When you purchase through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
With a ten-year-old DSLR, this amateur photographer captured award-winning motorsport images that showcase technical excellence, and creativity. | Credit: Joy Richings, The Amateur Motorsport Photography Awards
Amateur photographer Joy Richings won the top honor in the Pit Lane and Paddock category at the Amateur Motorsport Photography Awards (AMPA).
And this was not his first success in the competition. In 2024, Richings also claimed victory in the Portrait category, underscoring his growing reputation for creative motorsport imagery.
The winning image is a striking 10-second long-exposure photo, capturing large light trails around a classic racing car – using a traditional setup, including a more than ten-year-old DSLR and an ultra-wide-angle lens.
Pit Lane and Winner’s Paddock
Technological details
Exposure: 10sec, f/11, ISO 100
Gear: Canon EOS 7D Mark II + EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
Instead of pursuing sharpness through speed, Richings chose to experiment with light itself. By extending the shutter to a full 10 seconds, he transformed the surroundings into a cinematic scene, using controlled light painting to enhance the subject rather than overpower it.
Long exposure light trail photography is technically demanding. Any movement of the camera risks distracting the subject, and poorly positioned light sources can easily distract. Richings image shows a confident grasp of both time and composition.
“For a stunning image created using a fiber optic light whip over a 10 second exposure, capture the blue Lister Jaguar ‘Costin’ at Goodwood, experimenting with light painting to create a striking cinematic effect,” comments AMPA.
Richings created the shot using a traditional DSLR setup. The Canon EOS 7D Mark II was launched in 2014, but is still popular among sports photographers thanks to its strong weather sealing, reliable AF (autofocus), and consistent metering.
Amateur Motorsport Photography Awards
Created by Greg Childs, founder and CEO of Trackside Focus by The Photographic Adventure Company Ltd, the AMPA celebrates the passion and dedication of amateur photographers who capture motorsport from fresh and exciting angles.
Open now to all UK-based motorsport enthusiasts, it’s a competition that focuses on learning and growth.
For more details and to discover all the winners, visit the Trackside Focus website.
You can love…
Discover the best DSLRs, the best sports photography cameras, and the best sports photography lenses.
Looking for competitions to enter? Here are 10 global photo contests now open for entries from February to May.