10/06/2026
I spent this past Saturday at Road Atlanta with Rick Belden Photography and Danny Stogner Photography, two veteran automotive photographers, for the IMSA Motul Petit Le Mans.
They showed me the ins and outs of photographing the race, from the best spots to shoot and what to look for, to how to capture panning shots.
For a panning shot, you use a slower shutter speed and move your camera with the subject as it passes, keeping the subject sharp while blurring the background. I’d only tried it once before, about eight years ago. The concept sounds easy until the cars you’re trying to capture are passing you at 150 mph.
I took about 1,500 photos and came home with roughly 20 to 30 worth keeping. The rest were blurred messes. Most of my panning shots were taken between 1/60 and 1/250 of a second with my Canon 24–105mm f/4.
Thank you again, Rick Belden Photography and Danny Stogner Photography, for letting me tag along and sharing so much of your knowledge with me.
Looking forward to going back next year with a longer lens and more panning practice!
📸 Lucas Ayres, CLT Shooters Media | Charlotte, NC Photography and Videography
