5 tips for taking epic action shots, according to a photographer who captured striking images of the Kentucky Derby
Meredith Cash
- Andy Lyons, one of Getty Images' top sports photographers, has captured the Kentucky Derby for decades.
- He told Insider what it takes to get the best action shots of horse racing's most famous event.
The Kentucky Derby is the most esteemed event in all of horse racing.
The race, which lasts all of two minutes, features 20 Thoroughbreds bolting at nearly 40 miles per hour around the track at Louisville's Churchill Downs. Needless to say, things move at a rapid pace on race day, and the photographers tasked with capturing the perfect shot need to be ready.
Andy Lyons, one of Getty Images' top sports photographers, has been among those immortalizing the Kentucky Derby for decades. He told Insider what it takes to get the best shots of horse racing's biggest moment — and how those tips could help you get top-tier action shots of your own.
Do your research and plan accordingly for the big day.
Lyons says he and his teammates on the Getty Images staff take "very methodical and precise" steps to prepare. Weeks ahead of the race, they'll determine which photos they're aiming to capture, and then "figure out positioning of the team and cameras throughout the track to maximize our efforts."
This year, an added component of their planning involved assessing a new viewing area "which yielded an angle never produced before."
"In these instances, we usually scout the angle and determine how exactly we can get it done," Lyons said.
Roll with the punches.
No matter how much preparation Lyons and his colleagues put in ahead of the event, something is always bound to differ from expectations. This year was particularly unique, Lyons said, "due to how many horses scratched from the race, including the hands down favorite."
Five of the initial contenders were disqualified before reaching the starting gates, and even with alternates, there wasn't a full field lining up for the race.
Move to where the action is happening.
Lyons says he doesn't hesitate to treat a given shooting location — in this case, Churchill Downs — "like a big jungle gym."
"I make the most of climbing all over the starters gate to get exactly what I need," he said.
He doesn't stick to just one location during the event, either. At the Derby, Lyons had remote cameras mounted on the starting gate and on the fourth turn of the track.
He also had a handheld camera and, at the start of the race, positioned himself at that same fourth turn. But once "the horses blow past me," he's responsible for getting reaction shots in the winner's circle.
"It's a bit away so I jog on down there," Lyons said. "There is a 15-foot ladder set up for me to be in an elevated position and have a better vantage point."
Consider yourself "as a participant more than an observer."
Action isn't just limited to the two minutes of running; photographing reactions to a win — or loss — is just as crucial to encapsulating the story of the race.
Lyons has found success capturing the emotions of events like the Kentucky Derby by envisioning the moment "as if it was me and all my friends doing it."
"I look at it as a participant more than an observer," he added, "which helps with capturing action and emotion simultaneously."
Be calm and confident in your abilities.
It's easy to get overwhelmed by the mad dash of an action-packed event like the Kentucky Derby. But Lyons says trusting his own preparation is key to success when it comes time for the race itself.
"If you have put in the hard work and effort, then it's just like riding a bike," he said. "I try to keep a positive attitude — to have fun and see what happens."
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