Spa Francorchamps photo tips

Tip 1: La Source corner at Spa Francorchamps

Don’t expect to be allowed to take nice pictures of the start here during Formula 1. This has changed during other events at Spa Francorchamps!

If you want to take pictures with the cars on the straight during Formula 1, you should try it on Friday during the free practice. The stewards are still very flexible (if you’re lucky) and if you ask nicely you’ll get a chance.

Tip 2: La Source corner at Spa Francorchamps

Again, you only have access on Friday. Because there is a big “golden” grandstand and during qualifying and the race it’s impossible to take pictures here (if you don’t have a ticket). For other events you have another option. At the start it is not possible because all the pros are here for the first laps.

Next to location “1” you have to go through a double gate and use the hole created for professional photographers. Since the cars brake here for the La Source corner and get quite close, you have more options.

200mm should be more than enough here, but I think 300mm would be best. Panning is very difficult, but not impossible. Creating some speed in the tires is possible at this point with a 1/150 setting.

Tip 3: The old grandstand at Spa Francorchamps

The old grandstand at Spa Francorchamps is only accessible with a ticket. If you ask nicely, you might get a chance on a Friday during a Formula 1 weekend. During other events like the FIA WEC this grandstand is free.

It is difficult to take pictures on the grandstand without a roof. If you want to, go to the fence and try to photograph through it. If you succeed, you can get great photos.

The other option is to go to the roofed grandstand and walk as far as you can towards la Source. There are no fences here, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to get a good shot. A low viewpoint is better because you can capture some of the surroundings. I recommend 400mm at this point and to freeze the photo.

Tip 4: Pitlane exit at Spa Francorchamps

During events like the FIA WEC, the paddock is open to the public. There is a large fence that makes it difficult to take nice pictures. But there is a way!

In one place the fence is bent and you can get the right angle for a free shot in the pit lane. You can take a close-up of a pit stop, you can also take a picture of yourself at Spa with part of the beautiful background in it.

The problem is that there is a lot of media in front of the car. Especially at the beginning of the race. So wait until halfway through the race, by then most of the pros will have taken their pictures.

Tip 5: La Source / straight at Spa Francorchamps

You can only take photos here if you have access to the paddock. During events like the FIA World Endurance Championship, the paddock is freely accessible. Tall people have no problem here and can take pictures over the fence. If you’re not that tall, you’ll have to get creative and stand on a trash can or steps. You can also climb over the fence, but the marshals will warn you.

Tip 6: Eau Rouge at Spa Francorchamps

If you walk up the hill past the tunnel, you can stand on the grass on the right and watch the cars enter Eau Rouge.

There are a lot of holes in the fence, so it is easy to take pictures. The organization saw this and replaced the fences with professional fences and photo holes.

Tip 7: Raidillon / Eau Rouge at Spa Francorchamps

This part of the track is called Raidillon, but you are taking pictures of the Eau Rouge corner.

During an event like Formula 1, this section is only accessible with a grandstand pass. During other events, you can go here and look for the special photo holes in the fence.

You can freeze your photos and try to catch the cars as they enter the turn at the curbs. It is also possible to get more speed and photograph the cars as they turn in the middle of the corner. With a setting like 1/30 you get a lot of speed in your photo and if you do it right, the background of Spa comes into it.

In F1 you have to go through the woods behind the grandstand. When you do that, run as far back as you can when you leave the forest. There are 2 or 3 more special photo holes there, but you can’t do anything like the sample photos.

Tip 8: Raidillon straight at Spa Francorchamps

This is a great spot on the track to watch the tremendous speed of the cars and also a difficult spot to take pictures.

At the top of the Raidillon curve, walk along the fence until it disappears in the woods for about 15 meters. Follow the fence and you will see two holes made especially for photographers.

Here you can take pictures of the cars in their first meters after the Raidillon, with the grandstands and the old pit boxes in the background. There is also a lot going on here! Cars shoot straight ahead, spin or take a slipstream to overtake.

Here you can choose to have speed in your photos or freeze it, both produce beautiful results.

