DREW GIBSON

Pro motorsports photographer Drew on why he hasn't (yet) switched to Canon's mirrorless system, why old-school techniques can be the most reliable, and the lessons learned from more than a decade shooting the world's biggest car brands

REW Gibson captures the drama, adrenaline and atmosphere of motorsports with expertise and grit. He’s been shooting for over a decade, but his love for the genre has lasted a lifetime. Drew was obsessed with cars as a child, started documenting races on film during college, and has honed his craft shooting thousands of global events in the years since. Despite a full-on schedule and the constant pressure to deliver, Drew is still just as in love with motorsports photography today.

Last time we spoke was during the pandemic. Life must have moved on since then. Tell us about the last few years… Like many photographers, work stopped for me in the summer of 2020. This was tough, but I’d been working flat out since going full-time in 2007 and there was a bit of me that wondered if the constant pressure, stress and hard work was what I should be doing with my life. But I still missed the rush of taking pictures. 2021 was a difficult year – back to work but working around huge logistical issues and constantly changing rules and regulations. Thankfully, since then, work has been going from strength to strength. I have some great clients across many championships and now employ a number of other photographers to help cover the workload.

I continue to capture sports car races and long-distance endurance events, such as the Le Mans 24 Hours, often working with manufacturers such as Porsche, Ford and Aston Martin. Most of my work is linked to the motor industry but there’s a huge variety. On any given day I can shoot action, statics, portraits and occasionally work in the studio.

Why did you get into motorsports?