How To Save Money Travelling To Motorsport Events

How To Save Money Travelling To Motorsport Events

by | Jun 2, 2023 | Motorsport Event Travel, Tips

How To Save Money Travelling To Motorsport Events

Travelling to motorsport events all over the country (and even the world) is amazing, but it sure is expensive. The unfortunate nature of travelling to big races is that they are major events and, as such, always invoke significant price hikes.

As a motorsport photographer, these costs either come out of your profits for the weekend or need to be passed on to your customers, which can be extremely hard to justify.

So what can you do to try and mitigate these expenses and try to ensure you maximise the amount of money you make in the race weekend? Let’s have a look at the options.

Book Early – Very Early

As a rule of thumb, I book hotels and rental cars as soon as I get an idea of the date that an event will be held. Sometimes I’m fortunate enough to get some insider heads-up as to the possible dates for the upcoming calendar. But in most cases, I’ll look at the calendar as soon as it becomes public and rush around websites like booking.com to make sure that I secure something straightaway.

The nature of motorsport events means that there are thousands of people who need to be there, drivers, team members, officials, and media, not to mention fans, so things like accommodation and rental cars can book out quickly. Another thing to keep in mind, as soon as hotels and rental car companies see a flood of bookings coming in, you know they are going to inflate the prices to maximise their profits, so if you leave it, it’ll definitely be more costly in just a few days.

Always try to book early to ensure that you not only get the best pricing, but you’ll also get the best chance of getting somewhere that you really want to stay. Not all accommodation is equal, after all.

Take full advantage of the no upfront payment and free cancellation to make sure you secure everything you need. And then, you can have a look at what other options become available, be that lower prices or sharing with colleagues closer to the event.

Share Costs

As I just touched on, accommodation and rental cars are expensive (especially at the moment). See who you might be able to split costs with.

Everyone else is in the same boat; the costs of travelling to and from events will absolutely impact how much money you can make over the course of a race weekend, so sharing costs amongst colleagues is a great way to save money.

Airbnbs per room are often cheaper than hotels, so being able to get a few other photographers and journalists together will absolutely save you all some money overall. This also goes for rental cars; you’ve all got to go to the same place anyway (you just might need to coordinate flights).

Wait To Book Things You Need To Pay For

While booking accommodation and rental cars well in advance is a great way to save money. If you need to pay for it at the time of booking, like you have to do with flights etc, hold off until you know you are 100% travelling to the event.

Flight prices fluctuate, and you will absolutely save money if you book well in advance, but if you are travelling to a well-connected city, flight prices won’t become too extreme in the lead-up to the event. That said, cities and towns with fewer flights will obviously become expensive real quick. You are going to need to use your best judgement to work out which flights you need to book early.

For big cities with large airports, I might leave my flights until a couple of weeks before the event. But for smaller ones, I’ll try to book them a couple of months in advance.

Stay An Extra Day Or Two

I know this can be tough, especially for those of you who are transitioning to become a professional motorsport photographers or have families at home. But you can often save a significant amount of money, more than enough to cover the extra night or two of accommodation by simply staying an extra night in the race destination. Especially after the race.

The number of people rushing to the airport immediately after the race meeting has concluded is, well… everyone. So you can always snag a deal to stay a couple of extra nights and see some sights other than just the race track.

I’ve found over the years that if you just spend all your time at the airport and race tracks, the travel can become really draining. But if you take advantage of an extra day and see the sights and treat the Monday after a race meeting as your weekend, the travel becomes much easier. Plus, you get a chance to relax and reset in a new city or town before heading to the next one.

Conclusion

Travel to (and from) motorsport events is expensive. Unfortunately, that’s just the way it is. However, with a little bit of foresight, you can absolutely mitigate having to overpay excessively.

Rhys Vandersyde

Rhys Vandersyde

I've been working as a motorsport photographer in Australia since 2012, building up my business InSyde Media. I am very fortunate that I have been able to work at all sorts of motorsport events including Supercars, F1 and WRC all over Australia and New Zealand. Also, check out my personal website where I document my travels and a few other things.

How To Configure The “Oh Shit” Button On The Canon R3

How To Configure The “Oh Shit” Button On The Canon R3

by | Jun 1, 2023 | Camera Tips, Tips

How To Configure The “Oh Shit” Button On The Canon R3

Regardless of what camera you are using, things can unfold in just a fraction of a second in motorsport. So being able to react and adjust to the action happening out on track as you see it is essential for motorsport photographers.

