Photographer Frederick Unflath and the new BMW M3

M PORTRAITS #11.

How to photograph cars: an interview with photographer Frederick Unflath.

M PORTRAITS #11.How to photograph cars: an interview with photographer Frederick Unflath.

Be it for your photo album, the Instagram community or simply because it’s fun: photographing your car is part and parcel of being a petrolhead. But it’s not always as easy as it looks. Despite sophisticated technology and modern software, the final picture is often not the one you had in mind when you pressed the shutter release. Photographer and BMW M connoisseur Frederick Unflath has been a fan of fast cars and perfect camera angles since childhood. He tells us what it is about cars that fascinates him and gives some tips about how to get the most from your photos.

 

BMW M3 Competition Sedan:
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 10.2 (NEDC) / 10.2-10.0 (WLTP)
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 234 (NEDC) / 234-228 (WLTP)

 

 

 

BMW M Magazine: When one looks at your work, then nature is mostly just a backdrop. Don’t you like nature?


Frederick Unflath: I love nature! I even live in it, far away from any city. I’m always glad to get back to nature after being in the big city.


So why do you photograph vehicles and not landscapes?


Cars may not be alive or natural, but they have character and they trigger emotions. I see them as works of art, as highly aesthetic objects. I’m fascinated by design and technology and how the two come together in a car.

 

 

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BMW M5 CS

BMW M5 CS; ISO 50, focal length 85 mm, aperture f/8, exposure time 1.00 s

 

How did you come to specialize in photographing cars?


That began early on. I grew up with cars, thanks to my father who works at ABT Sportsline. I actually started with film rather than photography. We were a small freestyle ski crew and I started shooting our days in the mountains to make little films for the Internet. Later on I trained as a graphic designer and after a few stops along the way, including studying business administration, I came to photography through my work at BMW M.

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Why are BMW M automobiles such good subjects for you?


At BMW M, the design matches the performance of the vehicles. The strong colours and the emotional interiors also play a big part. The brand has guts. It’s easy to see that M GmbH comes from motorsport and has a fantastic heritage.

 

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BMW M3 Heritage

BMW M3 Heritage; ISO 100, focal length 49 mm, aperture f/10, multiple exposure times

Out of the studio: What’s the right time of day to get great vehicle shots? Is there one?


Probably when the sun is setting. Ultimately, it’s up to the photographer and what light and shade he uses to create his style.


Every vehicle has a different design – what should one look out for to find the right angle to shoot from?


It’s a matter of personal taste. There are the classic angles, I use them too, but you shouldn’t bury your creativity in classic camera angles. At the end of the day, it’s also about how you want to interpret the vehicle.

 

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BMW M5 Competition

ISO 100, focal length 24 mm, aperture f/4, exposure time 0.60 s

“You shouldn’t bury your creativity in classic camera angles. At the end of the day, it’s also about how you want to interpret the vehicle.”

How do you find suitable settings for car shoots?


I have my own list of locations that I found on Instagram or tips from colleagues. Otherwise I like to drive around and find interesting places. Sometimes an underpass in the neighbourhood will do it. It all depends on how you interpret the car and what story you want to tell.

 

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BMW M8 Competition Coupé

BMW M8 Competition Coupé; ISO 200, focal length 40 mm, aperture f/4, exposure time: 1/50 s

What about paintwork reflections: What should one look out for here?


They’re often made out to be worse than they are. But if the reflection masks an important detail or destroys the optical form, you should think about positioning the car differently.

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BMW M8 Competition Coupé

BMW M8 Competition Coupé; ISO 200, focal length 40 mm, aperture f/4, exposure time: 1/50 s

BMW M2 by FUTURA 2000

BMW M2 by FUTURA 2000; ISO 100, focal length 52 mm, aperture f/8, exposure time 1.60 s with multiple POL settings

Bothersome reflections on paintwork, how do you get rid of them? On location with a polarizing filter for example or later on with editing software?


A mix of both. The polarizing filter can make editing much easier afterwards. And Photoshop of course has that great Clone Stamp tool - a lot of fun!

 

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Beauty shots are all well and good, but how do you photograph a moving vehicle and at the same time get the feeling of speed across?


Reduce ISO as much as possible. Get in the boot of an estate or SUV, don’t forget to strap yourself in. Roughly speaking: If the car’s doing 60, set the shutter speed to 1/30 and adjust your aperture for the perfect exposure. If you want more depth of field, put a ND filter on the lens. Ta-da! BMW M4 GT3.

 

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BMW M4 GT3

BMW M4 GT3; ISO 50, focal length 25 mm, aperture f/8, exposure time 1/320 s

When you shoot action shots at the racetrack, wouldn’t you prefer to be behind the wheel and not the camera?


Let me put it this way: Back in the day, I was always the cautious one on our freestyle ski days and nights. And that hasn’t really changed. I think I’m better behind the camera.

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Frederick Unflath

© Maximilian Müller

So we could say: petrolhead yes, adrenalin junkie no?


Yes, you could say that, but of course 100 km/h in an open boot can also be pretty exciting. I love cars, but I always see the design first and then the performance and the technology behind it.

 

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Talking of design, which vehicle has always been a favourite of yours?


