44 replies to this topic

[JordanIreland]

Hi All,

I was recently going through some of my F1 books and came across of a book titled: Grand Prix Fascination Formula 1

Link: https://www.abebooks...tion-formula-1/

It’s a fantastic collection of photos from the 60s to early 1990s. It’s a nice snap shot of F1 photography from that timeline from the respective authors.

I’m curious if anyone has any other favourite F1 photography books that you have in your collection?

[helioseism2]

400 Cavalli Nella Schiena

Link

[Parkesi]

Horst H Baumann: The new Matadors - my book for an island

[jtremlett]

Well you really can't beat Rainer Schlegelmilch on the bang for your buck front.  Also worth seeking out his 50 Years of Formula 1 Photography and, if if you want to go beyond  Formula 1, his Sportscar Racing 1962-9173 is the bargain of the century.

 

I'm not at home right now to be reminded of titles.  Also, a number of the books I have are not restricted to Formula 1.  Collections of photographs by the likes of Louis Klemantaski, Jesse Alexander etc. often cover a wider remit.  Generation Turbo by Bernard Asset is a particular favourite.  Darren Heath's Art of Race books have some extraordinary images but the titles are apt. They are showing photography as art not as reportage.

 

Formula 1: The Pursuit of Speed (by Maurice Hamilton) is a relatively recent and relatively inexpensive book worth checking out.  Or Real Racers by Stuart Coding.  Formula 1 by Peter Nygaard has a good review on Speedreaders.info but I don't own it as yet.

[ensign14]

 TASO Mathieson's The Grand Prix 1906-1914?  The photos dominate that one.

[JordanIreland]

400 Cavalli Nella Schiena

Link

 

The image quality of the photos in the book are fantastic.

[JordanIreland]

Horst H Baumann: The new Matadors - my book for an island

 

I was not aware of this book. It looks fantastic !!! Thanks for sharing.

[JordanIreland]

Well you really can't beat Rainer Schlegelmilch on the bang for your buck front. Also worth seeking out his 50 Years of Formula 1 Photography and, if if you want to go beyond Formula 1, his Sportscar Racing 1962-9173 is the bargain of the century.

I'm not at home right now to be reminded of titles. Also, a number of the books I have are not restricted to Formula 1. Collections of photographs by the likes of Louis Klemantaski, Jesse Alexander etc. often cover a wider remit. Generation Turbo by Bernard Asset is a particular favourite. Darren Heath's Art of Race books have some extraordinary images but the titles are apt. They are showing photography as art not as reportage.

Formula 1: The Pursuit of Speed (by Maurice Hamilton) is a relatively recent and relatively inexpensive book worth checking out. Or Real Racers by Stuart Coding. Formula 1 by Peter Nygaard has a good review on Speedreaders.info but I don't own it as yet.

The Rainer Schlegelmilch book really is a steal. The quality of the prints are amazing and the vast majority of the images are very well composed. A real bargain. Thanks for sharing all this info, I'll use it for some exploring.

[Sterzo]

Klementaski and Frostick's 'Motor Racing Circuits of Europe' is still one of my favourites (inscribed from Mummy and Daddy). I applaud ensign14's choice of the Mathieson 1906-1914 book. Then there's the traditional can't-find-the book and don't-remember-the-title volume of twenties photos, showing T35Bs surrounded by goats at scrutineering - but where did I put it?

Modern F1 photos? Weekly Autosport is great. It publishes excellent photos of racing cars racing, not the self-indulgent arty rubbish of some rivals.

[Dave Ware]

“At Speed” by Jesse Alexander. I got my copy in the mid-seventies.
While not a book that is exclusive to photos, as it has a lot of text (very fine text I might add), I have to mention Michael Keyser’s “The Speed Merchants.”

[JordanIreland]

“At Speed” by Jesse Alexander. I got my copy in the mid-seventies.
While not a book that is exclusive to photos, as it has a lot of text (very fine text I might add), I have to mention Michael Keyser’s “The Speed Merchants.”

 

I just saw the front cover of it online. Looks very tempting. Thanks for sharing !!!