For those of you using the Canon R3, one of the tools that we have at your disposal to be able to adjust to these split-second changes is to configure a Register/Recall Shooting Function button on your camera. Colloquially known as the “Oh Shit” button, due to the nature of the words that usually come to mind just before you press it.

What is the Register/Recall Shooting Function button?

Canon’s Register/Recall Shooting Function button on the R3 is a custom function button that can be configured with specific shooting settings, overwriting whatever settings you are using at the time.

Typically configured in place of the AE Lock button, the Register/Recall Shooting Function button allows you to quickly change to a predetermined configuration of settings by simply holding this button should something unexpected play out in front of you.

Why use the Register/Recall Shooting Function button?

If you’ve been shooting motorsport long enough you’ll know that crashes are almost always unexpected. But they do happen, you are usually panning. Having a Register/Recall Shooting Function button (or “Oh Shit” button) configured will allow you to rapidly adjust to whatever may play out in front of you during an on-track session.

This is an extremely handy tool to make sure you always get the shot, no how or what happens out on track.

How do I use the Register/Recall Shooting Function button?

I have mine Register/Recall Shooting Function button (or “Oh Shit” button) configured to switch the camera to Tv mode with a shutter speed of at least 1/1000th (up to 1/2000th) with everything else in full auto.

That way, it doesn’t matter how arty I am trying to be at the time, the camera will automatically choose the right settings (or close enough to them) to capture the unexpected action playing out in front of me. Then I can adjust the images, as I see fit, once I get them on the computer.

This covers me regardless of whether I’m doing super slow panning shots, or playing with shadows or high-key overexposed shots right before the incident plays out in front of me.

How to configure the Register/Recall Shooting Function button on the Canon R3

How to configure the Register/Recall Shooting Function button on the Canon R3

To set up the Register/Recall Shooting Function button on the Canon R3, you need to adjust the button configuration slightly. It’s a very similar process to the Canon 1DX, but with some subtle differences that you need to look out for.

Within the menu, you need to navigate to the Custom Functions menu (the brown/orange one signified by the camera with the lines underneath) and look for the Custom Buttons options.

Once you are in the Custom Buttons menu, the display will walk you through what the buttons are on your particular camera and how they are configured. To configure the Register/Recall Shooting Function button, we need to change one of them.

Most motorsport photographers tend to use the AE Lock (Auto Exposure Lock) signified by the * (asterisk) because we don’t tend to use that function. As such on the Canon R3 you might need to scroll through the buttons for a little while to find it.

We want to do is go into the AE Lock configuration by pressing the Set button and then, by using the camera wheel scroll down until you get to the Register/Recall Shooting Function, signified by the camera icon with an arrow pointing to and away from it. Again, it’s buried in the vast array of options available, so you will need to scroll for a little bit to find it.

The next step is to press the Info button to configure the recall settings you would like to use.

By using this setting you can overwrite all of the settings you have configured, from simple shutter speed, ISO and aperture, to how exposure and autofocus are configured, so you will see a lot of options.

The more confident you are with how you use your camera, the more of these settings you can play with. My suggestion is the following:

  • Shooting Mode – Tv
  • Shutter Speed – 1/2000
  • ISO Speed – Auto
  • Metering Mode – Evaluative metering
  • Exposure Comp – 0
  • White Balance – AWB
  • AF Area Selection Mode – Expand AF Area
  • Subject Tracking – Off
  • Subject To Detect – Off
  • Eye Detection – Off

This will allow your Canon R3 to do all of the calculations in getting a balanced exposure for the unexpected action playing out in front of you and you can just focus on capturing it.

Switching the AF mode also has two benefits. Firstly it’ll give you are more broad setting to allow you to quickly grab onto the subject/subjects of the incident. But it also gives you a quick visual while reference while looking down the barrel that you’ve pressed the Register/Recall Shooting Function button. Handy if you are also using Back Button Focus and you accidentally brush the wrong button.

I’ve also found that, while subject tracking is very good on the Canon R3, being able to control your focus point with the autofocus override settings while an incident is playing out in front of you will give you the best, most controllable results. That way subject tracking doesn’t grab another car (not involved in the incident) and focus on it at any point.

To lock in the settings, press the Menu button. Then press the Set button to change the AE Lock to the Register/Recall Shooting Function button instead.

