Flashlight #5: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch „Rennfieber“
In 1962  Rainer W. Schlegelmilch experienced his first race at the Nürburgring. After this, the young man never lost his fascination for the noisy engines, the heroes in their fragile racing cars and the coolness emanating from many of them. Following the final examination at the Bavarian State Institute for Photography, he opened his own studio in Frankfurt. From 1974 on, he concentrated on Formula 1, the premium class of car races. Schlegelmilch has published about 40 illustrated books on motor sport, has had exhibitions throughout the world and has met the crème de la crème of racing drivers in the respective decades. Hardly anybody else has got so close to stars like Jochen Rindt, Jackie Stewart or Ayrton Senna.

All in all, he has probably seen more than 600 Grand Prix.  His ability to imprint sections of racing tracks meticulously in his memory and to find the perfect lighting mood is considered legendary. That is why he is also called the “Eye of Formula 1” and Bernie Ecclestone presented him with a press pass valid for the rest of his life many years ago.

Brands like Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes and Aston Martin have also employed him for opulent publications. Schlegelmilch’s collection, in particular, is impressive. It comprises far more than 400,000 negatives, slides and digital files of car races all over the world. An exclusive excerpt, including a 12-part special on Jochen Rindt, can be seen as a flashlight exhibition at Atelier Jungwirth from the beginning of June on.

Links
The photographer’s homepage: http://www.schlegelmilch.com/
His Motor Racing Picture Archive: http://schlegelmilch.smcc.de/archive/index.php?automobile=0

Contact
Should you have any further questions on Rainer W. Schlegelmilch or our studio, please feel free to contact us here.

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