M PORTRAITS #11.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!