Rally school
Stunning scenery, airborne dirt particles and unprecedented trackside access make rallying one of the most photogenic forms of motor sport. But it’s also incredibly difficult to shoot. Stages stretch for miles, making it difficult to identify the best vantage points, erratic subjects are tricky to frame at high speeds, and plumes of dust can confuse even the best autofocus system and coat optics in a thick layer of grime. Alex and Stuart met at Radnor Forest in Wales to photograph the Phil Price Memorial Woodpecker Rally.
THE PRO
NAME: Alex Denham
CAMERA: Nikon D750
Alex’s motor sport journey started entirely by chance. Her petrolhead mum suggested she photograph a race for a college project and the budding photographer knew then and there, she’d found her calling. A year later and she was shooting for a touring car team and has since covered huge automotive events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Monte Carlo Rally, and is a Tamron ambassador. See more of her work by visiting: www.alexdenham.com
THE APPRENTICE
NAME: Stuart Jones
CAMERA: Nikon Z 6II
Health and safety manager and ‘Orange Army’ member Stuart remembers the Group B ‘golden era’ of rallying in the mid 1980s, when he was accompanied by his father’s trusty SLR. It wasn’t until he bought his first camera that he moved to Nikon and has recently purchased a Z 6II. But with more AF-Area Modes than ever, he’s hoping Alex can help him onto the right track.
“The first lesson is to know exactly where you want to shoot from,” said the pro as they reached their first vantage point. “Even if I know the track, I always do a little research to jog my memory.”
The stage was set to start imminently, so as soon as they set their bags down
