TOYOTA GAZOO RACING’s dearest wishes, the victory of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was accomplished in 2018.
Circuit de la Sarthe, the racing track of the Le Mans 24 hours, is the place where not only the entrants but also professional racing photographers has been fascinated.
How does the TOYOTA GAZOO RACING look like to the photographers who watch the race by their viewfinders?
Why are they attracted by 24 Hours of Le Mans?
Eight Japanese professional photographers took pictures of TOYOTA GAZOO RACING and gave voice about the Le Mans and photography.
Ryuji Hirano
COMMENT
- I went to the 24 Hours of Le Mans as rather a writer than a photographer, therefore I did not have enough chance to go to course side. I went to the Virage Ford at first during the driving session in the first day under the blue sky. I photographed the car No. 8 running "the place" where the tragedy happened in 2016.
CAMERA
- Camera : NIKON D7200
Lens : AF-S 16-80mm
F stop : F8.0
Shutter speed : 1/2500
ISO setting : ISO 250
Focal length : 16mm
Time of shooting : Around 15:46 LOCATION
Ryuji Hirano
COMMENT
- I waited at the corridor directing to the interview session venue and took pictures of drivers coming after the awards ceremony. Although I missed the chance to take the winning drivers, I could take the drivers of car number 7. By watching their facial expressions, I understood their ambivalent feelings. They were sure they did their best and they looked swear they will win next year.
CAMERA
- Camera : NIKON D500
Lens : AF-S 80-400mm
F stop : F9.0
Shutter speed : 1/250
ISO setting : ISO 800
Focal length : 280mm
Time of shooting : Around 15:52 LOCATION
PHOTOGRAPHER
Ryuji Hirano
Born in 1976 in Yokohama. After working as an editorial staff of a motor sport magazine and a website, he became a freelance in 2016. He works as a writer, photographer and website coder, and he mainly deals with jobs requiring promptness and mobility. Whereas he continues to pursue skills of journalism and photography.
My Feelings for Le Mans
I watched the live relay of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1989 by TV Asahi, which was my first time to watch a car race seriously.Since then I have had an attachment to the Le Mans. After I joined a publishing company in 2002 as a editorial staff of a motor sport magazine, I kept to watch this race with interest. In 2013, I went to the Circuit de la Sarthe for my first time. At that time, Toyota competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Since then I have been to there every year with the exception in 2016. The Le Mans, I feel, has an unique atmosphere that no other racing tracks has.
Masahide Kamio
COMMENT
- The sky in the Virage d'Arnage showed beautiful gradient of colors. I photographed the unique atmosphere of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X
Lens : EF100-400
F stop : F6.3
Shutter speed : 1/400
ISO setting : ISO 2500
Focal length : 100mm
Time of shooting : Around 22:20 LOCATION
Masahide Kamio
COMMENT
- I used the light from the pit and slow speed shutter. In this photograph, I tried to show the power of the car leaving out from the pit.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens : EF16-35
F stop : F4
Shutter speed : 1/20
ISO setting : ISO 1600
Focal length : 16mm
Time of shooting : Around 04:04 LOCATION
PHOTOGRAPHER
Masahide Kamio
Mainly shoot photographs of domestic races in Japan. A member of Japan Racing Photographers Association.
My Feelings for Le Mans
Although teams and drivers must be in tougher condition than us, photographers shooting photos of the Le Mans are also required abilities of endurance and prompt judgment. Since I started to come to take photos of the Le Mans in 2013, I have conflicted with difficulty of photo shooting of this endurance race and never satisfied with my works. Nevertheless, the traditional atmosphere of the racing track and great location have motivated me to take photography. I will try to challenge as long as my vitality and physical strength continue.
Kazuhisa Masuda
COMMENT
- Fernando Alonso cheered in front of the pit of car No. 8 who received the top checker. The team mates blessed the winners while photographers wanted to photograph the moment. I somehow managed to photograph from a bit clearance among these people.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens : EF11-24mm
F stop : F5.6
Shutter speed : 1/500
ISO setting : ISO 100
Focal length : 14mm
Time of shooting : Just after checkered Flag LOCATION
Kazuhisa Masuda
COMMENT
- The No.8 car was followed by the No.7 car. Just before the sunset, the sunshine reached to the Dunlop Arch. I could photographed a dramatic scene.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens : EF24-105mm
F stop : F10
Shutter speed : 1/200
ISO setting : ISO 400
Focal length : 50mm
Time of shooting : Around 21:15 LOCATION
PHOTOGRAPHER
Kazuhisa Masuda
He had an occasion to take pictures at a racing track when he worked at an advertise agency. Eleven years later, he became a freelance photographer. Recently he mainly shoot advertisement photographies of autobobile and motor cycle.
