How Supercars’ Eseries forced photographer to take a different look at the sport
Supercars’ simulated Eseries events gave motor racing photographic maestro Mark Horsburgh a whole new angle on capturing images in the sport he has snapped for 25 years.
NSW
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When Supercars racing came to a crashing halt thanks to COVID restrictions, quick thinking organisers came up with a creative way to keep the competition alive.
The entire race, down to real-life tracks, drivers and individual cars, were replicated online in an Esport series.
And for official Supercars photographer Mark Horsburgh, the move was an amazing opportunity to try out some new tricks.
“Few sports can be digitally replicated with such precision that it’s hard to tell the difference between simulation and real life,” he said.
“Esports was put together very quickly; it’s run by Supercars and Supercars TV, so it was fully broadcast and seen as you would see a normal race.
“A few of the drivers had already used simulators to learn tracks and things like that so they (event organisers) quickly put together the concept of having an Esports series and formulated a 10-week championship.”
Mr Horsburgh has been trackside photographing Supercars for over 25 years and said that although he had to learn new skills to digitally capture the electronic version of the race, the competition “was fiercer and harder than you would have expected”.
“Instead of standing out in the elements going from corner to corner capturing images, I sat in front of a computer screen and put the camera exactly where I wanted it,” he said.
“Going back to the real world will be a little bit frustrating not being able to get all those cool angles again; you’ve got probably 1000 per cent more control over what you can do in the game photographically.
“I can position myself almost underneath the car if I want to, to get those really amazing angles.”
The Esport series championship eventually came down to veteran racers Shane van Ginsberg and Aussie Scott McLaughlin, with van Ginsberg taking out the title.
Over the span of his impressive career, Mr Horsburgh – a Canon master photographer – said that his work has taken him all over the globe and to some of the most prestigious racetracks.
“We’ve been lucky enough to travel and race in so many countries, places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and China; those trips are always so memorable, it’s just so exciting to be able to work in such unique locations,” he said.
“You’re there in the moment to share in the excitement and capture the emotion and at the end of the year when you’re there to see that champion crowned, I’d say that’s my favourite part of it all.”
Although he’s photographed at locations in just about every country one could imagine, Mr Horsburgh says he still has a soft spot for his home state.
“I’ve been the official photographer for Supercars ever since they started out in ’96, I’ve never missed a race,” he said.
“But I’d have to say, even though it might be cliche, Bathurst is still my favourite.
“To be back shooting again will be absolutely fantastic.”
Mr Horsburgh is now gearing up to get back on the track, just as the drivers are, when the physical series revs up at the end of the month.
The first race will commence on June 27 at Sydney Motorsport Park, where Mr Horsburgh will be the only official photographer allowed on site.
Originally published as How Supercars’ Eseries forced photographer to take a different look at the sport