Okay, so I’ve been wanting to get into motorsport filming for a while now. It just looks so freakin’ cool, the speed, the action, everything! So, I finally decided to give it a shot. I didn’t have any fancy equipment or anything, just my trusty old camera and a basic tripod.
The First Attempt: Finding a Spot
First thing I did was find a local track day. Luckily, there’s a small circuit not too far from where I live. I contacted to make ensure get in and allowed to film.
I packed my gear, charged my camera, and made sure I’ve got a few spare memory cards. I’ve learned in past the that running out of space in the middle of something is the WORST.
Setting Up and Getting the Shots
When I got to the track, I spent some time just walking around, looking for good spots. You know, places where I could get a clear view of the cars without being in the way. I found a couple of decent corners and a spot along a straightaway.
- Corner 1: I set up my tripod low to the ground, trying to get that dramatic, “close to the action” feel. I practiced panning with the cars as they went by.
- Straightaway: Here, I tried to capture the sheer speed. I zoomed in a bit and tried to keep the cars in focus as they whizzed past. It’s harder than it looks!
- Corner 2: This was a tighter corner, so I experimented with different angles, sometimes shooting from higher up to get a wider view of the track.
The Challenges
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Keeping the cars in focus while they were moving so fast was tough. I had to adjust my camera settings a bunch of times, messing with the shutter speed and autofocus. I also realized that my basic tripod wasn’t the stablest, especially when I was trying to pan quickly.
Reviewing the Footage
Back home, I dumped all the footage onto my computer and started going through it. Some of it was pretty shaky, some was out of focus, but there were a few moments that I thought looked pretty good! It was definitely a learning experience. And made a mental note to look for a better tripod/stabilizer.
Next Steps
I’m definitely going to keep practicing. I think I need to invest in a better tripod, maybe one with a fluid head for smoother panning. And I’m going to keep experimenting with different camera settings and angles. It’s all about trial and error, right? I also uploaded some clips online to get some feedback from some online pals who are into this stuff too.
It is all about put in the practice, practice, practice to getting better footages!
