05/24/2026
Bad weather makes good photos. Rain adds a layer of context that isn't always apparent in "good weather photos." Bad weather also makes you think outside the box. On a beautiful day, I can tell you where the sun will be in the sky at Lime Rock based on the time of day and the time of year, and where the best photos can be had at any specific time of day. Or at least I know where I prefer to be. But when it's raining, I have to be more flexible in my thinking. I'm always taking into account the rooster tail of water that flies up behind a race car on a wet race track. Or the way headlights reflect on the wet pavement. Or making the race cars a background element and focusing on the umbrella instead.
From the moment today started, we were working under the threat of rain starting at any moment. And, when the rain came, it didn't stop. It never poured. Just a steady light rain for hours with a steadily dropping temperature. Both of the feature races were run entirely in the rain, and by the end of the day, I was cold, my gear was wet, and I was beat. When I feel as drained as I did at the end of the day today, both physically and mentally, I know I did work I can be proud of.
Have I ever told you about my worst day at the track? It was a pretty good day. And today was far from my worst.