Tip 9: Raidillon to Kemmel straight at Spa Francorchamps

There used to be a bridge here. It’s gone now, but this is exactly where you need to be.

There are a lot of fences here, so don’t expect these to be your best shots. However, you can show off the elevation and scenery of Spa Francorchamps.

There are a lot of people here during the big events, so you can use them for atmosphere. You will need a lot of zoom to get close to the cars, but 200mm is enough if you want an atmospheric shot.

Tip 10: Kemmel straight at Spa Francorchamps

It is easy to pan halfway down the long straight at Kemmel. During a Formula 1 event, I would do this on Friday or Saturday, as there are too many people sitting or standing during the race.

This is the highest point of the track, where you can see parts of Blanchimont in the background if you stand in the right place. You can also create a lot of depth in your photo and it clearly shows what track you are on.

Without accreditation, this is one of the few places on the track where you can pan well and take photos at high speed. The only problem is that the ideal line for the cars is on the inside, close to the fences.

Tip 11: Les combes at Spa Francorchamps

Walk to the end of Kemmel straight. Just before the Les Combes corner there is a place for marshalls with a door. After this place, there is no fence so put your camera against the door or fence and you have a clear shot.

I have tried this with 200mm, wich is possible. The sample images shown are made with 400mm wich is better I think.

Tip 12: Malmédy at Spa Francorchamps

After the cars left Kemmel straight and turned right and left, there is a small straight. Walk along the fence until you reach the place for marshalls. Sit down to create a low point of view, and put your camera against the fence. Your taking photos of the cars leaving Les Combes.

You’ll have to practice a bit I guess, because there is a lot of steering from the cars and it’s hard to see where they are in the corner.

Walk towards Malmédy and sit down to the ground. Put your camera against the fence again and you’ll see the cars on the kerbs leaving Malmédy and going to Rivage. Some cars have sparks on this point (like the sample I used). Don’t freeze the photo, but try to go as low as possible.

Tip 13: Bruxelles at Spa Francorchamps

This is a fun point at the circuit! Walk halfway the corner at shoot through the double fence with the cars below you. The steering into the corner on the kerbstones wich give a nice effect. This is possible with 200mm (like the sample).

There is also a door for professional photographers, wich you can use to create a beautiful overview photo of Spa Francorchamps with the Bruxelles corner in it.

Put your camera through the door and sit as low as possible. Set your focus point to the left, and make photos if the cars are at your focus point. If you do it correct, you see the start/finish straight in the background of your pictures.

Tip 14: Bruxelles (inside) at Spa Francorchamps

At this point you can almost touch the cars! The cars passing by just a few meters of you, where you have all the possibilities to pan.

You can choose two things, speed or freeze.

When it comes to cars such as the Porsche Supercup I would choose to show speed, with open Formula cars you can also freeze the car and go for details.

Think of a closeup of the helmet with the hands on the wheel where you can possibly read the data. As the cars will be driving slow here sharp details with 200mm are easily achievable, and you can easily shoot at 1/80e if you want speed.

Tip 15: Malmédy (inside) at Spa Francorchamps

This is a difficult point, and you get the best results if you have small stairs to get up. If you don’t, and you’re not super tall then you suffer from the fences and it is almost impossible to take lovely photos here.

The only way left is to walk as far as possible so your high enough to photograph over the fences at the top towards Bruxelles.

In order to put the cars as they drive from Malmedy towards Bruxelles in your photo you would need at least 200mm. You can even pan here, and see the speed in the audience in the background.

Tip 16: Overview of Spa Francorchamps

Go to the door with the camera man in front of it. Put your camera through the door and wait for the cars in your display and make a photo. You don’t need to zoom here, because you want to show the surroundings of Spa Francorchamps.

If you want to do something different here, you need at least 400mm. A lot of cars use the kerbstones and going on them. Take a photo from above with the car in the middle of the kerbstones wich give a nice effect.

