Copyright Circuit of the Americas
Formula One - the world's most popular form of motor racing - arrived in the United States for the first time since 2007 in Austin, Texas, and what a race it was. In Formula One, only the world's best drivers can handle being on the razor's edge of traction, balance, and holding the reigns to an 800-horsepower engine bolted into the car behind their backs. Everything about Formula One racing moves at a blistering pace - the cars, the mechanics, even the press meetings. The job of capturing these frantic, kinetic and sometimes dangerous moments falls on a select few: one of whom is Darren Heath.
After relentlessly covering more "junior" classes of racing, Darren cold-called a Formula One photographer in 1989 and the rest is history. He has traveled across the globe with Formula One for the better part of 20 years, capturing some amazing images along the way.
Copyright Darren Heath
As far as his technique, Darren appears to have the classical approach to fast action and racing photography. He combines the tried-and-true concepts of both - smooth panning and lens zooming to capture the cars - along with wide apertures for portraits of the drivers and team members. His images not only convey the action of the race, but the emotions, good or bad, of the people involved.
Copyright Darren Heath
As for Darren's advice to those who wish to begin a career in motorsport photography: begin local. From there, he explains the importance of contacting several large photo agencies such as LAT, Sutton, or Getty images, all big players in the sports photography game, to potentially license and make money off of your work. Lastly, he warns that one must be passionate about racing and photography to really make the cut. Travelling, equipment, and other expenses make it very pricey to take pictures of the greatest racing series in the world. However, if you can't get press passes to races, he cheerfully notes that "if you are in the grandstand or trackside, use the fence, use the crowds. Slow your shutter speeds down and convey the motion and energy. In other words...don't worry that you're not where I am. Use your environment to your best advantage."
Copyright Darren Heath
Have you ever photographed motorsports? What sage advice can you offer to others who want to photograph racing?