McLaren F1
Not every photo shoot goes according to plan. On Tuesday evening, an email arrived from the Boston Cup team, presenting a golden opportunity: photographing the McLaren F1 while WBZ-TV filmed a commercial at one of Herb Chamber’s dealerships in just two days. The McLaren F1 had been my childhood dream car, and the thought of photographing it had been with me since the day I first held a real camera, a Nikon.
Sadly, I had only one day to prepare, and the rush tainted the usual tools and planning needed for an ideal shoot. I anticipated that certain aspects would be challenging, but I tried to maintain a positive outlook about being in the presence of such automotive beauty.
I phoned the dealership seeking more details on the location and setup to start planning the shoot. Upon receiving the dreaded news, discouragement began to set in. The shoot I had eagerly awaited was slated to take place indoors, within the showroom. Anticipating reflections of other vehicles, desks, chairs, and windows, my heart sank as unwanted visuals crowded my mind. The background noise of these elements made me panic, my mind racing to imagine the scene inside. Growing increasingly frustrated and disheartened, I eventually went to bed, only to be haunted by visions of blinding reflections of cars and haphazardly placed chairs littering the showroom.
I rose early despite the lack of sleep, filled with both anticipation and anxiety about reaching the showroom to assess the situation. It's my habit to arrive an hour or two ahead of schedule so I can familiarize myself with the environment and strategize accordingly. While the suggestion to avoid an early arrival was given, I understood that to make the shoot successful, I needed a thorough understanding of both the positives and negatives of the setting.
Upon arrival, my heart sank even further (if that was even possible). The setting was dreadfully unsuitable for capturing the essence of such an extraordinary car.
The ceiling hovered low, illuminated by recessed lighting, while desks and chairs cluttered the offices scattered throughout the room (it felt like the nightmare had come true). Around half a dozen Mercedes were haphazardly positioned throughout the space, their surfaces reflecting the surrounding walls and windows. The glares from the lights made it challenging to find a suitable angle, as every potential shot was marred by excessive glare. It was a scene of utter chaos, a battle against overwhelming light and glare.
After the shoot, I delved into research to find ways to mitigate glare and develop strategies to handle similar situations with less frustration.
Peter, Herb’s trusted associate, was a genuinely friendly person. He guided me through every opening panel, sharing interesting tidbits about the car. Throughout the shoot, he remained by my side, helping me position the car exactly as I envisioned.
The car was stunning, emanating a radiant glow (likely thanks to the lighting). My childhood dream surged to life, allowing me to see beyond the visual clutter of the surrounding light. This car is truly exceptional, featuring a center cockpit layout that accommodates passengers on either side of the driver. The driver's seat is positioned slightly forward of the two passenger seats. Every aspect was meticulously engineered for lightness; even the tools are crafted from magnesium, weighing as little as a Q-tip! Gold was used to dissipate heat from the exhaust, a testament to the no-compromise approach in design and performance.
Upon its release in 1992, this masterpiece commanded a price tag of just over one million dollars. Built to rival a rocket ship, it boasted a top speed of 231 mph with a rev limiter. A mere 106 units were produced, with various versions including the GT (Longtail), LM (tuned), GTR (racecar), and a handful of prototypes (XP).
I managed to pull everything together and produce a fantastic result given the circumstances. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the staff at The Boston Cup for granting me the opportunity to photograph this incredible vehicle. Despite the less-than-ideal location, being able to spend time with the car that adorned my bedroom wall throughout my childhood brought a smile to my face.