[FastReader]

Lots of good suggestions so far. My own recommendation would be the Car Racing series using images from the DPPI archive and published by Editions Cercle D'Art on an annual basis which so far covers the years 1965-1968 (1969 is due to be published during the next month). Here is a link to the 1968 volume which has further links to the other years. The books cover everything from Formula 3 to Formula 1, sports cars and rallying and the picture quality is excellent throughout. The text is a bit minimalist but the images speak volumes for themselves. Good value too at £85 but easily available from people like Speedy Hen discounted to circa £55.

[Steve99]

Horst H Baumann: The new Matadors - my book for an island

 

Superb book. I treasure my copy.

[Roger Clark]

There are far too many to pick a favourite. Inside Track (Phil Hill) and Ferrari in Camera (Geoff Goddard), both with comments by Doug Nye, Janos Wimpffen’s collections of sports-racing photographs, Jesse Alexander’s Ferrari Moments and Porsche Moments are seldom far away. Many of those are expensive but Paul Parker’s In Camera series is still good value. A little more esoteric is Lartigue et Les Autos de Course, a selection of the great photographers racing related work from 1905 to the making of Grand Prix at Monaco 1966. 

[Charlieman]

Not F1, but George Monkhouse's books suggested how post-WWII motor sport would develop.

[kayemod]

One of my favourites is McLaren from the inside by Tyler Alexander.

 

It's full of excellent photos, mostly of people rather than cars, and not dominated by McLaren photos, definitely well up to Schlegelmilch standards.

[marksixman]

Horst H Baumann: The new Matadors - my book for an island

As has been said by others, a wonderful book. Somehow it got to the bottom of a box of books to sell, but I am so glad it didn't get to the top ! The images capture so much more than just the cars and racing - people shots where you just have to know what they were saying or thinking - incidental parts, signs, equipment - total atmosphere.  As a former (very low-level !) racing mechanic my favourite shots are the Honda mechanic's blackboard "to do" list (in Japanese, naturally), the grubby mechanic's hands on the stop-watches, and the iconic names waiting to be loaded onto pitboards.

 

 

r, 

[Nigel Beresford]

Nowadays we are spoiled for choice for on-car (or bike) high quality moving images, but in the mid 80's Chet Jezierski published a volume of superb photographs and quotes from the participants in CART (I know the OP specifically referenced F1, but this is TNF). The book, called "Speed!", included some tremendous photos taking the reader from the construction, design and testing phase, through to racing (and crashing, though nothing distastefully graphic), and include some fantastic on-car shots such as riding into T1 at Indy with Mario in very close proximity to two other cars. The quotes are as interesting and insightful as the photos and it is relatively cheap on Amazon.

 

 

Fully agree with Kayemod about Tyler's 'McLaren From The Inside', but then I would say that wouldn't i? There's a great pic of my late dad and John Thompson putting together the first brace of M7As that captures the magic and energy of Colnbrook in the late 60s.

[Colbul1]

I adore threads like this!  They are always a source of new information to me and I have learned of 2 new books I shall add to my wanted list!  The New Matadors looks most interesting from my immediate searching online!  So, some of my favourite photography books on F1 are;

 

Australian Motor Sport Action by Mike Harding

Automotive Photography by Peter Coltrin

Grand Prix Cars in Camera: 1973-1980 by Fans van de Camp

Ferrari by Mailander and Porsche by Mailander - Karl Ludvigsen and Rudolfo Mailander

Formula One Through the Lens by Nigel Snowdon

Inside the Archives by Jesse Alexander

Ferrari Glory by Gianni Cancellieri

Races, Face, Places: Photography of Michael Cooper by Paul Parker

and Track pass by Geoff Goddard and Doug Nye

 

You may be able to tell, I love a good photobook!

[Arjan de Roos]

Many of the above, but also:

Portrait de Courses, Jean Dieuzaide;

Formel 1 Legenden, Werner Eisele;

Light years, Horst H. Baumann;

Driven, Jesse Alexander.

And several to be mentioned in future posts...

[Parkesi]

„Light years“ is an updated version of „The new Matadors“, bigger format & bigger price! I found it rather chic and do not see a benefit, beside profit for the publisher. The sexy/sixty Zeitgeist of the original masterpiece of the late Baumann got lost completely. Therefore I recommend to go for the old one. Much better.

