Failing at Formula E: Capturing the Speed

As a photographer who thrives on the thrill of high-speed action, I've faced my fair share of challenges. Recently, I had the opportunity to shoot the Formula E race at Portland International Raceway, and let me tell you, it was a completely different beast compared to capturing planes. Here's a glimpse into my experience, complete with a few photos from the event.

The Challenge of Being Close to the Action

One major difference between shooting planes and Formula E cars is how close you get to the action. When you're photographing planes, there's usually a considerable distance between you and the aircraft, making it easier to track their movement. But with Formula E cars, you're right up close, and they're zipping past at insane speeds. This makes it way harder to get that perfect shot.

Here's a shot of a Formula E car crossing the finish line. To get this shot, I had to really nail the timing and focus, which was a lot tougher than I expected. I was just a few meters away from the car, and it felt like it was gone in a blink.

Where It All Started

I first tried shooting from a hole in the fence. It gave a cool, framed perspective but man, it was challenging. The cars were moving so fast, and the fence was a big obstacle. It took a lot of trial and error to get anything decent from that spot.

This image shows the small hole in the fence where I started. I thought it would be a neat angle, but it was really tough to get the timing right. I ended up with over 300 pictures of just empty track because I kept missing the cars!

The Finish Line Struggle

After a while, I moved to the finish line to try my luck there. It was definitely a better spot to catch the cars in full view as they zoomed by. But even then, it was a real challenge to get them in focus and in frame at the right moment.

Here's another shot from the finish line. Even here, it was still a struggle. The cars were so fast that I missed the shot more times than I care to admit. The noise of the crowd added to the intensity, making it even harder to concentrate. But when I finally got it right, it felt amazing.

Conclusion

Photographing Formula E cars was a whole new level of challenging. Being so close to the high-speed action, trying to capture the perfect moment, and dealing with the unique perspectives of the track made it an intense but rewarding experience. These images might look cool, but trust me, behind each one, there are probably hundreds of failed attempts. It just shows how fast and thrilling these races are, and how tough it can be to freeze that speed in a photo.

Whether it's planes slicing through the sky or electric cars zipping past on the track, the adrenaline rush of capturing high-speed action is unmatched. Both experiences have taught me valuable lessons in patience, timing, and the joy of nailing that perfect shot. Can't wait to see what new challenges and adventures come next!