You should notice the icon in the Custom Controls menu should now have changed to represent the Register/Recall Shooting Function button.

To confirm the settings have been correctly configured, set up your camera with a slow shutter speed (and any other settings you might want to use) and then press and hold the AE Lock/* button to see the settings change either on the top screen or in the viewfinder.

Tips for using the Register/Recall Shooting Function button

Just keep in mind that the settings from the Register/Recall Shooting Function button are only applied while the button is held down. By releasing the button, you’ll quickly revert to your original settings and camera configuration.

Conclusion

The Register/Recall Shooting Function button on the Canon R3 is a valuable tool in allowing you to rapidly adjust to whatever may play out in front of you while capturing the action trackside.

As we all know motorsport is often unpredictable, which is part of its appeal, so being able to call upon a specific set of settings in a simple press of a button is essential for all motorsport photographers.

Have a go at setting up the Register/Recall Shooting Function button on your Canon R3 to take advantage of this the next time you are trackside. And remember to experiment with different settings so that you can find the optimal configuration that suits your shooting style and preferences.

Rhys Vandersyde

Rhys Vandersyde

I've been working as a motorsport photographer in Australia since 2012, building up my business InSyde Media. I am very fortunate that I have been able to work at all sorts of motorsport events including Supercars, F1 and WRC all over Australia and New Zealand. Also, check out my personal website where I document my travels and a few other things.

How To Configure The “Oh Shit” Button On The Canon 1DX

How To Configure The “Oh Shit” Button On The Canon 1DX

by | Jun 1, 2023 | Camera Tips, Tips

How To Configure The “Oh Shit” Button On The Canon 1DX

In motorsport, things happen quickly. Really quickly! So being able to adapt and adjust to the action happening out on track in just fractions of a second is essential for motorsport photographers.

For those of you using the Canon 1DX, one of the tools that we have at your disposal to be able to adjust to these split-second changes is to configure a Register/Recall Shooting Function button on your camera. Colloquially known as the “Oh Shit” button, because that’s exactly the words that come to mind just before you press it.

What is the Register/Recall Shooting Function button?

Canon’s Register/Recall Shooting Function button on the 1DX is a custom function button that can be configured with specific shooting settings, overwriting whatever settings you are using at the time.

Typically configured in place of the AE Lock button, the Register/Recall Shooting Function button allows you to quickly fall back to predetermined settings by simply holding this button should something unexpected play out in front of you.

Why use the Register/Recall Shooting Function button?

Why use the Register/Recall Shooting Function button?

As any motorsport photographer would know, crashes are almost always unexpected. But they do happen, you are usually panning. Having a Register/Recall Shooting Function button (or “Oh Shit” button) configured will allow you to rapidly adjust to whatever may play out in front of you during an on-track session.

This is an extremely handy tool to make sure you always get the shot, no matter what happens.

How do I use the Register/Recall Shooting Function button?

I have mine Register/Recall Shooting Function button (or “Oh Shit” button) configured to switch the camera to Tv mode with a shutter speed of at least 1/1000th (up to 1/2000th) with everything else in full auto.

That way, it doesn’t matter how arty I am trying to be at the time, the camera will automatically choose the right settings (or close enough to them) to capture the unexpected action playing out in front of me. Then I can I adjust the images, as I see fit, once I get them on the computer.

This covers me regardless of whether I’m doing super slow panning shots, or playing with shadows or high-key overexposed shots right before the incident plays out in front of me.

How to configure the Register/Recall Shooting Function button

How to configure the Register/Recall Shooting Function button

To set up the Register/Recall Shooting Function button on the Canon 1DX, you need to adjust the button configuration slightly. To do this, you need to go into the camera’s menu.

Within the menu, you need to navigate to the Custom Functions menu (the brown/orange one signified by the camera with the lines underneath) and look for the Custom Controls options.

Once you are in the Custom Controls menu, the display will walk you through what the buttons are on your particular camera and how they are configured. To configure the Register/Recall Shooting Function button, we need to change one of them.

Most motorsport photographers tend to use the AE Lock (Auto Exposure Lock) signified by the * (asterisk) because we don’t tend to use that function.

We want to do is go into the AE Lock configuration by pressing the Set button and then, by using the camera wheel scroll down until you get to the Register/Recall Shooting Function, signified by the camera icon with an arrow pointing to and away from it.

The next step is to press the Info button to configure the recall settings you would like to use.

