By MazdaMotorsports.com - Sep 27, 2018, 7:06 AM ET

Mazda’s guide to better motorsports photography, Part 2

In the

first article

on improving your photography at the racetrack, we presented Mazda Motorsports’ photographer Alison Arena’s thoughts about getting better action photos. But there are a lot of great photo opportunities that happen off track as well. It could be podium photos, a shot of a winning driver with a trophy or just the work and fun that goes along with a racing weekend.

Everything with photography starts with the light. Typically the earlier or later you can take photos, the better. This is especially true with cars, as the sun’s reflections can be difficult. In fact, if you’re taking a photo of just a car – no people – you can even wait until after the sun sets (or start before dawn). With the sun below the horizon, there will be no harsh reflections off paint, glass or chrome. For these photos, a tripod to keep the camera steady will come in handy because you’ll need longer exposure times.