As sports go, Formula One racing is about as fast-paced and cutting edge as it gets. Every aspect of the technology both on and off the track is at the forefront of its respective field, which is why photographer Joshua Paul’s latest work is every bit as fascinating as it sounds. Instead of using top-of-the-range cameras with lenses more expensive than your typical overseas holiday, Paul chooses to capture the fast-paced beauty of F1 using a 104-year-old Graflex 4×5 view camera.
The only permanently accredited American photographer in F1, Paul was inspired to cover the sport with his dated hardware after flicking through a magazine containing images of the 1969 Indy 500 and set about using the same deliberately blurry and out-of-focus approach he saw, but with modern motor racing’s open wheel pinnacle as the subject. The issue is, unlike modern cameras that can take as many as 20-25 frames per second, Paul’s 1913 Graflex can only take 20 pictures in total meaning his timing and eye for detail must be spot on. Starting at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, the photographer’s passion for the sport has since developed to such an extent that he’s started an award-winning independent magazine for Grand Prix enthusiasts called Lollipop.
You can also check out his Instagram here.
Paul and his 1913 Graflex 4×5.
