Excuse Me You're In My Shot!

Excuse me, people, pigeons, trees, and that one floodlight pole. Honestly, it’s a miracle I get any usable photos at all.

You know that glorious moment when you’re lining up the perfect motorsport shot?

The car is slicing through the corner like poetry in motion. The exhaust spits fire. The sun hits the bonnet just right. Your camera’s focused, your breath is held…

And then BAM—someone’s head, a suspiciously enthusiastic bush, and a floodlight pole team up like a photobombing Avengers squad.

Hi! I’m Izzy, the eyes and clicky finger behind iJAG Photography—and this is a public service announcement about the daily battles I and other photographers face behind the lens. Spoiler alert: it’s not just bad weather and engine noise. It’s also circuit speakers, shrubbery with zero chill, and rogue snack enthusiasts. Let’s dive into the wonderfully chaotic world of motorsport photography. Warning: contains scenes of mild British sarcasm and excessive Lightroom usage.

The Human Tripod Blocker (and Their Snacks)

The top offender? The well-meaning but tragically placed spectator.

You’d think the person with a camera and a lens the size of a traffic cone might be a visual clue not to stand directly in front of, but alas, no. Right as I’m tracking a car through the corner with the focus of a caffeine-fuelled owl, in steps “Tim” with a large coat, a rucksack, and a large bag of Monster Munch.

Look, I love an enthusiastic crowd. I am an enthusiastic crowd. But if you find yourself walking past someone crouched with a camera who mutters “no no no no NO” as you approach, you are properly the villain of that story.

That One Random Tree That Ruins Everything

Motorsport circuits are usually designed with safety and visibility in mind. But occasionally, someone decided that what a fast-paced track really needs is… a single, well-placed tree.

Yes. A lone tree. Possibly protected. Definitely photogenically obstructive. It’s always in the middle of the view. Always. Like it’s following me from corner to corner whispering, “Bet you wish I was invisible, don’t you?”

It’s the kind of tree you try to crop out, but then the whole image looks like you’ve zoomed in on a squirrel’s nightmare. Shoutout to Lightroom’s clone tool for being the only thing stopping me from bringing a chainsaw.

The Bush That Grew Overnight

I swear some bushes weren’t there yesterday. I’ll set up for a morning shot—clear line of sight, perfect angle—and then by the afternoon, it’s like the local flora union got wind of my plans and staged a growth protest.

“THOU SHALT NOT FRAME CARS THROUGH US,” they chant in leafy rebellion. One even had a bee in it, which felt like a personal attack.

They’re sneaky, too—crouching low enough that you think they’re out of shot until you review the image and realise your car now has an accidental topiary spoiler.

The Floodlight Pole of Doom

Ah yes. The floodlight pole. Not many villains in life are 100% vertical, stationary, and still capable of ruining your masterpiece—but this one is.

Somehow, no matter where I stand, this pole aligns perfectly with the exact middle of my favourite panning shot. I’ve moved six feet to the left, laid on the floor, stood on a bench, and STILL—pole. It’s like it’s coded into the matrix.

I swear it knows.

It’s not even lit most of the time. Just… there. Watching. Blocking. Judging.

And Let’s Not Forget the Pigeons

Pigeons. Crows. Seagulls. Occasionally, a rogue pheasant. I’ve become oddly good at spotting airborne interruptions just as I press the shutter. I’ve captured more unintentional bird portraits than David Attenborough. They always fly through like they’re late to a meeting. And somehow, their wing-flapping antics end up in the most dramatic part of the frame. Right over the bonnet. Or in front of the sponsor logos. Or mid-backflip over a gravel trap.

They often like to just wander across the tyre barriers in search of dropped chips, with some very bold and even friendly!

Bonus Round: Flying Car Parts – Nature’s Way of Saying “Duck!”

And just when you think you’ve dodged the humans, birds, bushes, and poles, a car decides to explode mid-corner.

Whether it’s a bumper soaring majestically across the gravel like it’s aiming for Olympic gold, or a rogue wing mirror whistling past your head like a budget drone, flying car bits are the spicy bonus level of motorsport photography. I once had a tyre flap land so close I felt the breeze. Another time, two cars tangled and a spoiler did an actual somersault in front of my lens—completely blocking the money shot I’d been tracking for three laps. It’s equal parts terrifying and weirdly impressive, and no, I still haven’t found a Lightroom preset called “remove airborne debris.” Yet.

Enter: Lightroom, My Saviour

After all that drama—people, poles, plants, and poultry—how do I still produce clean, powerful motorsport images?

Two words: crop and edit.

Lightroom is my best mate. The crop tool lets me ditch the random heads, the awkward tree branches, and the full-blown forest that ambushed my background. The spot removal tool? Oh, that’s where I work Photoshop magic worthy of a Hogwarts diploma.

Floodlight pole? Gone. Bush leaf in the wrong place? Vanished. Bird blur? Let’s pretend it was a cloud.

Sometimes, a little editing turns a chaotic scene into a clean masterpiece. And when that fails… I save it for a “what could have been” post and caption it with extra sass.

In Conclusion: It’s a Jungle Out There (Literally)

Being a motorsport photographer isn’t all zoom lenses and adrenaline. It’s a high-speed obstacle course of moving humans, stubborn greenery, and badly placed infrastructure.

Would I change it? Absolutely not. Because for every shot interrupted by a floodlight pole or a pigeon, there’s one that turns out perfect. And that’s the thrill of it. The chase. The chaos. The storytelling. Just… if you see me trackside, please don’t stand in front of the girl with the camera and the resting “bush rage” face, especially if you happen to hear “Excuse Me”.

Want to see what happens when I do win the war against wildlife and infrastructure?
Follow iJAG Photography on Instagram and Facebook for trackside magic, motorsport mayhem, and the occasional photobomb blooper.

And fellow photographers—I see you. I feel your pain. Tell me your worst shrub-related photo tragedy below. Let’s bond over the things we’ve had to crop.

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