Motocross photography has been a constant in my life since I picked up a camera. Going to the track to race with my friends and then to photograph those same friends has lead to one of my favorite things in life as a photographer.
Knowing a subject like motocross racing has taken years of learning to achieve a comfortable balance of gear, experience and a genuine love for the sport. Oh, and mud. There are weekends when the weather is very unkind to racer and photographer alike. However, some of the muddiest races have given me some of my favorite images through the years.
Lighting is also quite a challenge since races usually start late morning and continue to late afternoon. Harsh sunlight can certainly be a monster of its own during the middle of the day but that goes without saying to an audience of photographers. Waking up on a race day with cloudy or overcast skies is a total blessing.
“Heels over Head” came to be after watching several other riders make the same mistake. It was early afternoon with the sun beating down with that unflattering light and trying to find the best angle was a challenge. With the sun coming in over my shoulder I was kneeling at the edge of a corner doing my best to get some light into the riders faces to brighten the shadows caused by the helmet visor.
There was a spot on the track that had a lighter shade of dirt that would reflect just a bit up into the rider as long as I kept my prefocus on that spot but with the speed that each bike was going it was no easy task.
Once the riders of that lap went past, I was able to watch them navigate the rest of the track. As I did this, I began to see a pattern of riders taking a particular line in the downhill nearby that had begun to develop a hidden rut after hundreds of motorcycles had powered over it.
Seeing an opportunity for something exciting to happen in my viewfinder I moved to a position at the bottom of the hill and waited. It wasn’t the best position to photograph from because the angle of the sun shifted to a very contrasty side light but it was what I had to work with but I could stay for a bit to see what would happen and move on if nothing did. However, it didn’t take long for the action to start.
There were a few close mishaps that I was able to catch but nothing out of an ordinary race day. Then, maybe ten minutes of photographing the riders maneuvering down the hill, it happened. I could tell by the way the rider was powering down the track trying to catch the guy in front of him that he was going directly into that deepening rut at a bad angle.
Sure enough the guy’s front tire dipped into the rut and almost stopped him dead in his tracks but as he tried to correct for the bad angle his rear tire rebounded from the rut and kicked him off his footpegs and launched him into the air and over the handlebars.
It was a spectacular thing to watch through the viewfinder. Because there were still riders racing down the hill and on through the corner up to the next jump I didn’t have time to take a quick peek to see if I had captured a rare moment in time. With the last rider in the lap going past I stopped to look back at the action. I scrolled back through the other rider images to find the guy who flipped through the air and there it was on the back of my camera, a great shot.
Well, as great as a shot can be on the back of the camera. I’m sure I’m not the only one to think I’ve done something great photographically only to be disappointed once it was time for editing. Luck was with me this time. It is patience, knowledge of motocross racing and a bit of preparation that allowed me to capture the moment where the rider ended up “Heels over Head”.
As a happy side note he didn’t get hurt, got back up on the bike and finished the race only losing a few positions. There have been many times that I was in almost the right position or just a little too late bringing the camera to my eye but that’s what makes capturing something like this a special, personal accomplishment.
“Heels over Head” was captured using a Canon R6 with battery grip, Sigma 60-600 F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM and a Black Rapid strap to carry the load. A focal length of 122mm, shutter speed 1/3200th, F/5.0 at ISO 1000 was used to get the proper exposure.
The Canon R6 has been a little workhorse for me and I’m in love with the Sigma 60-600 because of its focal range and sharpness however, after a full day on the track it’s weight becomes a bit of a drawback.
On a long day, if I’m starting to wear down for the second set of motos I’ll bring out my old but sturdy Bogen monopod, and by old I mean 30 some years old. A monopod will definitely help with the weight of a long telephoto but it does limit the range of motion a little which can be an issue during some races.
Being at the track on race day is something to always look forward to. The excitement, the wonderful racing families to work with and the pure joy of being a photographer is a wonderful thing for me. Capturing moments like “Heels over Head” is a true highlight as a photographer for me.
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