First Time Trackside: Shooting Motorsport at Donington Race Circuit
Recently, I had the chance to shoot my first motorsport event — a full day at Donington Park Circuit. It was totally new territory for me. As someone who doesn’t know anything about cars (yet enjoys photographs of them). I left with a memory card full of motion, blur, and lessons learned — and I wanted to share the experience.
Creative Intent
My aim wasn’t to freeze cars mid-corner. It was the opposite. I wanted to lean into speed, explore shutter drag, and create images that felt fast and cinematic.
Using a slow shutter speed and narrow aperture, I aimed to keep the cars sharp(ish) while blurring the wheels and background — a technique that turned out to be more challenging (and rewarding) than I expected.
Gear + Settings
Camera: Sony A7III
Lens: 24–105mm f/4
Filter: K&F ND/CPL — ideal for cutting glare and helping control light on a sunny day.
My settings varied throughout the shoot:
Shutter: 1/50 to 1/125
Aperture: f/8 to f/16
ISO: Mostly 100–200, with Auto ISO when lighting changed fast.
What I Learned
Panning is harder than it looks. Getting a crisp subject with motion-blurred surroundings is part technique, part luck — and it took a lot of frames (almost 1000) to get even a few that worked.
Your gear is enough. I spotted someone trackside with a monster Sigma 150–600 and a monopod. I had a 24–105mm. Honestly? It worked. Sure, more reach would help, however, using the kit you have can be really beneficial and eye-opening.
Composition is key. Some of my best shots came from higher ground near corners, where I could isolate cars against clean backgrounds and track barriers. The mix of shadow and sunlight across the track also added a nice cinematic quality.
Imperfect shots tell the story. Once I embraced motion blur and leaned into the chaos, my images came alive with energy and character — even if they weren’t technically perfect.
Final Thoughts
Motorsport photography is a different beast — fast, technical, and thrilling. I took almost a 1,000 frames and came away with under 10 I’d happily share... and I’m proud of that. What mattered most was showing up, experimenting, and trying something new.
Would I do it again? Absolutely.
Same kit? Yep.
Still miss the perfect Porsche shot? Probably 😅
Want to join next time? If you’re local to Donington or just keen to shoot motorsport (or BTS video), drop me a message. I am always open to planning another trip.
Follow along on Instagram and TikTok @iambillystafford for BTS, POVs, and real-time diaries of life as a part-time creative balancing full-time work.