Speed Kings - Racing Photography by Dirk Behlau
Dirk Behlau is one of Germany´s foremost drag racing, hot rod and pinup photographers. Yeah, it´s a dirty job but someone has to do it. There are people depending on him, ya know? Anyway this book is all photos and no text. There are dragcracers, hot rods, customs and pretty girls allexpertly photographed and presented. The photos were taken in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Hollan and in Las Vegas, USA. For the average american viewer, the european photoshold the greatest fascination because we always like to see what hod rodders are doing in other parts of the world. Turns out, things are much the same, but with enough different nuances to keep it interesting. This is a superb collection of photographs by an excellent photographer.
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Der Review:
"Oh no, not another book!" you say. Relax, this one's different. For one thing, you don't even have to know how to read. That's right, it's all just pretty pictures. For another, the book comes to you from Germany, where they invented the motorcycle and built one of the first cars in history... all the way back in '92 - 1892, that is.
But despite this lofty heritage, gloriously resting on the names Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach and Karl Benz, hot rod fans in that country still venerate good old American kar values: "in the rough is just enough" says the back cover of this neat little book, and that's exactly what you're getting. With 128 pages of beautiful photos featuring everything we love about this sport - hot rods, hot racing, and hot chicks - it is the must-have coffee table book for anybody who has a coffee table or a fascimile thereof.
Dirk Behlau has been making a name (pixeleye, to be exact) for himself in recent years as one of the foremost photographers of the hot rod scene, not only in Germany, but also all over Europe. The 36-year-old professional designer and photog says he works with a broad range of topics and media for international clients and magazines, even no-budget ones like ours.
That's right, our next issue will feature a German hot rod event Dirk shot, just for us (hey, we're not above shameless self-promotion wherever we can get it).
So get the mag, love Dirk's photos, buy his book (published by Die Gestalten Verlag GmbH & Co KG in Berlin) and reach Nirvana in these three simple steps. For a successful completion of Step 3, go to www.speedkings-book.com. If you want to see more of Dirk's awesome photography, go to www.pixeleye.de or www.hotrodhell.de."
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Behlaus Speed Kings
Dragster-Rennen sind schnell, brachial, voller Action. Fotograf Dirk Behlau begleitet die Szene seit Jahren. Seine besten Schüsse zeigt er jetzt in einem prallen Bildband voller Adrenalin. Atemberaubender Motorenlärm, die Luft geschwängert vom unverwechselbaren Gemisch aus Gummi und Benzin. Hot Rods und Drag Racer vermitteln eine adrenalinschwangere Athmosphäre, die nicht nur eingefleischte Fans Wochenende für Wochenende aufsaugen. Dirk Behlau, bekannt als autobild.de-Fotograf in Sachen Supergirls, begleitet die Szene der rasenden Viertelmeilen-Geschosse seit Jahren mit seiner Kamera.
Jetzt – endlich – hat er seine besten Schüsse zu einem Bildband zusammengefasst. "Speed Kings" reißt den Betrachter mitten rein ins Geschehen, erzählt fast beiläufig und gekonnt die Geschichten aus Emotionen und Leidenschaft einer ganz speziellen automobilen Kultur. Für Hot-Rod-Fans ein Muss, für Benzin-Verrückte und Foto-Ästheten der Hit. Der Focus liegt nicht auf nackter Technik. Wenn ein Motor im Bild ist, hat das meist ästhetische Gründe – wie eigentlich alles bei Behlaus Fotografie.
Der 128 Seiten starke Bildband sollte dafür Beweis genug sein. Typen, Treffen, Tuning-Idylle – die Welt der Hot Rodder hat eine ganz eigene Ästhtik. Behlaus Bilder fangen sie auf eindrucksvolle Weise ein. Fast alle Motive können auch einzeln in verschiedenen Größen bestellt werden. Mehr dazu auf Behlaus Homepage www.pixeleye.de.
Schöne Frauen und scharfe Posen dürfen bei einem echten Behlau natürlich nicht fehlen: Speed Kings ist gewürzt mit Pinups, die selbstverständlich mit Autos posieren – davor, darauf, darin. Zu haben ist der Bildband im Fachhandel oder im Internet unter www.speedkings-book.com.
