Nikon School has been granted exclusive access to the track apron at the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Track Cycling Championships at Derby Arena. This major national student competition brings together many of the UK’s strongest up-and-coming track cyclists.
With more than 100 riders competing across 20+ events, the action spans explosive 200-metre flying sprints, gruelling 40-kilometre endurance races, team pursuits, and crowd-favourite events such as the elimination race. This is a rare opportunity to capture dramatic, high-speed track cycling imagery from a privileged vantage point, all under expert guidance.
The Derby Arena velodrome is the newest indoor velodrome in the UK, offering state-of-the-art facilities for riders and track cycling events. Spectators benefit from excellent viewing all around the track, and you will gain an even greater advantage through Nikon School’s exclusive access to the track apron.
This special access allows shooting positions right next to the racing line, giving you the opportunity to capture powerful, immersive images as the action unfolds just metres away. Riders will be passing at speeds of up to 40 mph, creating exciting photographic possibilities and the perfect environment to learn how to shoot iconic panning images of track cyclists in motion.
We will start the day at 9:30am with introductions and a welcome briefing from Andrew and Nikon School. This will be followed by a mandatory British Cycling safety briefing, covering essential behaviour and protocols for working on the track apron.
After a short warm-up session, racing begins at 10:00am and will continue through to approximately 6:00pm. Throughout the day, you will have multiple opportunities to explore different shooting positions, techniques, and race formats, ensuring a varied and comprehensive learning experience.
This is a full day of immersive sports photography under the expert guidance of Nikon School and Andrew Moss, a London-based, award-winning sports photographer.
Andrew’s work has been recognised at prestigious competitions including the World Photography Awards, World Sports Photographer of the Year, and the British Photography Awards. His imagery has been showcased across the UK and Europe, and his latest work can be viewed on Instagram: @mossfoto.
There is a café at Derby Arena offering coffee, cakes and light food throughout the day (not included in the workshop cost).
Parking can be booked via the Derby Arena online portal for £3 per day (available up to one week in advance). Due to the size of the event and the number of attendees expected, pre-booking is strongly recommended. Arriving early may also help avoid queues.
Derby railway station is approximately a 10–15 minute walk from the venue.
For best results when photographing fast-moving action, a high-end DSLR or mirrorless camera with advanced autofocus and high burst rates is recommended. Suitable Nikon cameras include:
D780, D850, D6, Z5 II, Z6 III, Z8, Z9
Ideal focal lengths range from 24–400mm (full-frame equivalent). Suggested lenses include:
This workshop offers the perfect balance of structured learning and creative freedom in one of the UK’s premier sports venues. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your technical skills or reconnect with your passion for photography, this is an experience not to be missed.
Book your place now — spaces are limited.
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