Do's and Don'ts with a Media Pass on a racing circuit

GergoToth

GergoToth

Suspended / Banned
Messages
41
Name
Gergo Toth
Edit My Images
Yes
Hello Everyone

My name is Gergo and I get an opportunity to photograph motorsport with a media accreditation (1st timer) at Silverstone this month. Really happy and looking forward for those 3 days, but don't really find any advice about what I can and what I cannot do. I know don't run across the circuit, don't hide in a boot and don't kill myself, take camera gear with me, clothes, shoes, food, etc.

Many thanks

Gergo
 
Last edited:
Don't forget your camera or reversely do remember to take your camera.
 
:agree:
 
Keep aware of vehicles during the racing.

Don't wear a green, yellow or red top.

Good luck if it's BSB, £50 to hire a black body warmer and they don't even wear a fluorescent bib!

Try to work out the path of a vehicle if it all goes wrong and don't stand there.

Inside of a corner is usually safer than the outside.

Keep something solid between them and you:eek:

Always ask the Marshals before crossing the track.
 
Last edited:
Have copies of documents at signing on in case of problems

Have the necessary deposit for the tabard

Ask about red zones

Always have armco between you and the track.

Never cross the circuit whilst it is considered live. If you are not sure if its live or not, ask a marshal.

Silverstone is a big place, use a car or set off early to your intended corner.
 
Thank you very much! I will keep these in my mind. Do you know any unwritten rules for a media photographer?
 
Always obey all officials (never argue).
Consider spectators - and other photographers.
As a hobbyst who shoots trackside and has "clients"; a general one, at least down here in Australia, is that if a driver doesn't walk away from an accident you do not publish the photographs.
Usually drivers and riders do not want to see accident photographs.
Be prepared to hand over photographs to accident investigators including the police.
Be prepared to see somethings you wish never to see, let alone photograph.
 
Last edited:
Thanks RichardTaylor
 
Actually I found that drivers often want to see what went wrong, so they can work out whether it was a car failure or a driver problem.

I agree - if there is a doubt a driver may not survive, do not publish
 
I have an add on question to this subject. How do you get a pass in the first place? and how do you get good images of cars without fencing to show magazines when you dont have a pass?
 
You ask for one, and provide proof of insurance, letter of support from the editor of a suitable publication and sample images that you've had published from the past year.

Virtually all circuits have places where you can get photos without fencing.
 
be aware of your surroundings - cars/ riders, marshalls, other photographers, emergency service routes. Focus on what you are doing rather than the 'occasion'
 
The main points that I can see have already been covered:

Always keep behind the armco
Marshals word is law (if you want to keep on their good side and keep your accreditation)
Don't sit down (especially out of the sight of a marshal / post) a brief crouch you may get away with.
Don't lean on the armco with any part of your body - trust me - you could be shooting 'up' the circuit and just past you a car spins and hits the armco before you have chance to react the barrier has 'whipped' and you get thrown backwards, if your lucky a broken camera and big bruise but if your unlucky . . . .
Always wear your tabard, yes you may see a few "I am great / the best and therefore I can tuck it into my belt loops cos I'm too f***king cool" brigade but think of it as a life jacket - people can see you at a glance if they need to - amongst other things.
When you find a spot take a second to glance around and see that you have an escape route - rabbit holes / tree stumps etc make great trip hazards, if anything comes towards you, you don't need to be a hero!
Never walk onto the track (or past the barrier/armco) if the track is live - to be certain ask a marshal, even then keep looking as sometimes there are other vehicles circulating.
I try and be courteous to spectators especially if they have cameras, yes you need to get your shots but you don't have to stand right in line of the apex etc all day.

One last thing - ENJOY IT. You will get a lot more 'keepers' if you just chill out.

.DAVID.

oh and "camera / lenses / batteries (charged) / memory cards / bottle of water!!!
 
Last edited:
Hi guys

Sorry for the late response.
So, International GT Open at Silverstone was awesome. On the first day (friday) I was like a normal spectator with the tabard on. I even asked a marshall about can i get into the pit LOL.
Saturday and Sunday was awesome. Try to spoke with the marshalls. I think (my view) they are more friendly on saturday than sunday. On the last day is hard to speak with them, they are just hi, hello, bye. Maybe I just been in wrong place. Never mind. I like them and I respect their job.
For me the most amazing was the pit. Yes you can stand close to the track front of the fence, but for me the pit was the best.
I think this year I will not have any chance to get in as a photographer only as a regular spectator but next year I will try to get more job like this :D

Thanks for all the help

International GT Open pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gergototh/sets/72157645914181931/
Seat Leon Eurocup pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gergototh/sets/72157645909863251/

p.s David Stallard, on saturday I drunk over 4 liter of water
 
Great shots Gergo!

Edit: sorry, was on my phone and didn't realise this thread was from a few weeks ago :-/
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top