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This amateur photographer showcases technical excellence and creativity when he captured an award-winning racing photo using a ten-year-old DSLR camera. |Image credit: Joy Richings, Amateur Racing Photography Award
Amateur photographer Joy Richings has won top honors in the pit and paddock category of the Amateur Motorsport Photography Awards (AMPA).
This isn’t the first time he’s had success in competition. Richins also won the Portrait category in 2024, underscoring his growing reputation for creative racing imagery.
The winning photo is a striking 10-second long exposure shot that captures the sweeping trails around a classic racing car using traditional setup, including a decade-old DSLR camera and an ultra-wide-angle lens.
Pit Lane and Paddock Winners
technical details
Exposure: 10 seconds, f/11, ISO 100
Equipment: Canon EOS 7D Mark II + EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
Rather than pursuing clarity through speed, Richings chose to experiment with light itself. By extending the shutter to a full 10 seconds, he transformed his surroundings into a cinematic scene, using controlled light paintings to enhance the subject rather than drown it.
Long exposure light trail photography is technically demanding. Any movement of the camera has the potential to create a ghost image of the subject, and ill-positioned light sources can easily become distracting. Richins’ images display a confident mastery of timing and composition.
“Using a fiber optic light whip to capture stunning images in 10 second exposures, the blue Lister Jaguar ‘Costin’ was photographed in Goodwood, experimenting with light painting to create a striking cinematic effect,” AMPA commented.
Richings captured this photo using a traditional DSLR camera setup. The Canon EOS 7D Mark II was launched in 2014, but remains a favorite among sports photographers thanks to its rugged weather sealing, reliable AF (autofocus), and consistent metering.
Amateur Racing Photography Award
AMPA was created by Greg Childs, founder and CEO of Trackside Focus of The Photographic Adventure Company Ltd, to celebrate the passion and dedication of amateur photographers to capture motorsport from a fresh and exciting perspective.
This is a competition focused on learning and growth and is now open to all UK amateur racing photographers.
For more details and to learn about all the winners, visit the Trackside Focus website.
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