My Feelings for Le Mans
I had wanted to experience an authentic motor sport culture, and eventually reached to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. I has been attracted by the great atmosphere of the 24 hours race shared by people in whole the town.Even the year when the race was not blessed with the weather, there is something makes me think that I want to come here again next year.
Takashi Ogasawara
COMMENT
- I photographed in the time just after sunset so-called magic hour. I put the combination of the blue sky and the red sunshine being reflectied by clouds in the viewfinder. The flashlight from side made the car stand out.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens : EF500
F stop : F7.1
Shutter speed : 1/250
ISO setting : ISO 1600
Focal length : 500mm
Time of shooting : Around 21:00 LOCATION
Takashi Ogasawara
COMMENT
- My impression of the Le Mans is colorful even in the night. I used multi luminous source to realize colorful image.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens : EF100-400
F stop : F6.3
Shutter speed : 1/30
ISO setting : ISO 5000
Focal length : 360mm
Time of shooting : Around 23:00 LOCATION
PHOTOGRAPHER
Takashi Ogasawara
While working at a chemical maker, he entered the Tokyo Polytechnic University to learn photography. He changed his career to car racing photographer at the same time of his graduation. His works are displayed in “Auto Sport”, “Racing On”, “Auto Sport Web” and many other car race magazines and web media.
My Feelings for Le Mans
When I went to the 24 Hours of Le Mans for my first time, I was so impressed by the atmosphere of the place. It was very different from the atmosphere of domestic race. Local people has high enthusiasm for the race, and I realized that car race was a part of their culture. Although I have taken the Le Mans for years, I have never satisfied with my works and, at the same time, have felt attractiveness that is difficult to express in words. As my future goal, I would like to shoot perfect photos of the Le Mans that should satisfy myself.
Yasushi Onishi
COMMENT
- I tried to photograph a combination of speediness and beauty of flowing background. So that I combined slow speed shutter and flashlight, and shot the TS050 HYBRID No.7 leaving the pit.
CAMERA
- Camera : NIKON D5
Lens : AF-S 24-70mm
F stop : F16.0
Shutter speed : 1/13
ISO setting : ISO 400
Focal length : 58mm
Time of shooting : Around 23:44 LOCATION
Yasushi Onishi
COMMENT
- Kazuki Nakajima happily joined in champagne fight on the podium.
CAMERA
- Camera : NIKON D5
Lens : AF-S 80-400mm
F stop : F10.0
Shutter speed : 1/500
ISO setting : ISO 400
Focal length : 340mm
Time of shooting : Around 15:35 LOCATION
PHOTOGRAPHER
Yasushi Onishi
Born in Tokyo. Involving in railway photography as the start of his career, then he learned animal photography from Mr. Mitsutsune Tanaka. He took car racing photography in 1986 as his first time. In 1988 he became an official photographer of “Auto Sport” magazine and took photos of many categories including Formula 1. Not limited in the field of car racing, he has taken photos of cars for many kinds of automobile journals. He is also one of the official photographers of Super GT and Super Formula. He covers more than 20 races in a year and takes photo of production cars for automobiles magazines. In addition to that, he continues his lifetime’s work of taking animal photography in eastern Africa.
My Feelings for Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans is the car race I love most. This is the extraordinary days once in a year I have been attracted by. This is a competition for the entrants, at the same time a challenge to my own as a photographer. I know it is tough to shoot photos at the Le Mans though, probably I am so addicted by this endurance race that I cannot stop go there every year.
