Access?

[Bryce Roberts]

Okay I need some help. I love shooting motorsports, mainly boats but all motor sports are good to me. The issue I'm having is not being able to get access to shoot photos. They just don't allow amatures. They have one maybe 2 PRO's that they allow. My question is how do I get any experiance or gain access to grow with my photography?

[Pete]

Hi there

Start with reading

How do you go about getting a press pass (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=322683)

And also take a look through the other links in

Motorsport Shooting Tips, Tutorials and Advice (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=151056)

Good luck!!

[DC Fan]

Where are you and what kind of tracks are you trying to attend? Usually, you need only to buy a ticket or a pit pass, and use a camera with a telephoto lens.

http://www.kevinlillard.com/online/2009-05-21b-0083.jpg

Terre Haute Action Track. Bought a pit pass for the USAC sprint car race and joined a bunch of photographers in the first turn.



http://www.kevinlillard.com/online/2009-05-24a-2524.jpg

Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Bought a ticket to the 500-Mile Race and stood in the open area inside of the first turn.



http://www.kevinlillard.com/online/2009-06-06a-4706.jpg

Mt. Comfort Airport. Bought a ticket to the air show and sat in the front row.



http://www.fansview.com/racing/07202008d0980.jpg

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Bought a ticket for the IndyCar race, walked the course and found good locations.



http://www.fansview.com/racing/10252008b0622.jpg

Crawfordsville, Ind. Bought a ticket to the Ironman ATV race, wandered through the woods and found good locations.

Not a single credential was needed or sought. What was needed was the ability to travel, and a few extra dollars to buy pit passes and tickets.

[Bryce Roberts]

I'm in Idaho. I wanted to shoot a Sprint Boat race at the track and they said No Camera's its reserved for their photographers. Tried a flat track (Bikes, 4 wheelers, and carts) and they said the same thing. I found the photographer that shoots them and its the same guy. Guess he ties things up.:rolleyes: I'm still trying to find out about the hill climb and a few desert races coming up. I think i can shoot them without any problem and I'm hoping I can do the same at a speedway but its small and not much action.:confused: We don't have any big tracks or anything here. A friend of mine is trying to get a photopass for me to get on the Air Base. One speedway I check only pit crew can have pitpasses until after the race which didn't do me anygood.

[Bryce Roberts]

Hi there

Start with reading

How do you go about getting a press pass (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=322683)

And also take a look through the other links in

Motorsport Shooting Tips, Tutorials and Advice (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=151056)

Good luck!!

Thanks I will looke over them.

[smcclelland]

I'm in Idaho. I wanted to shoot a Sprint Boat race at the track and they said No Camera's its reserved for their photographers. Tried a flat track (Bikes, 4 wheelers, and carts) and they said the same thing. I found the photographer that shoots them and its the same guy. Guess he ties things up.:rolleyes: I'm still trying to find out about the hill climb and a few desert races coming up. I think i can shoot them without any problem and I'm hoping I can do the same at a speedway but its small and not much action.:confused: We don't have any big tracks or anything here. A friend of mine is trying to get a photopass for me to get on the Air Base. One speedway I check only pit crew can have pitpasses until after the race which didn't do me anygood.

Start off just spectating and bring a camera, aside from some major sports events there's not much that says you cannot bring a camera to an event unless you're trying to walk through the doors with three 1D's and a bag full of lenses and flashes. Get shots from the spectator angle, do your best and start to build a portfolio. Once you've got that down you just need to keep working at it and showing your work, hopefully somebody notices and things take off from there.

Things are very dry in the motorsports industry these days, lots of teams folding and events collapsing as well as magazines going bankrupt.

[DC Fan]

I'm hoping I can do the same at a speedway but its small and not much action.

Action at small speedways:

http://www.fansview.com/racing/craand0615080011.jpg

One-quarter mile paved speedway.



http://www.fansview.com/racing/20090503a1536.jpg

One fifth-mile paved speedway.



http://www.fansview.com/racing/20090417a1583.jpg

One-quarter mile dirt speedway.

Small tracks. Still action to be found.