Behind the scenes: a photographer’s race to capture the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Pictures from this year’s Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Christopher Pike / The National

The Formula One race rips into town for four to five days and then, just as quickly, is gone. Covering the event means walking many kilometres while carrying upwards of 15 kilograms of cameras and lenses for 12 hours a day for four days in a row. It takes some getting used to.
The first few times it leaves you dazed and confused. I'm glad I have the experience under my belt. The hardest thing about covering the fastest cars on the planet – especially as a one-man show; The National is only allocated a pass for one photographer for the race – is that it is a big track and you are always missing something.
You have to be very vigilant in visualising the moments that are most likely to happen, and in trying your best to manage your time to maximise the number of situations and images needed before the session or race is over.
Using the Hipstamatic app images, I'm trying to show more of a behind-the-scenes overview of what it is like to be a member of the media covering a race weekend, almost a photographic journal of sorts. It is a little wider, more raw and more visceral than my usual coverage.
I've covered F1 for the past four years, in Abu Dhabi and Montreal, so my preparation is minimal. I don't usually follow F1 that closely throughout the year.
So a few weeks ahead of time, I start trying to figure out what the main storylines are and how the race points have stacked up throughout the year.
This year it's pretty exciting to have the final race here, especially with the double-points scenario to add to the whole Hamilton versus Rosberg fight to the finish.
Gear wise, it's just a matter of charging batteries, choosing whether to carry a 400mm lens or a 600mm lens. I chose a 600mm lens for the extra length again this year because the positions are usually far from the track, and anything to help me get up close and personal with the cars and drivers is useful.
[e-mail]