Capturing Action of F1!

Lens selection - You must equip yourself with a zoom lens, such as the 70-200mm, for capturing dynamic action shots. Opt for a longer lens for larger tracks or more distant shots, like 300mm or 400mm. A lens with a wide aperture gathers more light and creates a pleasing background blur, enhancing the focus on your subject. My go-to lens is a versatile Fuji XF 55-200mm (APS-C) for its zoom range and adaptability across different sports photography scenarios.

Aperture - This is the most crucial aspect (next to auto-focus) to ensure you get the shots and the composition and can also convey motion. Start around 1/1000 of a second and review the first couple of photos - if the cars are too blurry, you need to increase the shutter speed and practice your panning technique. Sometimes, even high-speed motion can be captured so well that if you freeze the car and tires entirely, your viewer may not even appreciate the vehicle moving at 115 mph, as in the featured image.

Panning trumps auto-focus. Well, not always, but for shooters with a camera that does not have state-of-the-art auto-focus, try picking a point to "pick up" the moving car in the frame and move along with the vehicle for a short distance. Allow the slower auto-focus to pick up the car and take a brief burst of photos. At the same time, you may get fewer clear shots than a brand-new marquee Canon, but you can still quickly learn how to nail 2 to 3 great shots for each burst. Stabilize yourself with a monopod to reduce shake and fatigue during prolonged shoots. It’s convenient for panning shots and maintaining steady framing along straights and corners.

Memory Cards - Invest in high-speed memory cards, preferably with a UHS-II rating or higher, to keep up with rapid burst shooting without waiting for buffer clearing. If you've never shot high-speed action and burst mode and are like me, where you are used to the slower pace of landscape photography, slow cards will quickly frustrate you on the track. Imagine taking several bursts only to have your camera unresponsive as the pictures buffer. Not only do you miss future shots, it will quickly frustrate you.

Trackside Tips—Familiarize yourself with the layout to pinpoint action sections. Experiment with various settings and angles to capture the essence of speed and competition. If granted paddock access, seize the opportunity to get up close to the race cars and witness the behind-the-scenes preparations. Once the race starts, ensure you don't have fencing in the way, as it will quickly throw off your autofocus.

Recommended Camera Settings—Start with a fast shutter speed of around 1/1000 seconds to freeze the action, coupled with a wide aperture like f/4 for a shallow depth of field. ISO is always according to lighting conditions, but I keep it around 200. I utilize continuous autofocus mode for sharp, focused images of moving subjects.

Conclusion - 100% try your hand at motorsports. F1 is fun, exhilarating, and gratifying to get 3-5 marquee shots from your favorite car and driver at the end of the day. For me, a still landscape shooter, it is nice to get out of your comfort zone and make yourself think on the fly for a few hours. Happy shooting!

As always, don't forget to bookmark https://www.gregghiaphotography.com

Austin, Texas