Bronze Photography and Photo Manipulation Design · 2024
Moments Of Speed Photographs
- A' Design Award 2024 Bronze Winner in Photography and Photo Manipulation Design
- Awarded April 15, 2024
- CLIENT: Fuchs Neue Technologien (Team FNT)
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 70,325
- Verification code BB6CFFC3D7 · Verify this award
About Moments Of Speed Photographs
In Moments of Speed, speed becomes impressively visible. At first glance, the images reveal the aesthetics and dynamics of movement and allow the intensity and energy of the moment to be felt. At the same time there is an interesting shift from visualized speed to calmness in the motif. In the movement depicted, the images radiate a serenity of their own that creates a pleasantly relaxing effect. This change in perception allows the viewer to experience a new, deeper level. Composition, details, colouring, sharpness and blurring create dramatic and at the same time an image of calm in motion.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This depiction of movement creates an almost contradictory effect in the photos. The strength of the photographs lies in the contradiction in content of perceiving speed as an element of inner calm. A moment of speed is frozen, free for relaxed contemplation. Details, sharpness and blurring result from the speed, creating their own drama and giving the static image a permanent dynamic, but the interesting feature is the creation of a simultaneously contradictory effect: an image that conveys calm in all the movement. The selection extends the described effect to different motifs.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The pictures were published in a 297 x 210 mm book.
- Tags
- Photography of Historic Racing, Speed, Technical Impression, Image Processing, Angle of View, Perspective, Dynamics and Tranquillity,
- Production Technology
- Live shots at the Mugello race track. Camera Canon EOS 7D MkII, lenses Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS, Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM. Gopro Hero 11, post-processing with Adobe Lightroom (cor-rections, presets) and Photoshop if necessary.
- Design Challenge
- The most difficult thing is that there is little time for the recordings. Regulations and safety standards must be adhered to. The image concept, position and timing determine the result, as many photos cannot be repeated. Circumstances such as the weather influence the process, but create interesting backgrounds and moods that enable unique results. Shooting from an escort vehicle creates authentic impressions and unusual perspectives, but also requires the right timing and perfect equipment.
- Project Duration
- The photos were taken during 2-day events in Italy in May, August and October 2023. Editing and optimization of the images as well as the presentation in the yearbook took place in November 2023 in Neu-Ulm, Germany.
- Operation Flow
- The photographs are part of a limited edition yearbook commissioned by the client. This represents a documentation and memory for selected people. It presents impressions, highlights and glimpses behind the scenes of various client events.
- Research
- Type of research: How can the same subjects be visualised in a new way. The goal: Finding a new, different visualisation. Methodology: Experiments in test series with perspectives, settings, shifting of tension points, inclusion of surroundings e.g. weather situations. Experiments with new shooting positions and suitable shooting techniques. Post-processing to optimise with colour fine-tuning. The result is a new image look, new image statements, very good reactions. This approach continues to be further optimized and refined.
- Inspiration
- Speed and its perception. The moment of speed, suitably frozen to create an effect, was the inspiration. This effect is the transformation of the tension of the fast moment into the alternation of tension and relaxation in contemplation. Fleeting time that can even radiate calm in its depiction. Framing, elements of the immediate surroundings, lighting and contrast as well as the choice and reduction of colors give the picture a coherent look.
- Image Credits
- Image #1 : Photographer Martin Hoffmann, Moments of Speed Abarth, 2023
Colors of Moments Of Speed Photographs
Design Interview about Moments Of Speed Photographs
The idea behind "Moments of Speed" is that in these photos, fleeting time suddenly transforms into a calm moment. The tension of the fast moment is reversed into the relaxation of contemplation. The transience of movement pauses in the picture, suddenly radiating calm.
Speed and movement unfold an almost contradictory effect in the photos. The strength lies in the transformation of fleeting time into a calm moment. The speed seems to stand still, free for relaxed contemplation. Although details, sharpness and blurring resulting from the speed create their own drama, lending the static image permanent dynamism, the interesting feature is the creation of a simultaneously contradictory effect: an image that radiates calm in all the movement.
The pictures will be presented as a new highlight in my customer's racing collection.
The images are currently being incorporated into my website. In order to emphasise and promote the quality of my work as an award-winning reference.
