The Hidden Hero
Sharneigh Brown, broadcast camera aficionado, checked in with SLICKS from her four-wheeled HQ during the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.
Sharneigh: I found my way into motorsport by coincidence, thanks to Wimbledon, funnily enough. I was mostly working on horse racing, but kept the Wimbledon week free in my calendar in case they needed a backup camera operator. In 2024, I got a call during Wimbledon asking if I was available to go to Spa in Belgium and cover the 24-hour race. I’d covered a few cars at Goodwood, but this was my first proper car event - thrown in at the deep end. They asked how soon I could get to Heathrow, and before I knew it, I was at Spa. That was just over a year ago, and a lot has changed since then.
L: Not a bad place to start.
S: I’m so grateful I get to call this my job, which hasn’t quite sunk in yet. I’ve always been involved in sport, though. At 15, I got my first SLR camera. I remember saving up for a lens. I got chatting in the school holidays to a photographer at a sports event, and he asked to see my photos. On the spot, he offered me a summer job. It was a good earner for a 15-year-old.
L: Did you know there and then that this is what you wanted to do as a job?
S: I loved media, but it was an uncertain path. We were printing photos back then. Digital was just around the corner. Every photo I took got printed and put on a big wooden board. All the competitors would view the photos, and if they liked them, they would take your photo to the till and pay. That buzz of having your photo sold was rewarding and it taught me to get the shot right the first time, too, since printing was expensive for the business.
L: Getting it right first time is key in motorsport. You can’t exactly ask them to reverse for a re-take, can you?
S: Exactly. So I worked on farms and directly in sport until lockdown, when everything was paused. I couldn’t go to events to shoot, and I couldn’t play sports myself. I was left with just my office job in wealth management, and it wasn’t getting me out of bed in the morning. I thought it was time for a change. I applied for a trainee position as a camera operator. Pay cut, moved 3 hours south, 18 months of training, learning to use broadcast cameras, building them, fixing them, working alongside the engineers, and it propelled a huge change to where I am today. Live sport is very different to other types of TV. It’s shoot or bust. No re-takes, as you say.
L: Has motorsport always been a part of your life?
S: I’m the only one in the family without a motorbike. Mum, Dad, Sister. They all ride bikes. Growing up, Dad did motocross, so it’s never been foreign to me, but nowadays I understand a lot more. Building my campervan has given me so much flexibility to attend and enjoy motorsport events. I could get a call tomorrow for an event at the other end of the country and be able to rock up on site, ready to go with the team the next morning.
L: Face-to-face can do wonders in this industry, too. It’s not to be underestimated.
S: It’s so important, the people in endurance races like this week [Spa 24 Hours]: everyone’s like a family. Same hotel, same race track, same hire cars, same airport lounges. If you don’t get on with people, it's a very different experience. Crew endurance isn’t talked about, but it's just as challenging as the drivers' demands.
L: What are the stints like during an endurance race? Presume you’re not behind the camera for the full 24 hours.
S: We have a night team that covers us for the early hours. Last year at Spa, we also had a safety car for a couple of hours due to the weather, so I didn’t miss heaps. I managed to get to bed after midnight, have a few hours of sleep and be back for sunrise. The last few hours of the race are manic. It’s like someone flicks a switch from quite a sedate, consistent race to absolute carnage of driver swaps, and the last push for position. As the 24-hour Spa was my first ever motorsport race I filmed, other events like the GT 3 or 6-hour races now seem to go in a flash
L: Could you run through where you’ve been with work this year and what series you were covering?
S: I started with Formula E in Brazil before Christmas. Working in Brazil was incredible, amazing crowd. The FE season kicks off earlier than most others. Then it was Mexico and Jeddah with Formula E. Spring kicked off GT World Challenge at Paul Ricard in April, and then Zandvoort and Monza in May and June.
L: Suppose that’s where the van comes in useful.
S: I don’t use it as much as people probably think. I’m usually driving what we call the scanner and tender: one is a TV gallery on wheels and the other carries camera kit. Having my HGV license was what first opened the door to the sports broadcast industry for me. But the freedom of the campervan has been a massive part of my progression. It allowed me to go self-employed without loads of bills. I’ve been able to take each opportunity for the opportunity, not worrying about money. It’s a competitive industry and TV and film are changing so much, with a lot of automation coming in, technology is enhancing motorsport coverage so much, but also reducing broadcasters' work levels.
L: You converted a regular van, didn’t you? It’s not a bespoke motorhome?
S: I designed it with some help from my Dad. I knew what I wanted layout-wise and a proper workspace, plus it had to be comfortable. However, when I built it, I didn’t know I’d be going self-employed. Project Campervan came about because at the time I was trying to live in South West London, struggling to cover rent and bills, plus a mortgage! So I sold the house, sacrificing a lot of stability, but I’m so glad I took the leap now, looking back.
L: You can drive your workstation anywhere in the world. Not everyone can say that.
S: I’d like to do it more, this is actually the first international trip I’ve taken in the van for work. I love travelling, so to be able to combine travel with work is the dream.
L: What’s next for you? Two wheels?
S: I’m still the new kid on the block, and I have a lot to learn. I’m working with some people who have been camera operators for 50+ years. It’s crazy. There are a lot of good people out there, but I’d love to break into other areas. Some friends broadcast motorbikes, but I love being able to commit to a series and get to know the cars, drivers and stories. Calendar clashes could make that hard. I don’t want to be someone who tries to do everything. I’d rather become really good at a few and hone my craft. WRC is the goal. I’m a country girl, and it’s by far the most challenging motorsport.
L: Sharneigh, it’s been a pleasure. Thank you.
