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Danniella Edginton was hooked on motorsport photography the moment she captured her first marvellous Motogp image from the stands

This issue we have intense motorbikes and luscious sunsets

I started travelling to every motorsport race I could to gain experience, and try different settings and angles

When I was around nine years old my father introduced me to the world of motorbike racing. Ever since then, I have religiously watched and followed every race weekend to date. In 2015 I picked up a DSLR camera for the first time and absolutely fell in love with photography. It wasn’t until the following year I visited a Motogp track and photographed motorbike racing for the first time. I realized then that I wanted to pursue motorsport photography.

I started travelling to every motorsport race I could to gain experience, and try different settings and angles. I also experimented with a range of lenses. I have always taken photos from the spectators’ side of the track and invested in the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C to gain the reach I needed to frame my subjects and capture sharp shots.

I do use other lenses, but the Sigma 150-600mm’s large zoom range is extremely versatile. I can use it whether I’m operating trackside or high up in a grandstand. I currently shoot on a Nikon D500 as I require a camera with high burst-shooting speeds – like any photographer, I never want to miss a shot!

The need for speed

My first image is of seven-time Motogp world champion Valentino Rossi [1].

I wanted to photograph him on the racing line at Silverstone’s Club Corner and had to position myself just right to capture the rider with his knee and elbow down.

The next image was a bit of a challenge as it had to be perfectly timed [2]. Valentino was chasing down Alex Rins so I prepared my camera for when they appeared again on the next lap. I panned the camera to follow the riders as they flew past me at over 100mph, while using continuous-servo AF and back-button focusing to lock onto my subject.

When I shot Marc Márquez leaning into this corner [3], it looked like the perfect portrait. I lowered the ISO to enhance the detail and shot at 1/320 sec, which required a steady hand at 600mm.

[1] Danniella’s Sigma 150-600mm allows her to shoot trackside or from grandstands.

[2] Danniella noticed these two rivals battling each other and then prepared to capture them on the next lap.

[3] Shooting at a 600mm focal length requires a steady hand, even when using a shutter speed of 1/320 sec.