From Formula 1 to the Porsche Mobil 1
Super cup, from track days to a vintage rally, motor sport is
invariably a fast-paced and exciting sport. It is also highly accessible, with
hundreds of varied events taking place each year. But for the amateur
snapper it can be all too easy to come home with a bunch of lackluster,
disappointing
out-of-focus photos that do
nothing to convey that sense of excitement and speed. So who are the
people behind the lens that produce some truly stunning motorsport
photography.
This
Month we
bring you a exclusive interview with Jochen Van Cauwenberge...
(Frozenspeed), a former
software engineer who has always been passionate about motor sport. After working as a requirements engineer
for some of the leading sports cars manufacturers, Jochen finally
discovered his true talent and calling and was able to pursue his
passion...photographing motorsport. But just whats involved and how do
you get the shots from trackside to website media...we ask the question!
 How
old were you when you got your first camera
 I bought my first
"serious" camera when I was 29, a minolta A2.
Although it had its problems with motorsport photography it was a
fantastic camera to learn and stayed with me until after my first
magazine work as well.
Have you always taken motorsport or did
you start out taken photos of over subjects
My first real pictures were indeed
motorsport pictures. I feel a strong bond with your subject is crucial
and one of the main reasons why I succeed at motorsport photography.
Nature is another subject I feel connected to and so I also do the
occasional nature photography, but I don't get anywhere near as good
results as with my motorsport photography, its a totally different game.
At what age did you first realize your
love for motorsport
The official records shows that I was
fascinated by motorsport as soon
as I started talking but it might have been earlier if sign language or
racing on the baby bike is accepted.
What's the most difficult car to take
photos of with my limited experience I found that yellow coloured cars are easy
to keep in focus is this true or am just talking rubbish.
Lighter
coloured cars and distinctive patterns seem to be easier for the camera
to focus on indeed.
What camera do you use?
Nikon D300, an excellent camera for
motorsport photography.
Is digital better than film
I dont think it is possible to answer that
question in general. Also, I have very limited experience with film but
some of befriended photographers I rate highly still think very fondly
of film. What I do know is that I could not do my job without digital
since my race pictures are often sent out to media and team sponsors
shortly after or even during the race.
What's the best race track to photos and
why
The old Nurburgring circuit with its many
elevations, camber, curbs
and unique forest background make for amazing settings. And there are
several places where the cars jump which is also quite
special. Besides that there is also Spa Francorchamps which has many of
the same qualities going for it.
Is it hard to sell photos to magazines
and websites
Yes it is. Therefor you must provide them
with a good service, prove and maintain the quality of your work and
treasure your contacts.
We know that motorsport can be dangerous
and unfortunately there has been some horrible crashes over the
years…we never see any photos…and rightly so…is there a code of
practice when it comes to this subject.
There is quite a lot of interest for
pictures like this, they are among the pictures that are easiest to
sell to mainstream media as it is what the general public (as opposed
to the niche of motorsport fans) wants to see. But you are right, they
don't seem to get published
so often. Since the photographers are part of the motorsport community
they understand that this kind of images do not do motorsport any good.
If you could offer any advise to people
wanting to get started in motorsport photography what would it be?
Practice practice practice!
What are the best tips for taking
motorsport?
Keep pushing yourself and innovating your
work, learn some best
practices but do not rely on routines to get the job done.
I find it hard to take photos during night
races, what should I be doing or does it all depend on the size of your
flash!
Night time motorsport photography is very
special and something I really love to do. The experience is very
different so you need to be
creative and come up with pictures that show this rather than trying to
bring as much light as possible into the picture to "fix" the darkness.
A strong flash is a powerful tool, not because of its raw power but
because it allows you to be versatile and support your creativity.
Choosing how much of the available light you want to bring into the
picture is a very important and equally interesting decision to make.
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A Frozenspeed image is
immediately recognizable. You
can instantly recognise that each photo has been composed with care and
created with state of the art equipment and techniques, all with the
customer in mind, thus making every photo unique to both customer and
fan.
(above) Jochen Van
Cauwenberge at his
first exhibition in Ghent...summer of 2008.
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