UPDATE: I wanted to post this blog up to the top again not for the promotion of the work, but as a reminder that keep Michael in your thoughts. While there is progress being made, we are very aware of the severity of head injuries as seen in all too early passing of Jules Bianchi. For those that follow F1 and those that don’t, if anything, let it be a reminder to tell those around how much they mean to you.
Michael Schumacher
For those close to me, you know how much Michael Schumacher’s skiing accent and subsequent critical condition has affect me. He is one of my heroes, and my family are of the many Ferrari tifosi (fans) that have cheered him on through the years. Like so many around the world we continue pray for his recovery in dark time.
When word came that his 1998 F1 car was in Scottsdale for an auction, I quit everything I was doing and started to call every contact I had that might be able to get me near the car. It meant too much, for I saw it as a way to show my respect to a legend that I have never met.
Normally at this point I would write a sentiment about the person or subject of the story, however I just don’t have the emotional strength to do so. I will let my photos do the talking and just leave you with this…
Thank your heroes. Be it your father, a friend, a mentor or a public figure. Thank them for them for the drive to aspire, and the strength found from battles won against trials both trivial and dire. Life without them is just an autonomic chemical reaction of synapses and flesh all trying to understand what it is to live lacking only inspiration. What makes a hero lies in the eye of the beholder, judgement matters not to the world but to the individual. The only thing held constant is gratitude.
Thank you Michael. Keep Fighting. Sempre Ferrari.
Blair, I, as a huge fan of formula 1 can say strongly that these are perhaps the best photographs I’ve ever seen a Formula 1 car. Like you, I was shocked by the news of the accident Michael Schumacher and every day look for more news about his condition. It is a slow living and believe that photographing his car must have been a great experience for you. Thanks for doing these photos, they will stay in my memory forever.
My heart is beating faster now…awesome.
Makes me think of that succinct but poignant comment oft repeated by Animal (from the Muppets) – “CAR!!!!!!!!!!”
[…] About the author: Blair Bunting is a commercial photographer based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Visit his website here, his blog here and his Twitter account here. This article originally appeared here. […]
This is awesome on so many levels. Both as F1 fan and photographer i salute you.
Shumi was the reason i started watching F1 racing
[…] About the author: Blair Bunting is a commercial photographer based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Visit his website here, his blog here and his Twitter account here. This article originally appeared here. […]
These are some amazing shots Blair. Kudos and wish all the best to Michael.
Didn’t know you were based out of Phoenix, would have loved to meet you while I was in town for ImagingUSA.
Keep up the good work!
I feel lucky to have gotten the first peeks at these. Gorgeous work, Blair.
Awesome pictures.
Went to Austin Texas couple years back to the GP just for Schumi.
He will pull thru this one alright.
Schumacher is going to win this race, we all fell it.
‘ Thank your heroes.’ It should be easier to do that. I will try to improve that.
Thank you Michael. Thank you Blair.
P.S. Amazing work.
I just saw them auction this bad boy off at the barret Jackson show in Scottsdale! A cool $1.7 million! Something I noticed was the tires were worn all the way down which isn’t the case in your photos. So my question is what did you do for the tires in the photos? Cgi? Or fresh set?
The tires from the auction were a different set.
[…] The rare opportunity to photograph the Formula 1 car driven by my hero, Michael Schumacher […]
[…] of the Maserati Birdcage 75, let’s break down how rare this car is… For comparison, the Michael Schumacher Ferrari I photographed was one of almost 20 that he used in 1998 alone. The McLaren F1 GTR, like the F1 car […]
[…] seat sweating, biting my nails and occasionally jumping and screaming in my living room. From the 1998 Formula 1 car driving by my hero Michael Schumacher to a McLaren F1 driven at Le Mans during the greater years of that racing series, I have been lucky […]
[…] a Porsche is a special experience for me, as I am a racing fan, and Porsche is racing. They are the essence of speed on the curving tracks they have graced around […]
This is my dream to drive like this car.
awesome pictures I really like your post genuinely