Mastering 24-Hour Endurance Race Photography: Tips for Capturing the Ultimate Motorsport Challenge
Our 24H Dubai Motorsport Photography Workshop 2025 at the Dubai Autodrome, UAE.
Photographing a 24-hour endurance race is one of the most demanding yet rewarding experiences in motorsport photography. From the golden hours of sunrise and sunset to the adrenaline-fuelled pit stops and the challenge of shooting at night, a well-thought-out approach can make all the difference. Here’s Greg’s (founder of Trackside Focus) top tips on how to maximise your coverage and capture stunning images throughout the race.
1. Prioritise Sunrise and Sunset Shots
While endurance races run around the clock, the most visually stunning moments happen during sunrise and sunset. The golden light adds warmth, contrast, and depth to your shots, making for spectacular images with dramatic shadows and rich tones.
Plan ahead and scout the best locations during practice sessions.
Try a couple of different locations around the track in the days before, then decide on your favourite and head there during the race.
2. Plan Your Pit Lane Photography
The pit lane is where some of the most intense and dramatic moments happen—driver changes, mechanical fixes, and high-pressure stops. If you want to capture a specific car or team in the pits, you need to be strategic:
Monitor their race strategy - keep an eye on previous pit stops and estimated pit stop windows.
Know where to position yourself safely for the best angles without disrupting team operations.
Decide whether you want to use fast shutter speeds to freeze action or slower speeds to convey motion and energy.
3. Experiment During Practice Sessions
Practice and qualifying sessions are your best opportunities to experiment with different camera settings, lenses, and techniques before the main race starts. This allows you to:
Test different focal lengths to see which work best at various track locations.
Find the ideal panning settings for motion blur and speed effect.
Work out your high ISO settings for night photography without excessive noise.
Try different vantage points before committing to key locations during the main race.
Outlaw Photography & our photographer coach MJW Media on our 24H Barcelona Motorsport Photography Workshop 2024
4. Stay Hydrated and Manage Your Energy Levels
Endurance racing is tough not just for the teams, but for photographers too! Long hours on your feet, carrying heavy gear, and staying focused for over 24 hours is physically demanding.
Hydration is key - water is better than caffeine, which can lead to crashes in energy levels.
Eat regularly to maintain steady energy rather than solely relying on sugar or energy drinks.
Take short breaks when possible to avoid burnout - fatigue can lead to missed shots.
5. Prepare for All Weather Conditions
Weather is unpredictable, and a 24-hour race could expose you to everything from torrential rain to blazing heat. Be ready for anything:
Pack rain covers for your gear and a waterproof jacket for yourself.
Have lens wipes and cloths to keep your glass clean in wet or dusty conditions.
Layer up for cold nighttime conditions if you're trackside in the early hours.
Sun protection (hat, sunscreen) is essential for daytime shooting.
6. Know Your Equipment Inside Out
Endurance race conditions change constantly, and knowing your camera settings without hesitation is crucial.
Master ISO settings - a higher ISO is necessary for night shots, but balance them to reduce noise.
Understand aperture control - wide apertures (low f-numbers) help in low light, but think about depth of field.
Get comfortable adjusting shutter speed on the fly to freeze motion or create dynamic panning effects.
7. Develop a Fast and Efficient Workflow
In the age of social media, clients, teams, and fans want photos almost immediately. Having a smooth workflow ensures you don’t fall behind.
Plan your schedule - decide when to shoot trackside, when to be in the pits, and when to ingest and edit images.
Back up your shots every 2-3 hours - you don’t want to risk losing an entire session or series of images.
If shooting for a client, edit and deliver selects quickly for social media updates and press releases.
Prepare a set of presets that you like and apply these or batch edit your images for quicker post-processing. You can use the practice and qualifying days to design presets for that particular circuit or weather conditions if you haven’t done so beforehand.
Final Thoughts
Shooting a 24-hour endurance race is as much a test of endurance for photographers as it is for drivers and teams. By planning ahead, managing your energy, understanding your equipment, and refining your workflow, you’ll be able to capture stunning, high-quality images that truly tell the story of the race.
Looking to take on your next motorsport photography event? Not sure where or how to start?
Grab your gear and join a Trackside Focus workshop where you will learn from leading industry pro’s who will train, guide and coach you in all the above and much, much more!
The race start (turn 1) at the 24H Dubai 2025, Dubai Autodrome, UAE.