24 Hours of Le Mans

This Year’s (2023) 24hr of Le Mans takes place on 10 – 11 June.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the world's most prestigious endurance races, and photographing the race can be a thrilling experience. However, capturing great photos of the race can be a challenging task for beginners and pros alike. In this blog post, I will share some basic hints and tips on how to photograph the race and get as many stunning shots as possible.

Get familiar with the track and the schedule.

Before you head to the race, it's essential to do some research and get familiar with the track and the schedule of the race. Knowing the track layout and the location of the corners, straights, and chicanes will help you plan your shots and find the best shooting positions.

The schedule of the race is also crucial because it will determine the times when different types of shots are possible. For instance, the start and finish of the race, pit stops, and driver changes are great moments to capture the action and the atmosphere of the race.

Choose the right gear.

To photograph the speeding cars of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, you'll need a camera with a fast burst rate and a telephoto lens. A camera with a fast burst rate will allow you to capture multiple shots quickly, while a telephoto lens will let you get close to the action from a distance.

A lens or set of lenses covering a focal length between 200mm and 600mm is ideal for capturing the race action and the cars' details. It's also important to have a camera with a high ISO performance to shoot in low light conditions, especially during the night section of the race.

That said, you can also use a wider lens, somewhere between 15mm - 50mm, for photos in the pit lane, to take crowd shots and to show the overall feel of the event.

Find the best shooting positions.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans race takes place on a 13.6-kilometer (8.5 mile) circuit, which means there are plenty of shooting positions to choose from. Some of the best locations to shoot the race include the grandstands, the pits, and the corners.

The grandstands offer a great view of the track, and you can capture the cars' speed as they race by. The pits are also a great location to capture some action, as you can see the mechanics at work and the cars as they come in and out of the pits.

Corners are one of the most popular shooting positions because they offer a unique perspectives on the race. Shooting from a low angle at the corners can give your photos a dynamic look and convey the cars' speed and power.

Experiment with shutter speed and aperture.

To capture stunning photos of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, it's essential to experiment with different shutter speeds and apertures. A fast shutter speed is ideal for freezing the action and capturing the cars' details, while a slow shutter speed can create a sense of motion and blur the background whilst still showing motion in the cars wheels.

A wide aperture can help you isolate the cars from the background and create a shallow depth of field, while a narrow aperture can keep everything in focus and create a deep depth of field.

Tell a story with your photos.

Lastly, it's important to tell a story with your photos. The 24 Hours of Le Mans race is more than just a race; it's a celebration of speed, endurance, and teamwork. Capturing the emotions, the atmosphere, and the people involved in the race can make your photos more compelling and memorable.

For instance, you can capture the excitement of the fans, the focus of the drivers, or the hard work of the pit crew to tell a story that goes beyond the cars and the track.

Photographing the 24 Hours of Le Mans race can be a thrilling and rewarding experience. By following these tips, you can capture photos that showcase the beauty and excitement of one of the world's most prestigious endurance races.

Mark Playle - PhotographFrance.com