By using this setting you can overwrite all of the settings you have configured, from simple shutter speed, ISO and aperture, to how exposure and autofocus are configured, so you will see a lot of options.

The more confident you are with how you use your camera, the more of these settings you can play with. My suggestion is the following:

  • Shooting Mode – Tv
  • Shutter speed – 1/2000
  • ISO speed – Auto
  • Metering Mode – Evaluative metering
  • Exposure Comp – 0
  • White Balance – AWB
  • AF Area Selection Mode – Expand AF Area

This will allow your camera to do all of the heavy lifting in getting a balanced exposure for the unexpected action playing out in front of you.

Switching the AF mode also has two benefits. Firstly it’ll give you are more broad setting to allow you to quickly grab onto the subject/subjects of the incident. But it also gives you a quick visual while reference while looking down the barrel that you’ve pressed the Register/Recall Shooting Function button. Handy if you are also using Back Button Focus and you accidentally brush the wrong button.

To lock in the settings, press the Menu button. Then press the Set button to change the AE Lock to the Register/Recall Shooting Function button instead.

You should notice the icon in the Custom Controls menu should now have changed to represent the Register/Recall Shooting Function button.

To confirm the settings have been correctly configured, set up your camera with a slow shutter speed (and any other settings you might want to use) and then press and hold the AE Lock/* button to see the settings change either on the top screen or in the viewfinder.

Tips for using the Register/Recall Shooting Function button

Just keep in mind that the settings from the Register/Recall Shooting Function button are only applied while the button is held down. By releasing the button, you’ll quickly revert back to your original settings and camera configuration.

Conclusion

The Register/Recall Shooting Function button on the Canon 1DX is a valuable tool in allowing you to rapidly adjust to whatever may play out in front of you while capturing the action trackside.

As we all know motorsport is often unpredictable, which is part of its appeal, so being able to adjust in just fractions of a second is essential for all motorsport photographers.

Have a go at setting up the Register/Recall Shooting Function button on your Canon 1DX to take advantage of this and remember to experiment with different settings and find the optimal configuration that suits your shooting style and preferences.

Rhys Vandersyde

Rhys Vandersyde

I've been working as a motorsport photographer in Australia since 2012, building up my business InSyde Media. I am very fortunate that I have been able to work at all sorts of motorsport events including Supercars, F1 and WRC all over Australia and New Zealand. Also, check out my personal website where I document my travels and a few other things.

Professional Motorsport Photographer Works Event Without A Media Pass

Professional Motorsport Photographer Works Event Without A Media Pass

by | May 31, 2023 | Media Accreditation, Tips

Professional Motorsport Photographer Works Event Without A Media Pass

Hi, I’m a professional motorsport photographer and I shot an entire event without media accreditation and nobody noticed.

Yes, that’s right. I bought a regular general admission ticket and photographed the entire race weekend from the spectator-accessible areas. Guess what? It didn’t a single difference in the quality of the images I delivered to my customers for that event.

So to answer the main question – Does it matter if you can’t get a media pass? The short answer is no.

Now, to be fair, I wouldn’t go out of my way to do this at every event. Media access certainly does help at bigger events with large crowds. Also at temporary street circuits where catch fencing is everywhere. While other venues, a media pass will allow you to get your camera gear in – especially big lenses, where they might have restrictions otherwise. But in terms of delivering high-quality images for the most part it doesn’t make that much of a difference.

If you are a budding motorsport photographer thinking that media accreditation is going be the difference to getting those great shots. It really isn’t the case.

However, I did notice a few things from attending the event that you can utilise if you are hoping to take your motorsport photography up to the next level and pursue it professionally.

State & Club Level Events Are The Best Places To Develop And Showcase Your Skill

State & Club Level Events Are The Best Places To Develop And Showcase Your Skill

Everyone who asks me about becoming a motorsport photographer wants to know how they get into the top levels of motorsport. But in reality, it’s the lower levels of the sport where you can best showcase your skills and build up a portfolio and connections to get you where you want to be.

I spent just $25 on a two-day pass and that gave me access to all the spectator areas, the paddock and the pit roof (normally reserved for corporate areas at bigger events). There were no tiered restrictions that required me to buy an extra ticket.

If you are serious about taking your motorsport photography to the next level, these club and state-level events are the perfect places to practice your skills and build up a portfolio of images that you can use to showcase your talent.

You don’t need to apply for a media pass. There are no major crowds to contend with. It’s just a really good, no-pressure environment to practice and develop and possibly even pick up some clients.