Erschienen bei "Die Gestalten Verlag", ISBN 978-3-89955-197-6, Preis 29,90 Euro.
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"Dirk Behlau ist einer der angesagtesten Fotografen, wenn es um Hot Rods, Drag Racing und Pin-Ups geht" - danke Leute! :)
ROCK ON! Endlich ist es wieder soweit...
... der neue Timelesskatalog ist da! Er ist mit 164 Seiten die fetteste Ausgabe, die wir je hatten. Mehr Produkte, mehr Storys über coole Hot Rods, abgefahrene Custombikes, schön gestochene Tattoos und alles andere was die Rock n Roll-Subkultur zu bieten hat! Also ab in die nächste Tankstelle und schnappt ihn euch!
Ihr könnt ihn auch direkt bei uns bestellen. Schickt einfach 4,50 Euro in Briefmarken an:
TIMELESS CO. GMBH
Rostocker Straße 13
68766 Hockenheim
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Weitere Speed Kings Features:
Hombrero to be continued...
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Noch ein Tag bis zum offiziellen Speed Kings Release - auf der "Die Gestalten" Website gibt es seit gestern Abend auf der Startseite einen Teaser zum Buch mit einem kleinen Interview.
Speed Kings
It's a Satanic drag thing you wouldn't understand!
It's not what you think it is. It's pure power, adrenaline, danger, suspense, Pin-Ups, passion and soul. Call it Rock'n'Roll. Die Gestalten proudly present Speed Kings, the hottest publication this summer is likely to see. Speed Kings presents photographs by Dirk Behlau that show the wonderful world of Drag racing.
Dirk Behlaus photographs skillfully capture the primordial displays of power and high-tech, the eroticicsm of machines and the open flirtation with destruction and putting your life in danger.
It was certainly not Jesus who built these Hotrods but dedicated people who create, drive and admire their time bombs like no-one else. Drag racing's individual brand of aesthetics fascinates an ever-growing community of fans all around the world. Drag racing is down-to-earth as well as accessible and affordable. Like we said, it's Rock'n'Roll.
Dirk Behlau has not only landed himself a book signing at a shop in Cologne on 30th of August but also answered a few fast questions concerning the book.
Aren't there already enough books about cars?
Well, it's not mainly a book about cars. It's a book about a special lifestyle. And of course there are old-school Hot Rods, Pin-Ups in it. There are some books about the Hot Rod & Drag Racing culture out there but I have a complete different view on the scenes. It's all about style and emotions.
Are there any Don't-Do-It's if one participates in a drag race?
Sure...tons of it. Far too much to list. But surely you have to know your car and yourself very well. It's a very special world you can't explain to people who have never been to a real drag race. You have to feel it.
What has been the most exciting event you ever went to?
Well, Mopars at the Strip in Las Vegas was very cool but also this year's Kustom Kulture Bottrop with tons of cool old-school Hot Rods, Kustom Kars and great artists was wonderful as well. I was very proud to be invited as an artist to the show.
What do you like most about the races?
The whole experience. I am part of it. I am not a guy who comes to an event, taking some pictures and go home again. A lot of the racers, Hot Rodders and girls became very good friends through the years. It's like a big family. I'm not looking inside the scene from the outside. When it comes to the race it's just unbelievable to see smoky burnouts, hear the unleashed powers from thousands of horsepowers and feel the earth shaking like hell.
What's first: the woman or the car?
Girls and cars fits together in harmony... a nice car looks even nicer with a real beauty. Hot Rods & Pin-Ups are the perfect combination.
What makes a car a cool car?
It should have a soul, it should be unique. My definition of cool is: Don't followother's ideas - make your own stuff, just be yourself.
When did you first fall in love with the subject?
I started my own magazine "Speed Brygade" in 2005 - a digital magazine with the "best-of-pixeleye" photos from the season which was a big success. So it was just a normal conclusion to think about a printed issue in the future. The idea was born in winter 2005 and then the project went its way. I am very happy that my book is published through Die Gestalten Verlag because it is my favourite publisher since years.
Speed Kings will be released August 16th
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