Furthermore, the work is presented on LinkedIn in my own presentation and can be accessed there.
I am also planning publication in other media.
The images are currently being incorporated into my website. In order to emphasise and promote the quality of my work as an award-winning reference.
Furthermore, the work is presented on LinkedIn in my own presentation and can be accessed there.
I am also planning publication in other media.
The idea came from my desire to present or rearrange racing situations in a different context. The preliminary considerations arose successively in the run-up to the event days. I depicted situations with other sections or perspectives that could suitably represent my idea. These experiments took place on site within a few days at various other events with suitable framework conditions.
In racing photos, you often see similar depictions that can no longer necessarily capture the viewer's interest. How can the same motifs be presented in a new way? The goal: to find a new, different visualisation. So I developed the idea of depicting the speed that is made visible in these situations in such a way that the viewer suddenly develops a different image through the composition, the surroundings and the colour scheme. An image that radiates calm and relaxation in the driving situation pictured.
The pictures were part of a commissioned work.
The pictures were part of a commissioned work.
This point has to be discussed with the client.
Creativity in photography. Presenting things differently and achieving new effects.
My late brother, an excellent photographer and filmmaker, was my role model. Also with the thesis, leave out everything that is not needed so that people see what you want them to see.
Motorsport fans and customers of my client.
A different interpretation of the depiction of speed. The result is an image of calm in all the movement. Details, sharpness and blurring resulting from the speed create their own drama, lending the static image a permanent dynamic. The image detail, elements of the immediate surroundings, lighting and contrast as well as the choice and reduction of colours create a suitable mood.
Moments of Speed? A constant moving situation, which can only be perceived as blurred, shaky or shadowy as it passes by, becomes a frozen, stable image document - a moment.
Live shots at the race track. Camera Canon EOS 7D MkII, lenses Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS, Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM. Gopro Hero 11, post-processing with Adobe Lightroom (corrections, presets) and Photoshop if necessary.
The effect achieved in two stages. Firstly, the foreground depiction of a moving object and, in the second view, the transformation of the depicted speed into a moment of calm.
Together with a technician, the GoPro was positioned and attached to the vehicle. This ensured that the camera could not come loose unintentionally or impair the driving characteristics.
Post-processing in Lightroom with the appropriate presets and fine-tuning the details creates an image effect that makes every picture appear even deeper, more intense and more harmonious.
In post-processing, tests were carried out with various colour options, depths and presets in order to develop exactly the right profile to best bring out the ideal mood of the respective image.
Due to imponderables and unforeseen circumstances, such as changes in the weather situation, the light or the organiser's planning, it is often necessary to react quickly. These moments are sometimes difficult to repeat. Adjusting to new situations immediately and giving 100% commitment, making the right decisions. Be it the choice of camera, lens, camera settings, angle of view, location.
After my client was impressed by the photographs presented, I decided to enter them in the competition. I had already won a bronze award at the A' Design & Competition last year in Graphics Design category and thought I would give these photographs a try.
The approach has actually confirmed my work ethic: It is important to always stay on the ball, to test new ways, to push the boundaries. Even if difficulties arise, to overcome them. To further optimise your own work and only be satisfied with the best result.
Winning an award is a great motivational boost and a sign of appreciation for a creative person. In normal everyday life, you often question your work and take a very critical view of yourself. So it's a really good feeling to receive this award.
Grand Interview about Moments Of Speed Photographs
Speed – we are in motion, or something around us is moving, and we follow it with our gaze. On site, the perception of this movement becomes a flowing, fleeting sequence of countless individual moments. The faster the motion, the more the details merge into a continuous temporal stream. Due to this speed, we no longer perceive the individual elements – though they still exist within the motion. From this, I developed the idea of exploring what happens when we isolate a single moment and return to it the possibility of still observation. Can such an image convey a sense of calm amidst all the movement? Perhaps a kind of serenity that arises through full concentration – like the focused flow one feels while driving at high speed on the track?
As already mentioned, it was precisely this contradiction that fascinated me: in situations of intense concentration – especially at high speeds and on challenging tracks – drivers often experience a sense of calm and relaxation that lends a unique harmony to the flow of driving. One becomes one with the vehicle, moves at the limit, and yet remains completely at ease. Capturing this relaxation within the tension was the idea behind the Moments of Speed series. To immerse the viewer in the same calm that can surround the driver in full concentration – this special kind of stillness at the peak of motion, a stillness that doesn’t arise from standstill, but from within the very edge of dynamic intensity.
