BMW Advanced Driving School

It’s been 2 years since I last attended a performance driving school, and it was good to get behind the wheel: a very rusty wheel, but, never the less, back on the horse. Or some such appropriate analogy. When not driving on the track, I took the opportunity to work for the BMW Club, photographing the event, drivers and action. Scott Martin and Joerg Bran also helped with the photography. Klaus Willroider, Don Anderson, Derek Lamoureux and Dave Smith also helped by lending their time and cars for some on-track motion photography: thanks guys, your cheque is in the mail.

My favourite style of automotive photography is panning. Motion is a very strong characteristic for cars and bikes: they were built to move. While some enthusiasts are keenly interested in displaying their cars, competing at concours d’elegance and other shows, many owners love to drive. Capturing the essence of the car in motion, can be achieved through implied motion (a single instance frozen in time) or panning (an extended duration where the camera follows the subject). The Digital Photography School has had a recent article and ‘how-to’ pan.

While you are photographing the cars, do not forget the owners and enthusiasts behind these beauties. They pour countless hours and passion into maintaining, showing and enjoying their chosen ride. The car is more than an appliance, or even a hobby, for them, is an extension of who they are.

Even though we were restricted to the public areas at Calabogie Motorsport Park, there are still some good spots to shoot from.

If you are curious about an Advanced Driving School, visitors are more than welcome to come to the BMW Club’s driving schools, see what is going on, talk to the organizers and go for rides with the instructors. So stop by. Or better yet, treat your spouse, partner or loved one with a registration as a birthday present: a BMW is most definitely NOT required.