Tip 17: Les Combes (inside) at Spa Francorchamps

The best results of Les Combes you get on the inside of the circuit. To get here you have to walk a bit through the woods and in recent years this is checked regularly with dogs. But nothing ventured nothing gained, so just try it.

In addition to the circle number “16” on the map you can see a green line running under the circuit (a tunnel). From that point you walk along the path through the woods until you arrive at point “17”. You can easily recognize it, because there is a huge mountain of stones. You climb up here, so you can shoot easily over the fences (last time I was here the stones where gone).

If you’ve done that you can start panning or freeze the shots, and you see the cars from Kemmel to Malmedy and there’s always action. Cars overtake each other here, they fly over the kerbstones and spinning regularly!

Tip 18: Straight to Pouhon at Spa Francorchamps (Turn 9)

There are a couple of specialy made photo holes in the fences here. You see the cars from Bruxelles to this corner and you can make 3 different shots here.

The first is with the kerbstones on the leftside of your photo. It’s the small straight from Bruxelles to the corner. Problem is you are very high, so the photo looks a bit strange.

The second is when there in the corner, like the samples, and you can choose to create a photo from above or a front shot.

The last is with the artificial turf and the kerbstones below you. You’ll need the lowest fence for this shot, and I would recommend to create a lot of speed.

The first photo you can freeze, the others are much better if you have some speed in them. Depending on the cars I would recommend a shutter speed of 1/250 here.

Tip 19: Straight to Pouhon at Spa Francorchamps

Just as Kemmel straight, this is also an ideal place for panning. However, the environment is less exciting as background in your photo. Also, the gates can be a problem. The ideal line for the double gauche corner is the right side of the track, and there are a lot of fences and gates for marshalls.

It dependents on the race class if this point is interesting or not. But it’s possible to take photos of a formula 1 car here.

For panning photos you could start with 1/250, because the cars are going very fast here. If this is not a problem, you can lower your shutterspeed.

Tip 20: Pouhon at Spa Francorchamps

The large high hill at Pouhon can be used in multiple ways. Use the atmosphere in your image by photographing the public during an event like the Formula 1.

If you stand halfway up the hill you’ll shoot easily over the fences and you can capture the cars as they just dive into the corner.

Go all the way up where the toilet blocks are and capture the car and the public so you really feel the atmosphere in your photos.

For change/variation a nice place to visit during a race and a good point to watch. You will not make the best pictures of your series here.

Tip 21: Pouhon at Spa Francorchamps

At the end of the curve Pouhon you can easily stand down against the fences. There are cut a few small holes where you can easily put your objective through. You will get the entire slope of the corner into your photo and if you do not use too much zoom you can also get the audience in your photos.

I would definitely use the audience as it enhance the atmosphere and give your pictures a lot more depth features.

The problem with F1 cars is they are going fast, and you don’t know when they arrive. So you should anticipate very well.

Tip 22: Fagnes at Spa Francorchamps

Turn 12 is followed by a very small straight as the cars passed through, and you can photograph this. You have to stand near by point 23 close to the attached advertising signs at the gates.

Here you can shoot through the fence and because this is a little oozing it’s possible moving your lens along.

However, it does take some practice before you succeed, because you see the cars very late. And like the sample pictures, try to play with the surroundings.

Tip 23: Fagnes at Spa Francorchamps

At this point is a cameraman who films the action. There is however such a huge hole made for it that you can easily enjoy him. The only problem you may have is that the man is too far to the left and don’t leaving you enough room to take a proper photo. If that is not the case you have a shot at Turn 12 and 13 in the photo.

The best thing is when you have a car in the foreground while there is a car apearing in the background. As a result you get a lot of depth in your photos.

Tip 24: Bus stop at Spa Francorchamps

The circuit is about 20 meters underneath you, so you shoot here obliquely from above. The organization has made special holes in the fences for you to make it easy.

The chance of spectacle is huge here because it is the perfect place to overtake another car.

During the GP2 you see flames here regularly coming from the cars. You can shoot the cars here when braking for the first chicane, diagonally from the back if their in the first chichane and from the side when they go to the straight.