On the sidelines of a Formula 1 race, a sea of photographers crouch shoulder-to-shoulder, high end, sleak-looking cameras held to their faces with long, protruding lenses pointed towards the action. But Joshua Paul stands out from the crowd, staring down into a monstrous, boxy contraption.
Paul has been using his 104-year-old Graflex camera to photograph Formula 1 racing since 2013. The blurry, glossy texture gives the photographs a fast and heroic feel unmatched by modern equipment.
“My approach is to make images so beautiful they defy subject matter,” he told GP Traveler magazine.
But capturing shots with the antique technology is no simple task. While modern professional cameras can snap 20 frames per second, the bulky Graflex can only snap 20 frames total, meaning every shot has to be meticulously planned.
Paul’s unique approach adds a level of romance to Formula 1 that takes the sport from a highly technical automotive display to something even non-Gearheads would find truly beautiful. Take a look at his work below and be sure to follow his publication, Lollipop Magazine, on Instagram for more.