I like classic, iconic silhouettes like the BMW M3 E30 or the Porsche 993 Turbo. When we talk about modern design, it’s vehicles like the BMW M8 Gran Coupé that speak to me – fantastic side profile. As I say, I’ve always loved it when manufacturers have guts. The BMW M4 G82 is a good example. OK, the model polarizes, but I find the expressive design of this sports coupé superb.

 

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BMW M4 Coupé

BMW M4 Coupé; ISO 50, focal length 55 mm, aperture f/5.6, exposure time 1.00 s

Which camera do you use for your work? Which equipment do you always have with you?


My workhorse is a Sony a7r IV. And I always have a Contax G1 with me for the analogue shots. My everyday carry-on is the Leica Q2. And of course a few lenses. I mostly use a 16–35 mm, a 40 mm with macro function, a 55 mm and an 85 mm Prime for the Sony.


Which filters do you use?


Circular polarizing and ND filters.

 

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System camera, SLR or iPhone: are there no-go’s when photographing cars?


No. Use the camera you feel most comfortable with. Nowadays, we’re spoilt with great equipment and computer programmes. Really bad digital cameras probably don’t exist any more.

 

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“Use the camera you feel most comfortable with.”
Frederick Unflath

© Maximilian Müller

 

Business talk: What would you recommend amateur photographers who want to get into shooting cars professionally?


Build up a portfolio, borrow cars to shoot and do something special. The most important thing is contacts. Build up a network, that’s essential.


What does one’s first camera equipment have to include to be able to shoot good pictures?


Like I say, nowadays there’s hardly any bad equipment around. With a 24-70 mm lens you can’t go wrong at the beginning, because you immediately have a wide spectrum of shots covered with just one lens.


What was your first professional camera set-up?


That was a Sony a7r II with Metabones adaptor and Canon FD lenses, focussed manually.

 

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BMW M8 Heritage

BMW M8 Heritage: SO 100, focal length 52 mm, f/8, multiple exposures

 

How would you describe your style?


Graphic, colourful, moody. But I also love black and white. Generally speaking, playing with shadows is my thing. I like both hard and soft shading. Depending on the atmosphere I want the pictures to have.


Trend question: portrait or landscape?


As we say in German: Fährst du quer, siehst du mehr, which more or less means landscape will give you more to look at. For what I do, the good old landscape format is better and I’m better at it too.

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The worldwide Corona crisis means a lot of restrictions. Do you miss travelling?


I miss travelling privately to a certain extent, sure. Professionally, not really. Travelling with a lot of equipment means a lot of stress. I love shooting in Germany – guilty pleasure!


One car that’s missing from your shooting list?


The BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage.

 

 

Thanks for the interview, Frederick!

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BMW M8 Competition Coupé

BMW M8 Competition Coupé; ISO 100 – focal length 70 mm, f/4, exposure time 1.00 s

BMW M3 Competition Sedan:
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 10.2 (NEDC) / 10.2-10.0 (WLTP)
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 234 (NEDC) / 234-228 (WLTP)


BMW M4 Coupé:
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 10.8 (NEDC) / 10.5-10.3 (WLTP)
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 248 (NEDC) / 240-235 (WLTP)


BMW M4 Competition Coupé:
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 10.2 (NEDC) / 10.2-9.9 (WLTP)
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 234 (NEDC) / 233-227 (WLTP)

 


BMW M5 Competition:
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 11.3 (NEDC) / 11.3-11.1 (WLTP)
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 259 (NEDC) / 259-253 (WLTP)


BMW M5 CS:
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 11.3 (NEDC) / 11.3 (WLTP)
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 258 (NEDC) / 256 (WLTP)

 

BMW M8 Competition Coupé:
Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 11.2 (NEDC) / 11.4-11.2 (WLTP)
CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 258 (NEDC) / 260-257 (WLTP)

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  • The models illustrated include optional equipment.

    Due to regular software updates, screen designs in the communication may differ from the actual screen design in your car.

    Official data on power consumption and electric range were determined in accordance with the mandatory measurement procedure and comply with Regulation (EU) 715/2007 valid at the time of type approval. In case of a range, figures in the NEDC take into account differences in the selected wheel and tire size; figures in the WLTP take into account any optional equipment. WLTP values are used for assessing taxes and other vehicle-related charges that are (also) based on CO2 emissions, as well as for the purposes of vehicle-specific subsidies, if applicable. Where applicable, the NEDC values listed were calculated based on the new WLTP measurement procedure and then converted back to the NEDC measurement procedure for comparability reasons. For newly type-tested vehicles since 01.01.2021, the official data no longer exist according to NEDC, but only according to WLTP. For more information on the WLTP and NEDC measurement procedures, see https://www.bmw.com/wltp.

    For further information about the official fuel consumption and the specific CO2 emission of new passenger cars can be taken out of the „handbook of fuel consumption, the CO2 emission and power consumption of new passenger cars“, which is available at all selling points and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.

    All vehicles, equipment, combination possibilities and varieties shown here are examples and can differ in your country. In no way do they constitute a binding offer by the BMW M GmbH. Visit your local BMW website or see your authorised BMW M Retailer for accurate details on the offers in your country.