I discovered there are not many “dirt track” bloggers out there. We are definitely a community that love what we do. So I thought I’d share what I do and hopefully grow a online community of HOW DO YOU PHOTOGRAPH CARS!
SO how did I end up photographing cars? I grew up around the dirt track, its a family event that’s exciting to watch. Dad raced,my brothers still race, & now my nephew does too. When I was young & only taking pics of cars when they were parked I always dreamed of someday I will be “on the track”! With many attempts of taking images from the stands with a 110 nonadjustable camera. I just kept reading about cameras and trying again. The first attempts of learning to pan.
I have always enjoyed the lines of cars, racing or street, hot rods. Each has its own personality, usually taking after the driver lol.
The track had a photographer at the time I was old enough to get into the pits( that’s where they park the cars), there were many years the photographer was whoever was there that was part of the racing club that had a camera to take just a trophy shot to turn into the paper!
I was so nervous to ask the current photographer if he minded another photographer, his response “I can only shoot what’s in front of my lens. So why not?” I remember trying to hold my excitement in, now to ask the TRACK OWNER. Oh boy, I was shaking in my boots, I knew him, but to be accepted INTO the group of infielders, I really wasn’t sure as there were not many females in the racing industry at that time.
Yes you guessed it. I was accepted. I was asked how old I was, insurance did not allow minors, and what I could offer the track, signing a release form of liability then with every weekend signing in as this is a fairly dangerous gig. Jeez I was so excited to be in! I know I babbled all that week, nervous as I was not sure how to shoot a moving car, only a idea.
So let the adventure begin!
