Formula 1 with Fujifilm

In the middle of 2017 I bought my first Fujifilm camera, an X-T2. I was a Nikon user and I wanted a change. I chose Fujifilm as my second camera. I photographed a lot of shows at that time and used it a lot with a wide angle lens. Over time I acquired more lenses and assembled a kit of Fujifilm gear. Sometimes I would go out to shoot only with my Fuji. I was increasingly liking it and getting used to a mirrorless system.

I have been photographing the F1 GP Brasil since 2015, when I still was a Nikon-only-user. In 2018 I started working exclusively with Fujifilm and went to the GP with an XT-2 and an X-H1, kindly provided by Fujifilm Brasil.

This year (2019), I went to F1 with an XT-3 and an XT-2 . Fujifilm helped me out by borrowing me an XF200mm f/2. I am an official photographer for the Quatro Rodas Magazine, the largest car magazine in Brazil and I will tell you a little bit about the experience of photographing the 2019 GP Brasil.

I made five trips to the track during three days. Two free practices on Friday, one free practice and a qualifier on Saturday, and the race on Sunday. Quatro Rodas makes me super comfortable to work, I choose what I photograph and the material to deliver, being more free to do my work.

The equipment I used this year was the X-T3 as my main camera, the XF16-55mm f/2.8, XF50-140mm f/2.8, the XF200mm f/2 and the XF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lenses. The X-T2 was my second body.

I started with the X-T3 and the 200mm, so I could learn the lens that I was using for the first time. What struck me right away was the quality of the shots and the richness of detail it brings, it is impressive. But one thing that made me a little distressed was its range: 200mm (real 300mm) comes a little short. For motorsport (at least in Interlagos) you need at least a 400mm lens. Therefore I missed some good opportunities for good shots. Later on I switched to the XF100-400mm for its versatility.

I usually make all the photos thinking of a final gallery. I shoot a variety of images: panning, frozen images, details and all other situations split over the 3 days.

For pannings I usually use shutter speeds between 1/4 and 1/15 sec for the “smudges” and when I need more crispy shots I bump it up to 1/30 and 1/60 sec. The “frozen” photos always need 1/1000 sec in order to freeze the action and record the details well. In motorsport everything is happening extremely fast and to lose the details in a photo is super easy.

As for my camera settings, I normally use continuous autofocus and the single point or zone autofocus mode. It depends on the race situation.

I always carry 3 extra batteries and 170 mb speed memory cards with 64 gigs of storage.

Well, that is basically my quick summary of the race weekend. Reach out to me via Instagram (@flpiresphotography) and feel free to ask any other questions you might have.

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