My first time for CHIN and why you never lean your camera on a golf cart -

It all started in late November of 2023 when I emailed Austin at CHIN Track Days and asked if they need a photographer for one of their events. At the time I didn’t know that they don’t hire photographers, they market a photographer for the particular event and then let the drivers buy photos for themselves. This is good for 2 reasons. It allows the photographer to meet lots of people in a short period of time, which is import in this industry and secondly you will most likely end up making more money than anything CHIN Track Days would’ve paid.

I didn’t expect a response from them, but when Austin emailed me back saying that he liked my work, it was a surprise. He offered me the slot as the exclusive, marketed photographer for the event and I could’t refuse. There was a lot that I didn’t know but, I did know that this was going to be an opportunity of a life time.

Fast forward to June of 2024, I have everything I need ready to go. I had purchased a Sigma 150-600 sport lens, a Canon 24-105 f4 L lens and a Canon 1dx mark II a few weeks back that I used at the track day for FLBR Motorsport in April. Those were going to be key elements in helping me complete my job along with the table for people to purchase photo packages right from the CHIN garage. I will create another blog post outlining my work flow and gear at a later date for those who are interested. Most CHIN weekends span over 3 days, late Friday(or the first night) and the 2 days of on track action.

Garage #6 at COTA, Photo by Amy Werner

I drove out to COTA late Friday night with my mom to get my table set up so I don’t have to be to the track as early on Saturday. I had printed a couple of photos ahead of time to put on the table to help to market my skills. We also got a golf cart, not necessary but definitely helpful, and it was going to be crucial in helping me get around the track sense it is a 3.4 mile circuit which is incredibly hard to walk. I did it for SVRA in November of 2023, but I wanted to get to turn 10(inside) and turn 9(outside) which I didn’t do at SVRA. That is why if you can I would recommend you drive a car in the service roads or rent a golf cart due to how long the track is.

My mom and I went to McDonald’s at 6am before we got to the track for breakfast. Breakfast is a crucial meal due to the heat totally killing an ideas of eating lunch. I like to get to the track at least an hour before any session or event(on or off track) that you NEED to photograph. If your late NO one will take you seriously and as a photographer that is new you need to get every chip possible. Austin gave me a great intro show at the drivers meeting on both days. I headed down the the inside of the esses and the onto the inside of turn 8(which is one of my most favorite turns on the track). Lunch at COTA can be expensive, but if you get to eat at the COTA Cafe’ then it will be worth it due to the quality of the food. I can recommend that if the media centre’ is open than you should use it. It isn’t open for CHIN Track Days so they had a loft open in the paddock sweets area. At most CHIN events they give everyone an hour to eat before on track action starts back up again.

Inside Esses at COTA, Photo by Dustyn Werner

We went right back out after dumping and starting the editing process on the photos from the morning sessions. I would recommend for any event you organize when you dump your photos so it is easier to trace an specific RAW file back to its original folder. We decided that turn 20 and outside esses was the best option for the afternoon sessions. Turn 20 is another one of my favorite spots especially if you get the back of the car going away from you punched into 400mm. When we got the outside esses under the pedestrian bridge, I leaned my 7d mark II and 150-600 on the monopod against the golf cart. When my mom moved around in the cart my camera fell! Both the camera mount and the lens mount broke on impact. Fast forward to the time of writing, Canon quoted me $800 to fix the camera and sigma quoted me $1,200 to fix the lens. When I bought the camera for less and the lens for only $100 more than what I was quoted, I had to decline the repairs. I was stuck without a long lens and my second camera body.

Outside Turn 20 at COTA, Photo by Dustyn Werner

I had to improvise, so for day 2 I was going to break out my old Canon 7d to use on the 70-200 to get an effective 300mm. This was going to have to work sense I still had to get a turn 10 shot with the tower which is crucial for anyone who races at COTA. Fast forward to the time of writing, I purchased the canon 400mm f5.6 as my new long lens. This was a relatively better lens to due it being sharper, faster AF and lighter. That is why I picked it as my new long lens. As for the 7d mark II replacement, I haven’t decided on either the Canon 1d mark IV or 1dx. It will depend on how much I can make before Football season. To my suprise, the 7d preformed admirably, it was a great backup camera body to have in my bag just in case. That is why I tell everyone that if you can afford to, keep your old cameras just in case. You never know what will happen to you at your next track event.

For day 2(Sunday) we decided that McDonalds took way to long so we went straight to the track. This also allowed me to sleep in more than before. The first spot I went to was outside of turn 9. This is an iconic photo from COTA, I would recommend if your at any event at COTA you get this shot for your client, however it is not my favorite. For lunch we ate at the pineapple taco truck that CHIN had brought out. It was good and if it is out at COTA when you go I would recommend trying it out. In the afternoon we went out to the inside of turn 11 and then into the inside of the stadium section. The inside of turn 11 is an interesting shot, it is a cool one especially at 105mm.

Outside Turn 9 at COTA, Photo by Dustyn Werner

Thank you for reading my very first blog post as well as my adventures photographing at CHIN Track Days for the first time. You can go check out some of the photos from this event on my portfolio section, if you have any questions or inquires than don’t hesitate to contact me. Thanks.