Shinpei Suzuki
COMMENT
- It is almost the finish of the competition. Two TS050 HYBRIDs are winning 1-2 at the Le Mans and rendezvous in the course, which I had to take a photo in one shot. This is one of important jobs as a racing photographer.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens : EF400mm
F stop : F10
Shutter speed : 1/1600
ISO setting : ISO 2500
Focal length : 400mm
Time of shooting : Around 14:51 LOCATION
Shinpei Suzuki
COMMENT
- The parade after getting the checkered flag. I wanted to photograph of not just drivers and team staffs but also marshals blessing the winners. This is one of impressive scene of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and this kind of picture should be archived in the car manufacturer's photo stock. I will never forget the sky of this 24 Hours of Le Mans.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens : EF100-400mm
F stop : F9
Shutter speed : 1/2000
ISO setting : ISO 2500
Focal length : 170mm
Time of shooting : Around 15:04 LOCATION
PHOTOGRAPHER
Shinpei Suzuki
Born in 1976 in Tokyo. As a official photographer of Toyota, he has taken photo of the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2012.
My Feelings for Le Mans
It is difficult to express my thoughts for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in words. What I can say definitely is only one thing that this seven years shooting photos of the 24 Hours of Le Mans were springtime of my life as a photographer.
Sho Tamura
COMMENT
- It was just before sunset, I took this photograph at the entering side of Virage Porsche. The car No.8 ran there through just a few minutes before the sun being hid behind the trees. After sunset, the glitters on the road disappeared.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens : EF400mm
F stop : F3.5
Shutter speed : 1/1600
ISO setting : ISO 200
Focal length : 400mm
Time of shooting : Around 21:18 LOCATION
Sho Tamura
COMMENT
- I had found a good place to photograph during my location scouting. This place, however, was a bad footing area and I could not use tripod. On the contrary, I could not look in even the viewfinder. I got tense when I shoot photos at there but could take the ideal scene.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens : EF16-35mm
F stop : F8
Shutter speed : 1/15
ISO setting : ISO 200
Focal length : 16mm
Time of shooting : Around 3:25 LOCATION
PHOTOGRAPHER
Sho Tamura
Being interested in motor sports since he was in childhood, he started to collect pictures of racing cars. It was his high school age when he started to shoot pictures of motor sport and joined motor sport photography contest titled “Panning Shot Grand Prix” hosted by the camera magazine “CAPA” (published by Gakken Plus Co.,Ltd.) . He knew the fun of racing photography and yearned to be a professional photographer. He takes photographs of motorsports pursuing aesthetics of racing car while searches for a method of mixture of journalism and artistic expression using light and shadow.
My Feelings for Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1995 was the Le Mans I watched as my first time. I was impressed by the Keep the Dream Alive NISMO GT-R, car number 22, competed in the race, and I started to be interested in the Le Mans. Since then I have watched the 24 Hours of Le Mans every year. I think 24 Hours of Le Mans has an unique cultural and historical back ground that no other car race have.
Hidenobu Tanaka
COMMENT
- I took this photo at exiting side of the Virage d'Arnage, the qualifying day two. A red flag interrupted the session before, and the qualifying session started 30 minutes ahead of the schedule. It was the best timing for attacking because the temperature was cooling down while the sky was bright enough. Although I expected it was impossible to take a photo of beautiful sunset because of cloudy weather, it was not bad to take photos at here this moment. Cars was running here through very close to photographers. I felt strong wind pressure from the cars accelerating in the track when I take photographs.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X
Lens : EF24-70mm
F stop : F5.0
Shutter speed : 1/500
ISO setting : ISO 1600
Focal length : Approx. 26mm
Time of shooting : Around 21:50 LOCATION
Hidenobu Tanaka
COMMENT
- I photographed at exiting side of the Tertre Rouge. Cars go out the permanent circuit and drive through the local road: National Road D338. Then they fully accelerate at the long straight named Les Hunaudieres.
CAMERA
- Camera : CANON EOS-1D X Mark II
Lens : EF24-70mm
F stop : F5.6
Shutter speed : 1/50
ISO setting : ISO 5000
Focal length : 24mm
Time of shooting : Around 22:50 LOCATION
PHOTOGRAPHER
Hidenobu Tanaka
Born in December, 1958. He takes car related photographs from car races to production cars to miniature cars.
My Feelings for Le Mans
Dusk and dawn, so called the magic hours, attract me more than day time. Because the magic hours makes me consider where I should go, what I should focus on, and how I control my camera in the dark. Additionally, weather influences my shooting plan. Regulations about accessing to the course becomes tight year by year and the shooting environment is getting tough. In spite of that, I continues to go the Le Mans because it is still worth challenge to shoot this endurance race.