Photographer Frits van Eldik has a deep affinity for motorsport and Formula 1. His passion stems not only from the thrill of speed but also from the multifaceted nature of the sport. In his photo book ‘Racing Imagination’, art and sport converge. “I prefer to create pieces that can be displayed on a wall. In that sense, I am someone who values the beauty of the image over its news value,” says Van Eldik.
In a previous interview, Frits van Eldik spoke about his work. “The funny thing is that all aspects of photography come together in a race weekend. Timeless portraits, news photos, landscape photography, and of course the cars, all under varying weather and light conditions. That’s what makes Formula 1 photography always fun and challenging, and I constantly strive to raise the bar for myself. I prefer to be in places where my colleagues are not. I like to create pieces that can be displayed on a wall. In that sense, I am someone who values the beauty of the image over its news value.”
Van Eldik is less focused on capturing spectacular crash photos. “If you’re in the right place, any F1 photographer can take a beautiful crash photo. Don’t get me wrong, I still get excited when there’s news to cover or photograph. But news photography is a separate profession, and luck often plays a big role. I find it more satisfying to approach a race with a preconceived idea in my mind and execute it in a way that I can be proud of.”
For Van Eldik, every photo tells a story. Speaking about the photo above, Van Eldik says, “This is a pit stop by Lewis Hamilton in 2009 with McLaren. I had planned in advance that I wanted to capture the movement. But it was at the Shanghai International Circuit in China. This photo was taken from the media center, at a great distance, through two layers of glass. If you move the camera even slightly, you get nothing. But I like that, taking a bit of risk for an image that others don’t have. The photo is not sharp everywhere, due to the two layers of glass, but it is incredibly intense, filled with the action and drama that are part of a pit stop.”
Monaco 2018
When you ask Frits van Eldik which photo from his collection he is most proud of, all photos come into consideration. One stands out for him because of the lighting, another because of the glance or the composition. But if a choice has to be made, the Soestenaar quickly settles on his photo reportage of the Grand Prix of Monaco in 2018. From the hills around Monaco, he photographed the principality in all its beauty, with the cars playing only a supporting role.
Monaco 2018 (Frits van Eldik)
Van Eldik’s Unique Photography Experience
Van Eldik shared, “I took these photos from La Turbie, located high in the hills. I’ve been visiting for years and always thought: I want to photograph the start from here. But the distance is 2.1 kilometers, so the chances of success are not so great, due to the heat or the clouds hanging against the mountains. I decided to take my chances, with the support of a few others. On that particular day, I set up eight cameras on tripods with eight different lenses and a remote control for each camera. I watched the start through binoculars, knowing that I only had a few seconds to capture the image I wanted. A number of photos from the series turned out very well, and I’m incredibly happy with them. These photos look great in large format. For that reason, I had never offered them to a newspaper or magazine, because you don’t see the effect of the photo. But here you do. It was a very special project for me. I had brought four men with me for these photos, who had been on the mountain for four days looking for the best spot. Every time they came back down and said: it can’t be done. On Sunday, it also started to blow very hard, but in retrospect, that was my salvation. Thanks to the cold, I was able to take these photos. In other words, luck played a big role here.”
The Sweet Gaze of Max
A beautiful black and white photo by Frits van Eldik features Max Verstappen, sitting on a Pirelli tire, looking directly into the camera with a sweet smile.
Max Verstappen (Frits van Eldik)
Van Eldik said, “This is a typical Max photo for me. This photo was taken while posing for the traditional group photo on the eve of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when he became world champion for the first time. It was the last time he wore number 33, as he now races with number 1 since his world title. You never sell those group photos, there’s nothing to be made from them, so there was no point in taking them. I had laid my camera on the ground and called out to Max: ‘Look into that camera’, pointing to the ground. And he did. In the photo, you see a relaxed Max and the image is so detailed, you can see every hair on his face. That’s what makes it beautiful.”