Embrace The Limitations

Sure there are some places that you can’t access without a media pass… And you know what, that is just fine.

If you simply accept that you can’t get to a particular area, regardless of how good the shots might be, you’ll free yourself to try and get the best possible photos from the places you can access.

Think about how you can photograph the corners that you can access differently. Is everyone else standing in the same spot? What if you were to capture the action from a different angle? Maybe walk up a hill and get a different perspective? Limitations have a great way of allowing you to focus your attention on creativity in other areas.

I’ll tell you right now, no one has missed out on a career in motorsport photography because they couldn’t get to one corner at a particular race track. It’s all about creating the best possible photos from the areas that you can access to develop a solid portfolio of images.

Move Around

With that said, move around the areas you can access. The number of amateur photographers that I saw parked at the same corner for every single session for the entire race weekend was madness.

They might have just been taking photos for fun, and there is nothing wrong with that, but if you are looking to pursue your motorsport photography a little more seriously, take the opportunity to explore the circuit and find unique and interesting shots.

I had 75% of the race track to myself because nobody else was willing to go for a walk around. It’s really easy to stand out if you are the only person doing something different.

Access To The Paddock

Access To The Paddock

I touched on it briefly before, but at these club and state events, it’s so easy to access the paddock and the drivers.

Firstly, there is so much more to motorsport photography than just capturing the on-track action. Being able to access the paddock area and create a comprehensive portfolio that showcases a complete skill set covering both on and off track action is essential if you want to pursue this professionally.

Secondly, it’s a great place to make connections and contacts. At top-level events, everything is often so busy that no one has time to talk, or there are some many people around that it is hard to get access to the people you are hoping to talk to. At these lower-level events, you’ll often find the same drivers offering driver coaching or the same teams running their other programs so you can build connections in a more relaxed environment.

Conclusion

If you are genuinely serious about becoming a motorsport photographer professionally, regularly attending these state and club-level motorsport events by simply buying a general admission ticket and getting out there and taking photos is the best way to practice, develop your skills and style and build a portfolio of work that will create the opportunities you are hoping for.

Having media accreditation is not the limiting factor to great images, but you’ll be able to prove that you deserve a media pass by consistently showing up to events and creating high-quality images.

 

Rhys Vandersyde

Rhys Vandersyde

I've been working as a motorsport photographer in Australia since 2012, building up my business InSyde Media. I am very fortunate that I have been able to work at all sorts of motorsport events including Supercars, F1 and WRC all over Australia and New Zealand. Also, check out my personal website where I document my travels and a few other things.

What Is A Carnet? And Why Do I Need One As A Motorsport Photographer

What Is A Carnet? And Why Do I Need One As A Motorsport Photographer

by | May 9, 2023 | Motorsport Event Travel, Tips

What Is A Carnet? And Why Do I Need One As A Motorsport Photographer

Are you planning on taking your camera gear overseas to photograph a motorsport event? You are going to need a carnet.

Being able to travel around the world to photograph some most iconic race tracks and events is very exciting, but it does also add some extra logistical considerations. Especially when bringing your expensive camera gear.

Take it from me, a Pelican case of equipment is always going to draw extra attention to you as you go through border controls, so you need to make sure you have everything in place to ensure that you have everything in place so you don’t have any issues. One of those is a carnet.

What Is A Carnet?

A Carnet, also referred to as an ATA Carnet or a merchandise passport, is a document that facilitates the temporary importation of goods into a foreign country without having to pay duties or taxes on those goods. It is used for goods that will be re-exported after a short period of time, like taking your professional photography equipment with you to and from an international event.

As an official document, a carnet serves as a guarantee to the foreign government that the goods will be re-exported and that any applicable duties and taxes will be paid. The carnet contains a detailed list of the goods being transported, and it is validated by customs officials at both the point of departure and the point of entry.

Carnets are issued by National Guaranteeing Associations (NGA), which are organisations authorised by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and are valid for up to one year. They are widely used by businesses engaged in international trade to simplify customs procedures and reduce costs associated with temporary imports.

There are two types of carnets, but the only one that applies to photography equipment is Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission (ATA) carnet.

Why Do I Need A Carnet As A Motorsport Photographer?

As a photographer travelling internationally, you may need a carnet if you are carrying professional equipment that you plan to take with you into another country for a short period of time. This equipment includes everything you might carry – cameras, lenses, tripods, lighting equipment, and other accessories.