[ellrosso]

Horst Baumann - The New Matadors for me too. I will never sell that one, just superb.

[MartLgn]

 TASO Mathieson's The Grand Prix 1906-1914?  The photos dominate that one.

That would be my choice, I stumbled across a copy for what I now know was an embarrasingly low price! All the images are taken from the original glass plates apparantly, the richness and depth of each image is gorgeous!

[Sterzo]

I obviously missed out back in the day. There was no way I would have allowed a book with a title like "The New Matadors" anywhere near my bookshelves. Had no idea it contained decent content.

[nexfast]

„Light years“ is an updated version of „The new Matadors“, bigger format & bigger price! I found it rather chic and do not see a benefit, beside profit for the publisher. The sexy/sixty Zeitgeist of the original masterpiece of the late Baumann got lost completely. Therefore I recommend to go for the old one. Much better.

 

 

Fully agree. One of my biggest disappointments lately, the reproduction of most photos totally awful, not doing justice to the photographer.

[Gary Davies]

Not a photographic book, but primarily a history, I would commend "Hitler's MOTOR RACING BATTLES - The Silver Arrows under the Swastika", by Eberhard Reuss.

 

I turned to it in my bookcase instinctively upon noticing this thread.

 

It contains a simply huge number of photographs and just about each one informs the reader of the history and atmosphere of the time. 

 

I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of our sport.

[a_tifoosi]

I was not aware of Horst H Baumann's books. Thanks for the information!

 

I'd go for "Lartigue et Les Autos de Course", published by Motors Mania.

 

And despite not being strictly related to motorsport, I also recommend "Autophoto", the catalogue of an exhibition held in the Fondation Cartier (Paris) back in 2017 that was devoted to the relationship between the automobile and photography.

 

 

Narcís.

Edited by a_tifoosi, 27 April 2022 - 06:43.

[Parkesi]

Glad to get Horst H. Baumann back on TNF‘s radar! As far as I remember he used to be a photographer in advertising. „The new Matadors“ (1961-1965) was his only book on motor sports. For me still second to none! He later became a successful artist, one of the first to work with laser technology. For sure his „point of view“ was different to all the other professional motor sports photographers. That‘s what makes his contribution unique.

[Parkesi]

Forgot to mention: "Gasoline and Magic" (2015) by my Swiss friend Thomas Horat.

The quintessence of this photo archives (75000 pics). They are all amateur pictures from all eras.

A neverending source of interesting motives: http://motorsportfri...s.ch/book/book/

If the book is not available any longer there is a small nostalgic desk calendar each year.

Easy to order and a weekly delight.

[Parkesi]

Change of address: scuderia@motorsportfriends.ch - to order book, to order calendar

[Parkesi]

FINALLY!!!! https://gasolineandmagic.com/

[LittleChris]

Great photos Parkesi  !!

 

Interesting to see the saloon car photo from Monza in 1967 showing a chicane in place prior to the Curva Grande some 5 years before it was used for the Italian Grand Prix. I didn't realise they'd used this before 1972.  Also noticed a picture captioned as Chico Serra and Mike Thackwell in 1979 but it actually shows Serra and Derek Warwick during their 1978 F3 season.

Edited by LittleChris, 29 April 2022 - 15:35.

[68targa]

I had no idea about The New Matador's and agree with Sterzo that I would also not give it a second glance with such a title and the cover design. Plenty of titles already mentioned but I would add -

Peter Coltrin Racing in Colour 1954--1959 - some really evocative images of European and US racing.

Linda Weldon - Road Racing Drivers of the 60's and 70's.- some excellent portrait images (monochrome)

Maurice Louche - Emotion Ferrari Europe 1947-1972. 

Memoirs of a Bugatti Hunter -Antoine Raffaelli. Not really a photo book but has some interesting period photos of (mainly) T35's

[helioseism2]

Two that have not yet been mentioned

 

Formula 1 Racing - The Modern Era by Jose Rosinski, 1974. "Modern" means up to 1973.

