Austin Automotive Photographer: Cadillac V-Lab at Circuit of the Americas
Cadillac brought V-Lab to Circuit of the Americas in Austin, and they hired me to photograph it. The job was to capture the ATS-V and CTS-V at speed on one of the best tracks in North America, along with the drivers, the guests and everything happening around the cars.
Two of the drivers on hand that day were Johnny O’Connell and Christian Fittipaldi. Between them they own Le Mans class wins, Rolex 24 victories and a run of championships with Cadillac. When people like that are at the track, the photos need to live up to the names.
What was Cadillac V-Lab at Circuit of the Americas?
V-Lab was Cadillac’s track experience built around the V-Series, the performance side of the brand. Participants got time at COTA with the ATS-V and CTS-V and with drivers who know those cars better than anyone, and Cadillac’s ATS-V.R race car sat on display in the garage for everyone to see up close.
The cars gave me plenty to work with. The ATS-V runs a twin turbo 3.6 liter V6 making 464 horsepower, and the CTS-V uses a supercharged 6.2 liter V8 rated at 640 horsepower. Put them on a 3.4 mile circuit with a climb into Turn 1 that looks like a wall from the grid, and you see what Cadillac built them for.
Photographing Johnny O’Connell and Christian Fittipaldi
Johnny O’Connell is one of the most successful drivers General Motors has ever had. He has four class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, three of them with Corvette Racing, and he won four straight Pirelli World Challenge GT championships driving for Cadillac from 2012 through 2015. His car for the day was a red ATS-V coupe wearing number 3, the same number he carried on his Cadillac race cars in World Challenge. I spent a good part of the day on that car because it was the one I most wanted to get right.
Christian Fittipaldi was there too. The Brazilian raced in Formula 1 before building a sports car career that includes three overall wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the most recent one in a Cadillac.
Drivers at this level have stood in front of more cameras than most people ever will. The posed shot is easy to get. The better frames come when they forget about you, talking a guest through a corner or walking back from the car with a helmet in hand, so that’s where I put most of my attention off the track.
How do you photograph cars at speed at Circuit of the Americas?
Mostly on foot. I walked the circuit through the day and worked different corners as the light moved, which gives a client far more variety than a full day from one spot. COTA makes that worth the walk. The elevation into Turn 1, the long back straight and the quick esses each give you a different background and a different speed to work with.
Panning is the core skill at a track. You follow the car with the camera and use a slower shutter speed so the wheels spin and the background streaks while the car stays sharp. Miss the timing by a fraction and the frame goes soft, so you shoot a lot of passes to keep the handful that really work. A red ATS-V against gray asphalt and a big Texas sky gives you a strong frame before you even press the shutter.
You can see more of my track and car work on my automotive photography page.
Why hire an automotive photographer for a track event?
A track day looks easy to cover from the outside. On the ground you have cars at triple digit speeds, safety rules that decide where you can stand and a schedule that won’t wait for anybody. A photographer who knows motorsport knows where the car is going to be before it gets there, and that’s the difference between a gallery a brand can use and a folder of near misses.
Event days also move fast off the track. Guests arrive, drivers rotate through sessions and sponsors want their moment covered. I plan the day around the cars first and fill the gaps with the people, so the client walks away with track action and the human side of the event in one set.
COTA is familiar ground for me. I also photographed BMW M Track Days at the same circuit, and you can see that project in my BMW M Track Days case study.
Ready to book an automotive photographer in Austin or Dallas?
I’m based in Dallas Fort Worth and travel across Texas and beyond for automotive and aviation clients. If you have a track day, a vehicle launch or a dealer event coming up, tell me about it and I’ll tell you how I’d shoot it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an automotive photographer do at a track event?
I photograph the cars at speed from different corners of the circuit, along with the drivers, guests, paddock and brand details. The goal is a complete set a brand can use for social, marketing and press without needing a second shoot.
Do you photograph cars in motion at Circuit of the Americas?
Yes. I’ve photographed Cadillac V-Lab and BMW M Track Days at COTA in Austin, working on foot around the circuit to get panning shots, cornering shots and the climb into Turn 1.
Can you photograph drivers and guests along with the cars?
Yes. At V-Lab I covered Johnny O’Connell, Christian Fittipaldi and the participants as well as the ATS-V and CTS-V on track. Most brands want both, and I plan the day so neither one gets missed.
Do you travel outside Dallas Fort Worth for automotive shoots?
Yes. I’m based in Dallas Fort Worth and regularly travel to Austin, Houston and other tracks and locations for automotive clients.
What should a brand plan before hiring a photographer for a track event?
Share the run schedule, which cars and drivers matter most and where the images will be used. Track access and safety rules also decide where a photographer can stand, so it helps to confirm credentials with the circuit ahead of time.