How do I get myself a Photographers Pass at Race Circuits? and whats the best lens?

Cezare

Cezare

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Cezare White
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Hello All.

I'm going to make this my new home now.
been using Overclockers forum for some time.

but I think a Mod's has got power crazy.
and decided to ban my account there for no reason. (and I cannot see away of contacting them...)

I only really looked on that forum for Photography and Games.

anyway.
I like this site, as it has everything that I want in Photography and Its my passion now. and what I want to do. for a career.


I posted this on the overclockers, but best I post here...

hello all.

I really want to get into Motor Racing Photography more.
I want to do this in my spare time. and hopefully look into a career with it. (while I work for Thomas Cook, doing Photography for them)

I'm betting you need to be part of a Media Group?
but how does one start and where to look for it?

  • How do I start to get into it?
  • where to look?
  • Photography sites to look where to start?
  • what Media Groups are there?
  • what agencies should I contact regarding a pass?[/
I]

and finally...

Best Canon lenses for Motorsports?

Lenses I currently own are.
  • Canon 100mm Macro
  • Canon 18-55mm
  • Sigma 70-300mm
  • Sigma 30mm (Prime)

I have a Canon 400d, but Maybe upgrade in the future. so as long as they are compatible with Canon Anything I will consider...
and I want to build up a lens collection first then upgrade the Body.

any help on this will be very gratefull.
I really want to do this and get out there!
If I could apply for a Media Pass this sunday that would be great.

I'm going to the BTCC this sunday (first of the season)
I dont think I can get access with work.
as they have Thomas Cook Sport. but only cover packages and stays to major Sport events.

Should I contact a local press. or photography agencies?

Thanks for all your help.
Cheers,

Cezare
 
you have left it way too late for this coming weekend or possilbly this season.

to get media credentials means applying to the MSA - the governing body of motorsport in the uk. You'll need a big portfolio of published work in newspapers and magazines with supporting letters from the editors of the publications you are working for.

In addition you will need your own public liability insurance - £ 5m worth.

As so many people are applying because they want a better view, the MSA are being careful to whom they give them to. Its a dangerous place trackside and people can and do get hurt (or worse)

Lenses - best would be 70-200 2.8 is l or 100-400L or fast primes. Not cheap! And to get the best from the lenses you'll find a pro body will help in terms of speed and accuracy
 
Thanks for the reply.

how would I apply for Media Credentials through MSA?
is this for Photographers not just for race drivers?

I'm in the process of building a new portfolio with all my current motorsport photography.
I got a bit, which is a start.

Yes, I have been looking into the Liability Insurence aswell. £200 a year.
I have been looking at the 100-400 canon and 120-300 sigma lens for awhile now.

once I save a bit more, then will purchase one of these. hopefully the sigma.

I want to pursue Motorsports and Wildlife Photography.

just need a point in the right direction :)
thanks for your time.

Cezare
 
yep found the website.
cant seem to find that area.

I'll keep looking cheers :)

edit: found it thanks

now I need to get my work up. and start contacting local media groups and agencies right?
unless I could do it through Thomas Cook... but I dont think that will work with Motor Racing.

maybe for the Hospitality area's of tracks...
 
It makes it quite clear in the instructions what you need on page 2 of the application form Some PR and press officer candidates are not allowed trackside and publications not available to the general public are not considered.



"Each applicant must supply cuttings from that publication including reports or photographs from at least 12 motor sport competitors (not press conferences, etc.) at four or more venues during the previous year. Unless every cutting bears your name, the Editor’s letter must confirm that all the cuttings were your work."

or

Each applicant must supply the following published cuttings: reports and/or photographs supplied by your agency from at least 24 motor sport competitions (not press releases, etc.) at sixor more different venues during the previous year. Cuttings must be supplied from at least six different magazines and/or newspapers (not video covers, programmes, etc). [This paragraph is waived if the agency holds a current FIA media credential valid in the discipline for which you are applying.]

"Each applicant must supply letters from the Editors or Publishers of at least six magazines and/or newspapers (not teams)."
 
ouch...

looks like its going to be difficult for alot of the circuits then.

I might be ok with Snetterton as this is my closest circuit.
and easy access to most of the area's.

I would think with my local news press they would cover me, If I showed them what work I have.

but as for Brands and large events...
Its going to be a few years then before I get beyond the fence.

if your starting out...
what is the best way to get yourself known?

appart from a good portfolio?
 