Without a carnet, you may be required to pay customs duties or taxes on the equipment you are importing, which can be both costly and time-consuming. Additionally, you may encounter delays and difficulties when trying to clear customs, as customs officials may need to verify the value and origin of your equipment.

A carnet simplifies the customs process by serving as a temporary import-export document that allows you to enter a foreign country with your equipment without paying duties or taxes. The carnet acts as a guarantee that you will re-export the equipment within a specified period of time and pay any applicable duties or taxes if you do not.

Using a carnet can save you time and money, and it can also help you avoid potential legal issues that can arise when travelling with professional equipment internationally.

Just note that not all countries require a carnet, and the equipment you are bringing must be for professional use and not for personal use. But it can be hard to justify personal use if you are carrying multiple camera bodies and lenses.

How Can I Get A Carnet?

To get a carnet, you will need to follow these steps:

Find A National Guaranteeing Association

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) maintains a directory of National Guaranteeing Associations (NGA) on its website that will issue a carnet in your country.

An NGA is an organisation authorised by the ICC to issue and guarantee carnets within a specific country. NGAs serve as the national point of contact for carnet applications and provide support to individuals and businesses seeking to obtain a carnet.

NGAs are responsible for processing carnet applications, collecting associated fees as well as providing guidance on carnet usage and regulations. Definitely take advantage of this to get all the information you need to ensure that your travels are as smooth as possible.

If you can’t find an NGA for your country, you can also contact your local customs authorities and inquire about the designated NGA for issuing carnets.

Provide Required Documentation

The process of obtaining a carnet requires a fair amount of supporting documentation. What this includes exactly varies from country to country, but it could include:

  • Application Form: You will need to complete the application form provided by the NGA. This will typically require information about yourself, your travel plans, and details about the equipment you intend to travel with.
  • Proof of Ownership: You will need to provide proof that you own the equipment listed on the carnet application. This can include purchase receipts, invoices, or any other documentation that verifies your ownership.
  • Equipment List: Prepare a detailed itemised list of the equipment you plan to bring, including make, model, serial numbers (if applicable), and values. Including the Pelican case that you are using to transport it. The values should reflect the current market value of the equipment.
  • Valid Passport or Identification: You will need to provide a copy of your valid passport or identification document as part of the application process.
  • Travel itinerary: Provide a copy of your travel itinerary, including the countries you will be visiting and the dates of your travel.
  • Insurance Documentation: Some NGAs may require proof of insurance coverage for the equipment being transported. This can include a copy of your equipment insurance policy or a letter from your insurance provider.
  • Security Bond: Depending on the NGA’s requirements, you may need to provide a financial guarantee, such as a bond or cash deposit, to ensure payment of any potential customs duties or taxes if the equipment is not re-exported. This could be up to 50% value of the equipment.

Just keep in mind that this process can take up to two weeks, so make sure you plan well in advance of your trip.

Validate The Carnet

Once your application is approved and you’ve received your carnet, there are a few more things you need to do. Before leaving, you must have the carnet validated by customs officials, which involves the document being stamped and authorised at your point of departure.

Most of the time, this can be done at the airport just before you leave, and Customs officials will need to inspect your equipment and verify that the items listed on the carnet match the equipment you are carrying. But it will be worth checking this process with your local authorities when you go through the initial application process. Your carnet will also need to be validated by customs officials each time you enter a new country.

Remember that once your carnet is validated, it is equally as important as your passport for transiting through countries and should be protected as such.

Return The Carnet

Once you’ve completed your travels and returned to your home country with your camera equipment in tow, you need to return the carnet to the issuing NGA within the specified time frame.

Upon return of the carnet, you can complete a security bond request form to have the bond used to secure the carnet returned to you.

Conclusion

Sound complicated? It can be, but it will save you a lot of heartache going through customs when you arrive at your destination. The last thing you need is to have all of your expensive camera gear confiscated by customs officials for illegal importation.

And if it makes you feel any better, Formula 1 teams need a carnet to cover every piece of equipment they travel with for each and every Grand Prix.

Rhys Vandersyde

Rhys Vandersyde

I've been working as a motorsport photographer in Australia since 2012, building up my business InSyde Media. I am very fortunate that I have been able to work at all sorts of motorsport events including Supercars, F1 and WRC all over Australia and New Zealand. Also, check out my personal website where I document my travels and a few other things.

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