New from Charlotte NC

[Jamey Price]

Hey all!

So heres the short version of how I found the website/forum. I sent Chris Clark an email from sportshooter looking for motorsport advice. He kindly responded, and several emails later, he pointed me here.

My name is Jamey, I am 21 years old and I was born in Charlotte NC, but now attend a small college in central KY. My goal is to be trackside as a credentialed photographer for anything I can get my hands on. I'm having trouble breaking into the motorsport press photographer's inner circle.

Anyway, I look forward to becoming part of the community, learning, and developing a passion I already have for motor racing.

I would welcome ANY advice you can give on breaking into the business.

Attached below is a favorite sample of my work.

Sebastian Vettel, Monaco GP 2008

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s41/Jumpjock/DSC_0390-1.jpg

[Dave Verna]

Welcome!

[John Thawley]

Anyway, I look forward to becoming part of the community, learning, and developing a passion I already have for motor racing.

I would welcome ANY advice you can give on breaking into the business.


Welcome.

First piece of advice.... substitute your "passion" for motorsports with a passion for photography. The business doesn't need any more "fans."

Attached below is a favorite sample of my work.

Sebastian Vettel, Monaco GP 2008

Second piece of advice. Show great photos.... this appears to be an ok photo with a lot of Photoshop... or some sort of selective color processing.

We all have to "process" our photos... but good sports photography is done with your head, your "eye" and your camera.

All the best.

JT

[Jamey Price]

Thank you all for the welcome, and advice. No fear about just another fan though. My passion for photography is equally as strong, I just don't have quite the same experience with it, as I've been shooting about 8 months at this point with a Nikon D80.

I have a passion for both, which is why I want to pursue this and see where it takes me.

[Bill Jurasz]

Your pan is a bit soft, which tells me you're not quite tracking the car as well as you could. That will improve with lots of practice. And speaking of, if you have only been shooting for 8 months I think its a tad early to be thinking about breaking into the press ranks. Hit the local tracks for amateur racing, track days, motocross, etc. Practice compositions, focus, exposure, your post-processing, work-flow, etc. I think you're trying to jump into the deep end too quickly. :)

[John Thawley]

Thank you all for the welcome, and advice. No fear about just another fan though. My passion for photography is equally as strong, I just don't have quite the same experience with it, as I've been shooting about 8 months at this point with a Nikon D80.

I have a passion for both, which is why I want to pursue this and see where it takes me.

OK... you missed my point.

Fine, if you like the racing. But, don't tell anyone.

If you want to be taken seriously as a photographer, don't talk about racecars. In my experience, there is a heightened awareness among those "in the racing business" to be leary of "fans" looking for a good seat.

If you're are serious about your photography, then that should be your commitment and your reason for being at the track. Anything less and you're just a fan looking for a good seat. If you want to be taken seriously... "This is who I am... and THIS is what I do." All you need to know about the car(s) is enough to feature it properly and know it's the right one.

I couldn't be more serious.

JT

[Jamey Price]

Yeah, youre all right. But what's wrong with dreams? Can you honestly tell me you never had a dream to be something? Who's to tell me I can't dream of being a press photog one day? I know damn well I dont have the experience. Thats why I'm in this forum. To learn from people that do it.

Secondly, I understand very well what you're all saying. Among other things, I am a steeplechase horse racing jockey. I love what I do. I have a passion for it. I know what happens, what goes where, and where the best spots take take shots from are...so why can't this be applied to motor racing? Why can't a passion I have for racing cars, be applied to making better shots? Yeah, I would hope you all have that, but what is the deal with everyone being so "don't talk about this like were fans" mentality? If you ask me, it sounds like more fans need to learn photography because fans that love what theyre shooting, and are good at shooting, will get some decent shots. But hey, you're the professionals.

I'm in here to talk about what I hope is a communal passion for cars, motorsport AND photography. Because I love all three. And I hope being passionate about all, makes me a better fan, and a better photographer.