AUTOMOTIVE FILM SCENES
Nicolas Ragaz
My photography journey has only started very recently. Even though I always had an interest in the art form, I considered it too daunting to begin learning the gear and editing that seems part of the job nowadays. However, in January last year, I found my grandad's old film camera, a Zeiss Ikon Contaflex from the 1950's, which previously belonged to my great-uncle. This gave me the perfect reason to get started, using the camera to document adventures of my own and in a way, share those adventures with them even though they are no longer with us. I instantly loved the simplicity of this 65-year-old camera. It is purely mechanical, and there is something very therapeutic to the process of taking photos with it.
I was able to combine my newly found passion for photography with my love for cars. Although I love landscape and documentary photography, I always get drawn back to automotive scenes. An amazing event for this is the Goodwood Revival as it is the biggest historic motor racing event in the world. Consequently, there are so many great opportunities to take photographs. I even had the opportunity to shoot a Formula 1 race on film this past year. The photos came out like they were lost in time, with those complex modern machines in full focus images that feel like they were taken 30 years ago. I never expected to enjoy black and white photography as much as I did. With this, you have to think a lot more about composition and lighting to get the perfect shot. However, one of the biggest lessons I have learned thus far is to just shoot what piques your interest, 9 times out of 10 the image will come out well!
This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 13.