Motorcycle Sports Car Drag Racing Stock Photography
Though this photograph was a rather simple one to capture technically it contains certain elements that are essential to a good stock photograph in the world of motorsports…specifically in the world of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Story telling. That is what it is all about and this image speaks volumes. The viewer instantly knows what they are looking at. It is the Lucas Oil Products, Inc, Toyota Camry Funny Car, competing in The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series at New England Dragway. How does the viewer know all that? Because all of the logos for all of those corporate sponsors and the sanctioning body appear in this single photograph. The "Christmas Tree" (The starting lights) and the fact that the car and driver are performing an impressive burnout are what brings all of those elements into perspective. Funny…I was credentialed for this event by the world’s largest publisher of motorcycle magazines and was at the track ostensibly to cover the Top Fuel Harley drag racing motorcycles that were competing at this event…the 2017 New England Nationals. Of course I took advantage of the opportunity to photograph all the other racing classes that were competing at this event…the Funny Cars (like the one pictured here), the Top Fuel Dragsters, the Pro Stock machines as well as numerous Sportsman class races that took place on the track in Epping, NH that weekend. I provided my editor with all of the Top Fuel Harley images that they were looking for but added many other images to my stock library which is offered through Getty Images/iStock. This image has actually been licensed twice, to two different media outlets, as they too appreciated all of the story telling elements captured. One of the publications that ran with this story actually used this photo as the lead picture in an article discussing this New England event. As a professional motorsports photographer I always have to concern myself with promoting the sports, the sanctioning bodies, the corporate sponsors, the venues and the series sponsors that make these sports what they are today. Motorsports fans are known to be amongst the most loyal fans compared to any other demographic. I try to keep them in mind when I’m capturing images and making sure to have their corporate logos visible to all of the fans who see my racing images. Simple photograph with strong corporate and sanctioning body messages behind it.