From Stillness to Speed: My Lens on the 24 Hours of Le Mans
As a landscape, lifestyle and travel photographer, I'm used to capturing the stillness and beauty of natural scenes and distant places. My camera has seen many sunrises and sunsets, peaceful forests, and historic cities, each photo showcasing the timeless beauty of our world. But when I got the chance to photograph the 24 Hours of Le Mans—a race full of speed and adrenaline —I knew I was in for a completely different experience. Shifting from the stillness of nature to the high-energy world of racing cars was both thrilling and challenging. I loved the challenge!
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most prestigious and grueling endurance races in the world. Held annually in Le Mans, France, this race tests the limits of both man and machine over a continuous 24-hour period. Teams of drivers race cutting-edge cars, battling not only each other but also fatigue and unpredictable weather conditions.
Stepping Into a New World
I left my home in Surrey on Friday at 3 AM and arrived at the Circuit de la Sarthe around lunchtime. It was a long drive, but my supportive husband kept me entertained with last-minute insights on the racing world and teams. Honestly, I can't say who was more excited—me or him!
I headed over to The Glamping site to check in, which was super easy. I was taken around on a buggy, shown the glamping site and it felt like being in a 5-star resort :)
There was a bar and breakfast lounge area, and the bathrooms with shower cabins were just a few steps behind it. Each teepee had a small table with chairs and a light outside.
The setup was superb: cozy-looking beds, cute lamps, electricity, a mirror, flip-flops, and other small bathroom amenities like toothbrushes and shower gels. The site was just a 10-minute walk from the racing track, and it turned out to be the perfect retreat after long hours on the track. At first, I wondered how much sleep I'd actually get. But despite the constant noise of racing cars on Saturday night and music from the podium, I managed to sleep through it for a couple of hours without needing earplugs—I was that tired!
Next stop was to pick up my accreditation and then to the media center to collect my tabard and other information. This place was crowded and buzzing with activity.
From the moment I arrived to Le Mans Circuit, the atmosphere was incredible—everyone was relaxed, in a great mood, and had broad smiles on their faces. People were peeking into team boxes, trying to catch glimpses of famous drivers, some were running on the racing track, and overall it felt like being at a big street party!
Diving into the Race
The start of the race was a revelation. Unlike the leisurely pace of landscape photography, where I could spend hours waiting for the perfect light, here everything happened in an instant. The challenge was immense. Every second was a story, and every moment was a potential capture of triumph or disaster.
The weather was unpredictable and was constantly shifting between rain, wind, and brief bursts of sunshine. This required constant adjustments to my camera settings and protective gear of my equipment.
Mastering the Technical Challenges
Throughout the race, I continuously adjusted shutter speed, switching between fast settings to freeze action and slower ones to blur backgrounds and emphasize speed. Wow, I hadn’t done so many panning shots with 24 hours like I did at Le Mans! Panning involves tracking a moving car while using a slower shutter speed to create a sense of motion—a thrilling yet demanding skill to master. The beauty of Le Mans is having 24 hours to perfect it! If I didn’t get the desired result on the first try, I waited for the next opportunity. I was considering using the monopod as the camera with a telephoto lens can get quite heavy after a while but decided not to carry another equipment as my bag was already heavy enough. And I prefered to feel the camera in my hands. I have to admit that my arms felt like they had just come from the gym later on; I won’t lie!
I chose to bring my two lenses 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 telephoto lens and a versatile 24-70mm f/2.8 lens . The telephoto lens was great for capturing close-ups of cars, and distant action with precision. Meanwhile, I used the 24-70mm lens at capturing the broader scene—the vibrant race atmosphere and crowded environments. Constantly switching between lenses and adjusting settings became a technical workout, but using the Z8 protective shutter sensor, I didn’t have to worry about damaging the camera sensor. I really love this improvement over my previous Z6.
I found some great spots at the Dunlop curve, overlooking a big screen behind the racing cars, and my favorite spot for night photography at the Porsche curve, where I could capture the light trails of the cars. Taking a shuttle to Indianapolis allowed me to get some unique angles and shots as well.
What was in my camera bag?
I tried to pack as efficiently as possible, knowing I’d be carrying this bag for more than 24 hours. Here’s what I brought:
my new Nikon Z8 camera (and Z6 just in case)
Versatile lens 24-70mm f/2.8 and telephoto lens 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6
Extra batteries and memory cards
Card reader
Portable charger
Tripod and monopod (I used the tripod at night for shooting the light trails, but I didn’t end up using the monopod)
Lens cleaning kit
Waterproof camera bags
I was grateful I packed cargo trousers with lots of pockets for all the bits and bobs you don’t want to always reach into your bag, a comfortable trainers for all the walks around the track, a rain jacket, a hat, sunglasses and water bottle. The earplugs were ready to use but I didn’t feel the need to use them.
Reflection: Enriched by Every Moment
Walking an average of 17 kilometers a day during the race, with a backpack full of camera gear, I felt like closing my circles :) Each step, each shot, brought me closer to understanding the essence of Le Mans. Standing below the podium and witnessing the winners was an absolute joy! As I packed up my gear and prepared to leave, I felt a profound sense of accomplishment. The 24 Hours of Le Mans had pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to see the world through a new lens—one where speed, precision, and raw emotion took center stage. It was more than just a photographic assignment; it was a journey of growth and discovery. Whether it's the quiet beauty of a mountain or the frenetic energy of a race, there's always a story to be told and a moment to be captured and shared.
Taking thousands of photos and being enriched by an enormous amount of feelings, I couldn’t possibly share them all in this blog. I hope you enjoyed reading about my Le Mans adventure as much as I enjoyed experiencing it.
See more photos from 24H Le Mans in my Sports Photography Collection. For searching any specific images, please contact me.
Keep racing through your dreams and catchMYzoom!
Jitka