Most circuits (Rockingham excepted) have at least one or two decent areas to shoot from within the public areas - its just working out where they are.

To get a foothold you have to start from the bottom and work your way up. Find out which events the established pros don't bother with, and try to cover stories that have local interest - so the Cambridge Evening News (if it exists) would cover Joe Bloggs from Cambridge rather than nice shots of a car or bike that has no local interest.
 
LOTS of opportunities to get your credentials outside of race circuit.

If you're willing to consider venues other than race circuits then you'll find local motorsport clubs will be running events like Sprints, Hillclimbs, Stage Rallies (tarmac and forest), Production Car Trials, Classic Trials and Autotests. The 4x4 clubs also run Trials and Comp Safaris. These all tend to be low key local events, run by the local clubs for their own members and also invited clubs, including area championships open to maybe a couple of dozen clubs.
Venues are varied:
- the sprint & hillclimbs generally use either dedicated short courses or old airfield or test tracks, even army barracks.
- production car trials usually a grassy field on the side of a hill
- classic trials grassy fields or woodland
- Stage Rallies are quite big events, they use all sorts for tarmac there's old airfields, sprint & hillclimb courses, big factories, perimeter access roads at race circuits. The tarmac events are usually at a single venue with no public road sections. Multi venue stage rallies have the competitors on a route going from stage to stage and generally use forestry commission heavily for the competitive sections.
- autotests usually in factory car parks
- 4x4 Trials on small areas of farmland or in old quarries, maybe MOD land, same with comp safaris but they cover a much bigger area, as they are more like rallying but with more extreme terrain.


Many major events book an official photographer to shoot each of the competitors in action (its nice for framing or the scrapbook), but not always, and not necessarily for press coverage.
Stage rallies and comp safaris are the really big events, lot of organisation involved, usually lots of spectatotors, official photographers and press. Sprints & Hillclimbs are quite formally run too, they run practically as per miniature race circuits and you would need to be signed on and officially recognised to be let in to the circuit area, although most have reasonably good viewing and photography from the spectator areas.

The rest of the events are much more clubby and local and will generally be interested in having a photographer along as they dont get much publicity usually.

Most of the minor events will be zero entry fee for spectators, but if you are there to gain event photography credentials you should contact the organisers as they will probably give you entry lists, results, a bit of background on key competitors, tell you where to stand (or NOT to stand) etc. sign you on etc, you may need the proper insurance cover.

The small events with invitations to other club members are generally listed in the regional associations calendar, the club member only events you'd have to contact the local clubs directly.

There's also road rallies, navigational events that run on public roads, the big local championship ones run over a saturday night/sunday morning, they normally invite event photographers to take shots of each of the competitors, again though press photography opportunities may be available. Club only road rallies are 12-car events, limited to 12 competitors max and usually they are run mainly during the winter months in the dark evenings. Any coverage of road rallying in any of its forms needs to be done with involvement of the organisers, partly because they're the ONLY ones that know the route, but also because road rallying has to tread carefully with their public image. Competition on the public highway is legal and very carefully officially regulated and controlled. There are strict rules regarding roads used, driving standards of competitors & officials and the acceptability of competition and official vehicles. The sport needs to be careful to avoid the stigma of "road racing" and wild ideas of race cars hurtling around the roads. Some clubs prefer to keep their events out of the press so that they avoid the boy racer crowd turning up and causing trouble.
There are also some daytime road rallies, often for classic and vintage vehicles, but they normally attract a fair bit of publicity coverage anyway (its the flat caps, what ho, and wicker picnic hamper image)
 
Thank You for the Great Advice both of you.

I will definitly look into these area's.
Only problem with small events is Time.

I work aswell, and I'm up at 7am, back home at 7am.
so I only get weekends to do things.

but I will look into local Motorsport events.
I'll try and get my name out there locally.

Thanks for the nice post's Wookie and Andrew
 
so you understand, each of the local clubs tends to specialise in just a few of the many different types of motorsport, so worth contacting a number of the clubs in your area so you can get access to different types of events.
 
hope you dont think this mod has gone power crazy, but i'm going to have to have to move the thread into 'out of focus' as this is really a photography sharing section.

welcome to the forum, though :)
 
Have a look on Silverstones website.
You can build on your accredition by going on their smaller events etc.
Non F1 and international events can be easily accessed. If you go to the race office and plead , so long as you sign on and have some kind of insurance they are pretty cool about giving you better access.
If you can sell a few to a magazine then you'll have the photo clippings and editor to write the accrediation letter.
 
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