Safety first – a principle that remains paramount both on and off the track. Since the sessions in question were not competitive races but organized track days, the photographic work could be planned and coordinated more precisely. When shooting from the trackside, it was done exclusively from designated safe zones – only during brief moments such as high-speed drive-bys. In cases where GoPro cameras were used, they had to be mounted with absolute security to ensure there was no risk of detachment, even at high velocity. Capturing images from a moving support vehicle required prior clearance from race control. Drivers were briefed in advance, receiving precise instructions on how to drive to facilitate the planned shots without compromising safety. Throughout the process, camera equipment had to be thoroughly secured to eliminate any possibility of parts coming loose or causing incidents on the track. Every precaution was taken to ensure that the pursuit of compelling images never came at the cost of safety.
With the exception of the pre-positioned GoPro, all images were taken handheld. The shots from the trackside were captured at a height of approximately 150 cm using panning techniques to keep the vehicle sharp while rendering the background in motion.Driving shots from the escort vehicle were taken from a lower perspective, around 50 to 70 cm above ground. A key element for achieving the desired effect was using a medium aperture – wide enough to keep the entire car in focus, while still creating a shallower depth of field to gently blur the background. This impression was further enhanced by intentional motion blur in the surrounding areas of the image, achieved by selecting a longer shutter speed relative to the vehicle's speed. The result is a carefully balanced interplay of sharpness and blur that emphasizes the moment’s dynamic energy and makes it visually tangible. For example, in the main image, the exposure settings were 1/160 s shutter speed, aperture f/5.6, and ISO 100.
Weather is not a disruptive factor but an active part of the visual language in this series. Challenging condition – such as heavy rain or an approaching thunderstorm – offer powerful visual elements that add drama and depth to the image: the spray behind the vehicles, reflections on the wet track, or the unique play of light against dark clouds. Through deliberate framing and perspective, the weather becomes a narrative element – one that not only reflects the driving challenge but also evokes an emotional response in the viewer.
When selecting fleeting moments, the images needed to exhibit a clear visual language: on the one hand, creating an impressive visual impact; on the other, enabling the transformation of speed into a moment of stillness in the viewer’s perception. Despite being in motion, the vehicle is perceived as the still element – the calm center of the image – while speed is conveyed through the blurred and smeared surroundings. If an image revealed precisely this visual balance between energy and calm, it became a strong candidate for my final selection.
Even though track days don’t follow a strict racing schedule, the time frame for capturing specific image concepts is often limited. However, thanks to my many years of experience in this environment, I’m very familiar with the procedures and typical situations. This allows me to handle technical settings and positioning with confidence and routine. As a result, there's less pressure – and more freedom to respond spontaneously to new impressions, to further develop creative ideas, and to translate them purposefully into images.
My post-processing is not an alteration of reality, but a deliberate enhancement of my personal perspective. Through careful adjustments – in specific color ranges, color balance, depth, contrast, and brilliance – the feeling of the moment is brought out more precisely, and a harmonious color atmosphere is created, without compromising the image’s authenticity.The editing is not meant to dominate the image, but to reveal what is already inherent in it – it’s a process of refinement.
Receiving the A' Design Award is a very special form of recognition for me—especially because I tend to view my own work with a highly critical eye.Whether or how a series like Moments of Speed might influence motorsport photography remains open – but perhaps it offers a source of inspiration. Motorsport photography is filled with top-tier photographers, each with their own style and visual language. It’s always wise to stay open to inspiration from beyond the familiar, to think outside the expected, to prioritize emotion over pure technique, and to continuously evolve one’s own perspective.
The book offers a visual journey through moments and scenes captured during various track days throughout the year. To fully bring out the impact of the images, two photographs are presented across single full pages, two span double-page spreads, while the lead image draws attention as the book’s cover. When selecting images for facing pages, it was essential that subject, composition, proportions, direction of gaze, colors, and focal points harmonized with one another – creating a calm, cohesive narrative that flows naturally, also in relation to the other photographs from these events.