Nothing beats the thundering energy and human drama that unfolds across the surface of an automotive racetrack. Photographers who specialize in this adrenaline-fueled niche are best served by nerves of steel and the high endurance to lug multiple cameras and the long lenses needed to freeze the action. In today's show, we plunge headfirst into what it takes to cover the many facets of auto racing with two of the finest professionals in the field, photographers Camden Thrasher and Jamey Price.
From stories of unexpected hurdles to access when scouting an unfamiliar course to the mix of visual stimulation and extreme exhaustion that accompanies a 24-hour endurance race, our chat is full of real-world insights. We also discuss the gear these photographers rely on and the wear and tear that comes with hard core use.
And for listeners who've always wanted to try their hand at motor sports photography, Jamey Price shares some parting advice. "You don't build a portfolio by getting credentials," he says. "You build a portfolio by going to races as a fan, bringing your camera, and making cool pictures from fan areas. Tell stories, do something different."
Guests: Camden Thrasher & Jamey Price
Episode Timeline:
- 3:46: Jamey's start as a jockey and making comparisons between photographing horse racing and motorsports
- 8:29: Camden's early start attending auto races, then discovering photography through exploring his father's film camera as a cool mechanical device.
- 10:25: Both photographers share their trajectory from starting out as a motor sports photographer to making it into a career.
- 18:04: A race day timeline and the many variables involved in motor sports photography.
- 27:28: Camaraderie & competition between photographers working the circuit, etiquette when shooting, and the importance of individual style.
- 37:24: The thrill of endurance racing and how photographing these 24-hour-long races differs from other types of motor sporting events.
- 43:38: Episode Break
- 45:10: Camden and Jamey's go-to camera gear, the long lenses they lug, plus how often they use manual focus, especially when panning through people or trees.
- 54:50: Getting otherworldly visuals when faced with adverse weather conditions or unique atmospheric effects, despite the physical challenges.
- 59:15: Wear and tear on camera gear due to the unfriendly environment at the track, plus using broken gear or common objects for creative visual effects.
- 1:056:08: Camera settings and creative techniques when panning, plus accounting for variables of relative distance combined with motion and speed to achieve a desired result.
- 1:16:27: Camden & Jamey discuss the use of their motor sports photos and licensing their images to clients.
- 1:24:13: Parting advice to fans interested in becoming a credentialed motor sport photographer—bring your camera to a race as a fan, and start making pictures!
Guest Bios:
Camden Thrasher is a motor sports photographer with a distinctive ability to capture unique scenes of fast action. Growing up in Vancouver, Washington, it was the sound of engines from a nearby racetrack that first drew him to motor sports. After becoming a fixture at the track with his camera during high school, Camden studied automotive design and engineering in college, expecting to work as an engineer or on a pit crew.
But the money he was making as a side hustle with his camera convinced him to stick with photography, and he hasn't looked back since. Using a unique slow shutter speed method, perfected over many exposures, Camden revels in showcasing the abstract qualities of gleaming metal, bright lights, and dynamic action that are hallmarks of this sport. Now based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Camden's work has been commissioned by top racing teams and featured in a wide range of media, from print magazines to automotive branding campaigns.
Jamey Price is an automotive photographer based in Charlotte, North Carolina, whose motor sports work has taken him to more than 25 countries, and across most of the continental US. Jamey's photography career began while he was competing as a thoroughbred horse racing jockey and exercise rider. During this time, he completed more than 50 races, notching 11 wins in the saddle. His life in horse racing was eventually compiled into the self-published book Chasing: Racing Life in England & Ireland. Yet, in 2011, Jamey's photography career switched from horses to horse-power. Since he began chasing race cars, his images have been published worldwide in magazines, distributed by sports imagery wire services, and featured by top commercial clients. Additionally, Jamey is a LEXAR Elite Artist, since 2014.
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- Host: Derek Fahsbender
- Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman
- Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein
- Executive Producer: Richard Stevens
