I really wanted to capture some photos for him and the Miata in action. Since I took the most photos of Vince’s car, some of my favourites from that day, ended up being of him in the Miata.
Attacking turn 14.
I loved how this photo turned out as I feel the high motion blur really captures the essence of speed, however, was also able to capture the rear end of the Supra in focus.
This blue M2 Competition looked especially sharp against the dull autumn colours of the track.
While it being my track photographing debut, I also was shooting motorcycles for my first time too. These guys were trickier to shoot, being smaller and more difficult to track opposed to cars, but I ended up finding them to be the most fun to capture.
With bikes being smaller, it was harder to keep the camera focused on them while panning with the camera.
Really happy with how this turned out.
Was pleasantly surprised with seeing some open wheel racecars out that day. Pictured above is a Radical Motorsport SR3.
In attendance was this Shadow Racing DN5. A real Formula 1 car that was raced in the 1975 and 1976 seasons. I don’t know the exact history with this specific car. Definitely a nice and unexpected treat to see and hear this car put down some laps at the track.
A Rush SR also raced around with the SR3 and DN5 during the open wheel sessions.
Vince getting chased down by a GT2RS…
GT2RS doing GT2RS things… Gorgeous spec…
One of my favourite shots from that day…
Love this shot too.
You could hear this coming from a few turns away.
This came out later in the afternoon and was chasing down the Shadow DN5 for a few laps.
It was my first time seeing something like these type of cars in action. So cool to see these open wheel race cars ripping.
I promised Viv that we wouldn’t stay for too long that day and as I soon as made it back to the pits, I see her taking off in the passenger seat of Ryan’s Exige… I quickly ran back around the track from where I just came from hoping to get a few more photos since Ryan had come later in the afternoon as well.
Viv tossing up the deuces as Ryan attacks the corner.
This was a great opportunity and really got me excited to get behind the camera at more racing and motorsport events (thank you again, Tom). Capturing cars doing car things (simply moving) is way more interesting and fun compared to static and parked vehicles.
Let me know what you think - or if you’re a photographer yourself, let me know your favourite trick or tip.
As always, hope you enjoyed this set, and thanks for reading.
