Chasing Speed by Mathijs Maasakkers

A Porsche 911 GT3 R races past on the circuit, captured at the very moment when speed almost becomes visible. The bright red and black colour scheme stands out sharply against the dark surroundings, whilst the motion blur in the background emphasises the car’s speed. The large rear wing, the racing livery and the aggressive bodywork immediately make it clear that this Porsche was built for one purpose: to perform on the track.

For this image, speed itself was my greatest inspiration. Rather than freezing the car in perfect focus, I wanted to retain the sense of movement. By moving with the car whilst taking the photograph, the Porsche remains recognisable and relatively sharp, whilst the surroundings transform into long, flowing lines.

The photograph has a dark, raw and energetic atmosphere. The contrast between the black tarmac, the dark background and the bright red of the Porsche gives the image a powerful presence. The motion blur makes it feel as though you can almost hear the roar of the engine and feel the car’s speed.

What I find remarkable about this photograph is that the blur here is not a flaw, but rather an integral part of the image. The crash barrier and background blur due to the long exposure time, whilst the car remains the focal point of the photograph. This creates a strong sense of speed without making the composition feel cluttered.