NHRA NASCAR IMSA PWC MOTOAMERICA CCS PHOTOGRAPHER
Michael ONeill Photographer Writer Motorcyclist Adventurer
Home »
Motorsports

NHRA NASCAR IMSA PWC MOTOAMERICA CCS PHOTOGRAPHER

Welcome to the world of professional motorsports. From the sidelines being a photographer in this field might seem like a glamorous profession but, in truth, it is not without it’s challenges and expectations. For starters your photographic skill sets must be diverse and finely honed. In photographing the launch of an NHRA Top Fuel dragster, like the one pictured here, you as the photographer has about one second to capture this image. These cars travel from zero to over 200 MPH in the first 300 feet of their race. In capturing this image your body will be subject to the effects of an 11,000 HP machine passing you about 15 feet from where you are standing…something you truly have to experience to understand. There are no words to adequately describe the experience. You also have to understand and accept the fact that when the light turns green your life could be over in one second. You’ll literally "sign your life away" on a liability waiver before you get anywhere near a hot track. Things are similar in photographing race cars and motorcycles on oval tracks and road courses. A whole new skill set is required in making motion blur images to convey the sense of speed that is being achieved by road racing cars and bikes. Panning the camera in sync with the speed of a 150+ MPH racing vehicle and releasing the shutter at precisely the right time is a skill that takes thousands of attempts to learn and years to master. I’m your go to guy in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the US. I have photographed NHRA Mello Yello national drag racing events at New England Dragway in Epping, NH and Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. I have photographed MotoAmerica and Championship Cup Series motorcycle road racing events at New Jersey Motorsports Park in Milleville, NJ. I have photographed sports car road racing events of the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, CT. I have photographed the Loudon Road Racing Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) in New Hampshire. A quick tour through the motorsports section of my web site documents the level of expertise I bring to the table. If you are looking for a contemporary photographer…a new set of eyes with a solid background…look no further. Call me to discuss your next assignment.