Photographer Showcase

Every month we select a photographer and ask what inspires them in the photographic industry and the passion behind the overall concept from the shot to the final presentation.

This month we speak to:

Mike Stokes

What inspires me :
The challenge of taking a photograph that people say has an edge or a different dimension compared to other images from the same event.  At motorsport events the cars / bikes go round in the same direction at usually on the same part of the track.  Taking the image from a different angle and / or from a different perspective can give the image that "wow" factor which makes it stand out from the others.  Taking close up shots of detailed elements of a car, etc can also give a different view of the subject.  I like to use telephoto lenses coupled with a shallow depth of field to get isolated parts of the subject.  I also like to explore and exploit the use of some of the available photographic software to enhance my images.  Many of my favourite shots are those converted into black and white or those with an added dimension applied by some of these software packages. Many of the events I cover are at Santa Pod which is the home of European drag racing.  It is a privilege to work with the team at the pod and to get regular access close up to some amazing action and the people behind the machines.

The passion that drives me :
Getting complimented on my images and having images published continues to fuel the passion.  Likewise, finding the opportunity to cover a range of events from club level to top fuel drag racing gives me a range of subjects to work with and access to some great circuits around the UK.  I often plan a style of photo well before the event or in the studio having thought about the type of image I am looking for.  Having said that, the unexpected often arises and a great picture can present itself on the spur of the moment.

Post processing can be quite time consuming as I tend to review each picture and focus on the quality of each image as if every one could be in a major publication.  Hopefully if I am happy with the end result then others will be as well.

Mike Stokes
Trackside Images
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