 

Grand Prix 1961-1965 - The 1.5 litre days in Formula One - Fodisch/Rossbach/Ruwisch, McKlein publishing 2020

Edited by helioseism2, 01 May 2022 - 17:14.

[brucemoxon]

Portrait of the 60s by Schlegelmilch.



BRM

[helioseism2]

Two more classics

 

The Cruel Sport - Robert Daley

Photo Formula 1 - The Best Of Automobile Year 1953-1978

[Glengavel]

Not an F1 book but Denis Jenkinson's 'Sports Car Racing'.

[a_tifoosi]

Not 100% related to motor racing, but to Horst H. Baumann - author of "The New Matadors" and "Light Years".

 

The exhibition Apropos Visionär. Der Fotograf Horst H. Baumann ("Speaking of Visionary: the Photographer Horst H. Baumann") is currently on display in the new Museum Peter & Traudl Engelhornhaus, Mannheim. Around 600 pieces of his work are presented - they include, among others, his motorsport-related pictures!

 

 

https://www.rem-mann...orst-h-baumann/

 

The catalogue is being published by Steidl (IMHO, a guarantee of quality).

 

Narcís.

[SamoanAttorney]

One title that surely fits this category is Great Drivers by Akira Mase. Published in 1981, it is a great visual history of the late '60 and '70s top-line racing scene, not exclusively F1. It is a high quality book both in terms of content and production.

 

Another that is a mix of memories and photography of the highest order is Bernard Cahier : F-Stops, Pit Stops, Laughter & Tears - he was a major player in the '50s through to the '80s, friends with all the stars and a great photographer.

 

Both are highly recommended.

[LittleChris]

Love the Cahier book. There's a great picture of Fangio drifting a 250F at Ain Diab if I remember correctly

[Parkesi]

a_tifoosi!

Thank you for your information, much appreciated   

Didn`t know anything about the exhibition but for sure I´ll have a look.

Baumann always one of my favorites!  

[Colbul1]

I have just managed to acquire a copy of the 2007 'Jim Clark Life at Team Lotus' book by Peter Darley and I have to say it is absolutely magnificent.  It is an absolutely fabulous book full of candid pictures of the drivers of the era, as well as Clark, and shots of just about everything that Lotus raced.  I mean, who doesn't love a picture of a Lotus Cortina cornering on 3 wheels!

[bradbury west]

Peter’s captions are always so very informative. If you have a chance try to get a copy of his later book. “Pit and Paddock”. A  larger format book, and all the more enjoyable for it, too, it has lots of people shots and informative background  details, not just more cars, and Peter’s recall of people etc is of a very high standard, often with lesser known topics.

Usual disclaimers

Roger Lund

[bradbury west]

Peter Coltrin Racing in Colour 1954--1959 - some really evocative images of European and US racing.

If you enjoy that book, try to find a copy of Pete’s earlier, 1978, monochrome volume, The Automotive Photography of Peter Coltrin,  with commentary by Phil Hill. Very much a reflection of his early 60s life around Modena etc, the tone and content are very much akin to an earlier, very compact  forerunner of the  sublime Phil Hill/ Doug Nye   Phil Hill photo archives books.

 

Off thread a bit by category, I do have a liking for Tony Adriensen’s Weekend Racers, just for what it is, the same way I like Simon Taylor’s HWM history, archive material you would not normally see. 
As someone who just loves good archive material, I would just say enjoy what you like.

Roger Lund

[billwagenblatt]

I would like to add the Car Racing series by Johnny Rives, Manou Zurini to the discussion. The series features images from the DPPI photo agency's archive. Each volume covers a single year. Starting with 1965 and the latest is 1969, each volume is a visual delight. The first couple years are all black and white. IMHO these books just ooze atmosphere. The design team use images that show everything from great action shots to the spectator and mechanics. I was able to talk with the publisher at Retromobile and the book for 1970 is in process.

 

Another would be Racing Through Europe: The Motor Sport Photography of Brian Joscelyne published by Palawan Press. For most of us this is a budget stretcher, but if you enjoy 1950s and 1960s racing this book is a must have. All in color the book is brilliant and brings to life an era so sadly further and further in the rearview mirror.