Vladimir Rys

A shot of a racing car taken with a long exposure to create streaks of colour across the image.

Canon Ambassador Vladimir Rys enjoys photographing motorsports because it offers him plenty of opportunity for experimentation. This long exposure of a race was shot in Austin, Texas in October 2018. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II (now succeeded by the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III) with a Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM lens at 1/4 sec, f/10 and ISO50. © Vladimir Rys

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Canon Ambassador Vladimir Rys travels the globe capturing one of the planet's fastest sports. Renowned for his impeccable timing and spectacular images, the Formula 1 specialist usually takes around 80 flights a year, following motorsports around the world.
 
Born and raised in Prague in the Czech Republic, Vladimir first picked up a camera aged 13. "My grandfather was a photographer, so I started to play around with his equipment," he explains. "It quickly became my main passion."

While studying photography in Prague, Vladimir was offered a job at a local newspaper. "My boss there was very tough with me, but that was the best schooling I could have asked for," he says. "He opened the door into sports photography for me, and I learned so much from him. I look back on that time as a fundamental point in launching my career."

After working as a photographer for football magazine Hattrick, Vladimir moved to Germany in 2002 to take up a job with Getty Images. "By then, I had won a few awards in Prague and people seemed to like my stuff," he explains. "But Germany was a completely different world and I quickly realised I knew nothing, so I began learning again. The competition was massive within the agency, and that pushed me a lot – we challenged each other every day to go out and capture something new, something unseen.

"I was covering everything and went to three Olympic Games. Every sport has its own character, and you have to be ready to know what's going to happen next. If you see it already happening in front of you, it's too late and you've missed the shot."


Locations: Greece and Germany
Specialist area: Motorsports
Favourite kit:
A close-up of an eye with a racing car reflected in the pupil.

A racing car is pictured reflected in the eye of a mechanic inside a garage during previews for a motor race in Austin, Texas in October 2015. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X (now succeeded by the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III) with a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens at 1/40 sec, f/7.1 and ISO2500. © Vladimir Rys

Today, Vladimir's portfolio is bursting with images of many different sports, but Formula 1 is where the photographer's passion lies. "My first season was in 2005, and I remember going to Australia for the first race," he says. "Suddenly, a new world opened up in front of me. Photographically it was so exciting because I had a space where I could do a nice portrait, I could capture the action, I could be arty, I could shoot landscape – I could shoot anything."

Vladimir went freelance in 2010 and is now based in both Greece and Germany. After 15 years photographing high-speed races, he is still just as excited every time he sets foot on a circuit. "Every track and every race is different," he says. "I'm constantly learning."

Racing cars arrive on the grid for the start of practice.

Racing cars arrive on the grid for the start of practice in Spielberg, Austria in June 2019. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with a Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM lens at 1/1250 sec, f/2.8 and ISO50. © Vladimir Rys

With a string of awards to his name, including being named Photographer of the Year in 2014 by the Italian Motorsport Federation, Vladimir's pictures are known around the world. "It's always nice to get recognition for your work, but that's not why I do it," he explains. "For me, it doesn't mean that now it's time to lean back and enjoy it. It pushes me forward."

As for what's next, Vladimir believes the best is yet to come. "I'm never satisfied," he says. "I constantly look forward to the next race and the opportunity to create something new again. I always hope the next picture will be my best yet."

A racing car is captured against a vivid orange sunset.
Sparks almost obscure a racing car speeding along a track.
Colourful confetti scattered over a racing car with the number 44 on it. A racing team celebrate their win while photographers surround them trying to take a picture. A close up image of sparks flying off the front wing of a racing car. Dust blows up in the wake of a racing car speeding along a red, white and green track. A large crowd is pictured against a gloomy sky during a race at the Silverstone circuit in Great Britain.

What would you say are the key elements of successful Formula 1 photography?
"Motorsport is so fast, but you should go slow. Follow the lines and the shadows and position yourself carefully. Over the years, you learn where you can expect the cars to come off the track, what time they'll come through a particular tunnel and where you can get a nice action shot. That's why Formula 1 is still so exciting for me and I still have the curiosity to find those new shots."

How would you describe your photographic style?
"My style is very graphic; I like to follow the light. I mostly look at light, composition, colours and shadows. As a photographer, you need to put the whole story in one picture. You need to see something that the average spectator doesn't see. You must always look from a different angle, find new positions and be extremely focused on what you're doing."

Do you have a favourite Formula 1 circuit to photograph?
"Monaco is the top circuit for most of the photographers because it's so rewarding and you can get so close to the cars. It's like nowhere else. I also love Singapore. The atmosphere of the night race is so unique. You can play with colours and light and it's incredibly beautiful. One of the most difficult circuits is Silverstone in the UK as it's just flat. It's not as photogenic, but it's such a speed circuit and that's amazing. I like that every circuit presents a different challenge."

What's your advice for staying focused during a long race?
"Always eat before the race starts so you can focus. Also, keep warm. If you feel you're losing concentration, change position, experiment with a new angle, try something different. Get out of your comfort zone and try something crazy. Some races are long, but for me, it's so exciting and the time flies by."

What piece of Canon kit can you not live without, and why?
"I couldn’t live without a 50mm lens. I use a range, from the newest RF version all the way back to the Canon FD 50mm f/1.4. I have also fallen in love with the Canon RF 45mm F1.2 STM. I love the way it handles, that it’s lightweight and the flare you get when shooting with it backlit."

One thing I know

Vladimir Rys

"Technology is always rapidly improving and developing. I've seen so many changes over my career and you just can't ignore that – you must learn to adapt to the new developments and equipment. You need to keep changing your approach, but also stay true to your own style and your own photographic values. Create the picture in the camera, not just on the computer. There are tools that assist you to become better in your photography, but remember that computers are only there to help you. You shouldn't rely on them to create your pictures, because you won't get the same results."

Facebook: @VladimirRysPhotography

Instagram: @vladimirrys

Twitter: @vladimirrys

Website: www.vladimirrys.com

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