“We’re really just fans who happen to have a skill
that gets us closer to the action than most people”.
With that in mind, I try hard to enjoy the experience
rather than get completely consumed by staring at
the world through a viewfinder. Taking the time to
stand back and take in what’s going on quite often
opens your eyes to things that you might otherwise
miss and that’s when you get the sort of photo that
actually tells a story. And really that’s what being a
photographer is about, you’re trying to tell a story.
The track itself is where you’ll capture those little
moments that pass too quickly for the eye to see as
a bike and rider scream by at over 200km/h. A photo
can show the front wheel pawing at the ground, the
rider’s eyes looking to the next corner or the rear
tyre deforming under load at full lean. These things
just happen too fast for you to see in real time, but
a photo can capture that detail and make art out
of the dynamic. I’m probably best known for shots
where it looks like I’m trying to crop most of the
bike out of the frame and concentrate the focus
on the rider. It’s just that I think the rider and how
they interact with the bike is a lot more interesting
than the bike itself when it comes to track shots.
And a still photo can really emphasise that.
Off track, some of the best photos which tell a
story can be found in pit lane, in the paddock or on
the grid where there’s always something going on as
the teams get on with their work and unexpected
Words & photos: Nick Edards, www.halflightphotographic.com.au
KIWI RIDER 51