Photoshoot puts Coulthard in the picture.

David Coulthard recently met photographer Michel Comte as part of his round of public relations activities for McLaren sponsor West - something which left him out on a limb and decidedly wet behind the ears....

''I'm a photographer and my whole life is built on memories of pictures.''

So says Michel Comte, one of the world's best fashion and advertising photographers.

''I live in a very visual environment and I am always looking for the picture I haven't done before, in an effort not to repeat myself,'' he continued, ''I look at people and I get an idea about them.''

Those ideas were recently put to good use, photographing David Coulthard away from the race track on a rocky outcrop by the sea in the Scot's adopted home country of Monaco.

''There is no such thing as a perfect shot,'' reckons Comte, ''You have to look and listen. The picture I want to take of David is one that I feel matches him. Actually, I hate to talk about pictures! It's very hard.''

Swiss-born Comte has been at the forefront of the international photographic community since 1979. His work regularly appears in American, Italian and German Vogue, L'Uomo Vogue and Vanity Fair, while his commercial clients include Gianfranco Ferre, Armani, Givenchy, Dolce and Gabbana, Sony, Siemens, Nike and Gap.

A fascination with people, rather than just fashion, has led to a collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross, to whom he is consulting creative director. He is currently overseeing the 'People and Places With No Name' project, set up to help victims of war.

Comte is a lifelong fan of grand prix racing, and has been to several races to get an insight into how a driver operates. Part of this shoot would turn the tables on David, who would be given a chance to stand behind the camera for a change.

''I want to take David into a different environment, and also I would love to have him do what I do and see how people react,'' Comte said, ''The more we get to know each other, the more exciting it will be, and he will also get used to my strange cameras that I use for this kind of work.

''By getting to know the drivers, you start to understand how they see themselves and, that way, you get a different picture to the one that gets taken of them everywhere else. Unfortunately, people get typecast. It's hard at first, because I don't know David. I've been watching him on television in the past and followed his career a bit. The more you know someone, the better you can do, although, sometimes, the first time you meet, you can get an amazing picture as it's like working with a blank sheet of paper.''

Part of the shoot involved using a car and Coulthard was happy to loan one of his prized possessions for this role.

''It's a Mercedes 280SL convertible, made in 1971 - the year I was born,'' said the proud owner, ''I bought it in 1995, and it's nice to be able to use it in this photo shoot.''

Sitting in the car, the West McLaren Mercedes driver admitted that life was good at the moment.

''This is the happiest period of my life, irrespective of the two grands prix I have won so far this year,'' he confided, ''Apart from that, it's the most comfortable I've felt, in terms of who I am and where I'm going in my life and what I need to do to achieve my goal. If I don't achieve it, it won't be because I haven't tried, or because I don't feel I have the clarity of thought to prepare myself for racing and testing, nor be distracted by other elements that can come into your life.''

Comte is evidently very persuasive when it comes to getting the right shot, even persuading Coulthard and model Josie to jump off the rocks into the sea.

''Being a photographer means putting the whole package together,'' he explained, ''I must have photographed over 500 people here and not one picture looks the same. You wouldn't even think they were taken in the same place. Jumping off a rock is a bonding experience. I am literally throwing them into cold water.''

Coulthard was not exactly delighted at the prospect.

''I'm scared of heights,'' said the apparently fearless Formula One driver.

''You don't expect David to feel fear, as he's a racing driver,'' said a surprised Comte, ''It's not a very high rock. What I like about the situation is the vulnerability of his admission that he was not used to doing something like this. He does not have a macho character. He has nothing to prove.''

But Coulthard was prepared to suffer for the sake of art, and took the plunge.

''I think Michel would be a good friend as he has a lot of warmth and passion, and he really understands his way of working,'' the Scot revealed later, ''He shouts commands, but the people with him understand he is simply trying to capture the moment. That element of teamwork is similar to Formula One, where I rely heavily on my mechanics. When his guys give him a camera, he knows it is all set up so he can just take his shot, and when I get my car I need to know it's a hundred percent: different professions which rely on similar preparation and elements of team work.''

While racing cars is second nature to Coulthard, taking pictures was a foreign experience.

''It's interesting, because when I looked through the camera they gave me, I regarded it as a holiday snap scenario,'' he said, ''But when Michel positioned his camera and let have a peep through the viewfinder, it's incredible. It was like looking at a movie through one shot. The finished print can't be as alive as what you see through that lens. They have a real talent, which is why I guess there are only a few top photographers in the same way there are only a few top drivers. If I thought one of the pictures I took was actually used for something, I would love to have it, because it would be nice to say I took a picture of a professional model in a great environment.

''To experience the way Michel works is very interesting. It gives the impression that no one seems to know what's happening, but yet it happens. He has the enthusiasm to create an atmosphere for his subjects. It was enjoyable to be part of the process, but I wouldn't like to do it all the time. I think I'm happier being a grand prix driver. I've really got no idea what this was all about!