Photo finisher

ALLENTOWN - You probably don't know Mike Campbell personally. Perhaps you would have trouble picking him out of a line up.

But if you're a motorsports fan you have no doubt seen his work. Even without knowing, you know Campbell.

Campbell is the veteran track photographer at Limaland Motorsports Park, so his photos are all over the track's Web site, promotional materials and programs. He's been shooting photos at Limaland for two decades, and has been the official photographer since the University of Northwestern Ohio took over operations 11 years ago.

A Lima native who makes his paychecks at Ineos, Campbell gets his kicks from racing.

"I've went to races, ever since I was little. I used to come out here and watch people like Dick Davenport ... and the Keysors," Campbell said. "It kind of gets in your blood after a while."

Without any formal training or college courses to learn from, Campbell's evolution as a photographer was a process. Experience was his tutor.

"When I started out, I wasn't very good," Campbell said. "It was kind of a trial-and-error type deal. After a while, if you take enough pictures, you're bound to get a few good ones. That always gives you some encouragement to keep going."

But with time and good fortune, he's grown into an accomplished photographer with a portfolio including races from NASCAR, the World of Outlaws and various tracks, including Eldora Speedway and the Knoxville Sprint Car Nationals in Iowa.

As anyone who takes a look at his selections at Limaland on Fridays or on his Web site (www.campbellphoto.com) can attest, Campbell's education under fire has been a success.

Campbell has his favorite tracks and races. The race in Knoxville, where he will be headed in a few weeks, holds a special place for the life-long race fan.

"The one thing that really stands out is my first Knoxville Nationals. It's probably been 15, 16 years ago. Just the history, the legendary track - that was a big thrill for me," Campbell said.

With his tenure in photography, Campbell has seen big changes in the industry. While the advent of digital technology certainly has made life easier in some areas, it has accomplished just the opposite in others.

"I used to use an old manual film camera, which I still have," Campbell said. "After you had an idea of what you're shooting and the conditions you were shooting in, you knew where to set the camera. Then you take the film out, have it developed and processed, and that was the all of it. I'm totally digital now, so I do all my own editing and a lot of my own printing. It's a lot more time consuming now than it used to be."

Campbell isn't the only photographer roaming the infield of Limaland. Along with photographers from The Lima News, various others make appearances at the track through the summer.

As the house photographer at Limaland, Campbell had a bit of sound advice for any rookies.

"Don't get too close to the track and always face the cars," Campbell said.

Obviously, Campbell hasn't had any direct contact with the cars, but he's been in on his share of close calls. Even the most prepared and alert photographer is under the influence of what happens on the oval around him.

Campbell remembers one such occasion with striking clarity.

"There have been a few close calls down here in the last few years, but nothing like as close as when Travis Miller was still with us," Campbell said of the deceased Sprint car driver. "He spun out in turn one and didn't back off, he kept on going and came down in the infield. He probably only missed me by a few inches. That was quite a scare there."