Jon Nicholson shares the story behind his high-octane motorsports photographs

Macchina is a challenge about pace and the eagerness for automobiles and racing. It’s the end result of a few years being concerned with motorsports, and options venues starting from System 1 to Le Mans, and all the things from desert highway journeys within the US to “banger racing” in an English market city. 

The photographs had been taken all around the world, and the photographs had been ruled by numerous racing occasions and with a theme of the historical past surrounding racing automobiles. 

Throughout my profession, I’ve been embedded with a few of motorsport’s legendary groups together with Ferrari, McLaren, Stewart and Williams, and gained unprecedented entry to main personalities. 

Nevertheless, my focus isn’t merely on personalities however how folks put together for his or her gladiatorial moments forward.

Within the course of, I’ve met folks whose uncooked ardour for vehicle and motor racing is second to none: individuals who journey the world in the hunt for the proper drive, be it in a straight line, round a dust oval or on a contemporary Grand Prix circuit.

I’ve met some who give all the things they’ve simply to race on the weekend, working onerous after which even tougher on their automotive, simply to go that little bit faster. The tales behind their love of racing resonate with me. I love individuals who by no means waver from their objectives and share their ardour and dedication.

Macchina chronicles the liberty, pleasure, teamwork and poetic essence on the coronary heart of this distinctive sport. These are the atmospheric photographs that take you behind the scenes into each facet of the world of motorsports, from the grassroots power of banger racing to the spectacular verve and keenness of Grand Prix. 

As such, Macchina is a social commentary in addition to a singular photographic journey.

Once I was rising up, I had a e book known as At Velocity, by Jesse Alexander, which was printed again in 1971. It was an enormous espresso desk e book, and  I liked the large-format photographs, but in addition that it was in regards to the individuals who drive them, not simply the automobiles. I discovered At Velocity to be an enormous inspiration when it got here to assembling the years of photographs I had amassed for the exhibition, and my very own e book. I had no specific plan, however the story behind Macchina form of unfolded in entrance of me. 

I’ve used Nikon cameras over the previous 40 years, beginning with a Nikon F3 movie digicam and later shifting onto the Nikon F4 and F5. When digital got here alongside, I initially used the D3, D3S and D3X, and with mirrorless began on a Z 7 and Z 9.