I filled memory cards for the third consecutive week with images from Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course. But what made this weekend different were the fenders.
Photographing sportscars (or, in this case, trucks) vs. open-wheeled cars calls for some refinements in technique to achieve my goals. Mainly this comes down to focus.
One of the first things I learned as a photographer was the importance of the subject. Without a subject, there's no story, and we all know that a picture is worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, when I see a photo without a clear subject, I feel like I'm reading a story made up of random words with no punctuation, theme, or plot.
Now my art appreciation degree is pricking a nerve in the back of my mind, reminding me how lost I felt seeing my first Jackson Pollok or cubist Picasso, which is a discussion for another time.
For the majority of applications of professional photography, the subject is what your client is selling. Does that mean I've "sold out"? Well, kind of, yeah. As a professional, I'm not working to create art; as an editorial photographer, I am only there to document what happened.
So my subjects during a NASCAR weekend consist of sponsors, teams, drivers, or manufacturers.
I think of it this way. If I had a son that played little league baseball and hired someone to take pictures of him at a game, I would want photos of him at the plate holding a bat, wearing his glove playing his position in the field. I would expect to see pictures of him sitting on the bench or chatting with his friends. Possibly even tears or cheers after the game, depending on the outcome. Of course, I could appreciate a scene-setting sunset over the field photo or a shot of a teammate sliding into third, but those aren't what I want to remember years from now.
For sure, I can be creative at my craft. I can make choices as a photographer, sculpt my vision, and influence the final product in many different ways. That's one of the most challenging parts of being a professional photographer. It's my job to capture the story you want to be told in the best way possible. That's what motivates me for every assignment.
