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Photographer Captures Excitement of F1 Racing with His Camera from 1913

By Jessica Stewart on May 18, 2017

By now we're used to seeing glossy images of sporting events that grace newspapers and magazines. Mainly shot as editorial content for news agencies, they pop with color and capture the action in sharp detail. Joshua Paul, who covers the immensely popular world of Formula One racing, saw an opportunity to do something a little different.

By using a Graflex 4×5 view camera from 1913, Paul shoots artistically timeless images that show F1 in a new light. Paul, who has been a professional photographer since 1997, had used his vintage camera in the past in travel and adventure photography, but after shooting his first race in 2013, he was hooked.

Now in his fifth season photographing the circuit, he created Lollipop Magazine in 2014 to show off his work. Paul was initially inspired to try his Graflex when photographing races by a 1969 magazine, which contained photos of the Indy 500 shot out of focus intentionally to heighten the artistry. With just 20 frames possible during each session, Paul is a keen observer of the action, waiting for just the right moment to press the shutter.

The photographer has now shot 22 races and certainly stands out in the pit among the other sports photographers. In fact, it's not uncommon to see him giving lessons on how to use the 1913 camera to racers out on the track. “There are only a few people taking beautifully expressive and timeless images in Formula 1, mostly because there is no lucrative market for it,” he shares. “My approach is to make images so beautiful they defy subject matter.”