Friday was the first day we went to the Nurburgring 24 Hrs and we spent the afternoon at Breidscheid, then the late afternoon I walked from the Quiddelback car park for 2 to 3 mile for more shots of the cars (https://dlymotorsportimages.com/2013/05/19/nurburgring-24-hrs-may-17). By the time I got back to the hotel I was very tired since it was a long day walking and shooting in the rain and mud, but it was worth it.

As my wife and I were eating dinner we spoke with another guest we had met for breakfast. He was here to attend the race and to do some videography for the a BMW team racing cars 94, 174, and 195 (E9). He offered me a paddock/pit pass for the night qualifying. I thought to myself, I’m very tired, but hey, I’ve just traveled thousands of miles from Boston to Germany, and was I going to let some tiredness get in the way of an opportunity of a lifetime. I looked at my wife and she nodded yes, go to the night qualifying.

I’m really glad I went, since seeing the paddock and pits in action during qualifying at night was amazing. In fact, when I first entered a team pit area, I felt awe struck and said to myself “what am I doing here” and went to a corner of the garage to collect my thoughts. Then I said to myself, “hey, get your act together and start taking photographs, this is what you have dreamed about”. So I started taking photos. BTW, you have to keep one eye in the viewfinder and the other eye looking around to make sure you don’t get in anyones way, or knocked over my people or cars.

Also, this was the first time I used the Canon 50mm 1.2L at the race track, and found this is a great lens with the ability to bring the subject out of the photo with a 3D-like effect, against a shallow DOF, in available light. Should also note, the 5DIII is a great camera for taking night photos in available light  at high ISO with low noise.

By the time we finished photographing it was around 12.00 mid-night. I’d spent over 12 hours at the track, but it was a great first day of shooting and the paddock/pit experience made me feel like a “pro motorsport photographer” for the night. Wow, this is what you live for!

Nurburgring building complex near main entrance to GP Circuit (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/5.6, 1/140, ISO 2000)

Paddock area with BMW Stand T3 in background (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/4, 1/140, ISO 2000)

Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR which won the SP7 class  (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/2, 1/40, ISO 1000)

Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR ready for action (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/2, 1/80, ISO 100)

Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/2, 1/50, ISO 1000)

Race crew and drivers checking the headlights on a Nissan GT-R (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/2, 1/40, ISO 1000)

Low fuel in the Nissan GT-R (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/2, 1/50, ISO 320)

Brake lights on the Nissan GT-R work okay (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/2, 1/50, ISO 160)

Prosperia-C. Abt Team Mamerow Audi R8 LMS ultra (SP9 GT3 class) being pushed into the garage after qualifying (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/2, 1/60, ISO 100)

Raceunion Teichmann Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (SP7 class) on vehicle trollies for moving the car around the garage (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/2, 1/50, ISO 100)

Nova Racing Ginetta GT4 G50 (SP10 GT4 class) in the pits (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/2, 1/50, ISO 100)

Rheydter Club f. Motorsport i. DMV Porsche 997 GT3 Cup (SP7 class) going down pit lane (Canon 5D Mark III, 50mm f1.2L, f/2, 1/50, ISO 800)