Cyclista
Cycling is more than the Tour de France, doping, and being the fastest. Cycling is passion, cycling is life. The racing scene is like life under a microscope. Success, friendship, betrayal, and heroism. Despite the doping the riders still have to suffer the pain and exhaustion.
As an amateur rider it gives me the sense of speed and dedication. You always set goals to climb higher, ride faster, and further. The joy and thrill of chasing a group of cyclist on a long winding dike road and catching them is enlightening. And I remember many of the rides I made, like some of the finest moments I captured while photographing.
All photographs by Wouter Brandsma
As an ex-cyclist myself, I can totally relate. The thrill of the peloton like you said is awesome. Climbing to the front of the group and having your time at the top and then falling off to the back to recover is certainly a ride. These is a wonderful set and even though I was never a Miguel Indurain I always tried to be best as I can be until I had a fall which kind of traumatized me. I never road again but I still remember all the great feelings it generated. Even being a part of the Banesto team and or climbing the Giro, dreams are dreams, but they are fun. Again wonderful essay here.
Back in the days (I mean before Indurain, because I was more a fan of Delgado anyway) we climbed the small hills in my neighborhood dreaming that we were Bernard Hinault and Luis “Lucho” Herrera. The wonderful thing is that we can witness the dream. We likely don’t ride as hard as the pros, yet we still climb, ride over cobble stones, and decent at 80+ km/h! That is the passion.
Dear Wouter,
I like the way you coupled the pictures with your thoughts about cycling. Two passions floating into each other.
Greetings -
KUM
Thank you KUM!
Hi, Wouter.
You pictures and words reminded me that I must stop being lazy and resume riding again. A hard fall and a lower back pain had put me off from quite some time. It will not be aggressive riding with friends anymore though, but a more laidback cycling with family.
P.S: My laziness kind of envy your leveled plain roads… It’s all ups and downs where I live.
Good ridings and pictures!
Riding is mostly good to ensure that the pain doesn’t increase. I am gradually picking up the pace of three years ago. We unfortunately lack the long climbs, but still have short and quite aggressive climbs.
Oooh, great shots!
Absolutely Fantastic!
Katie
http://katieraspberry.wordpress.com/
I’m not a cyclist….but sure LOVE your photography! All your shots seem to be more works of art than still pictures.
You Matter! Smiles, Nancy
Thank you Nancy. If only I can share and convey a sense for the passion of both cycling and my photography I feel I have accomplished something.
You did, indeed, convey the passion!! Keep pedaling…Keep snapping! You Matter! Smiles, Nancy
Congrats Wouter on making Freshly Pressed today, it seems we both made the front page today!!!
I just noticed it too Duane. Congrats!
I am an endurance runner, and I note each sport has its community and culture.
I expressed myself with my photographs and my non-native language, but in Dutch (and even more so Flemish) cycling has its very own vocabulary.
Wouter, I do not know of any other photographer that has such deep, personal, expressive images. You are truly a visual poet!
Thank you so much for your comment.
nice photography. good work, keep it up.
Thank you sir!
Reblogged this on PHOTOART.
These are really beautiful photos! You should put them on a Pinterest account…everyone would adore them!
Cheers!
Courtney Hosny
http://www.oneweektocrazy.com
I am not on Pinterest, but feel free to share it. There is even a Pinterest share button beneath the blog post. And thank you for your comment Courtney.
Congrats on being FP!
You have a great eye and an interesting perspective. I loved your pics. One of my favorites was the heading on your WP blog. I am intrigued. If I may ask, what’s the story behind the ‘shoe shot’ of the man and woman?
I really enjoy your use of black and white -it brings such great character to the composition of each shot. Anyway, thanks for posting your beautiful shots. I hope to someday take interesting photos. For now, I shoot with an iPhone. Take care.
The featured photograph, the “shoe shot”, was taken last year at the local WWII Market Garden commemoration in the Netherlands. The woman was dressed up nice in ’40′s cloths acting like she felt in love with a young British soldier. A sort of reenactment of the 1944/1945 era during World War II (see more photographs here http://wouter28mm.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/market-garden-commemoration-again/).
Take care too and thank you for visiting my blog.
Had a “bikeE” once, but settled on an old Nishiki cromoly frame upgraded with some 700c rims from a Specialized. I also put a bent seat post on from a BMX shop and a riser “gooseneck” from a mountain bike — a tribute to my youth when we used to mash bikes together from whatever parts we had, sometimes with different sized wheels and such. Don’t ride much, but it works well to train the dog.
We used to mash up bikes too in the Eighties when BMX slowly became popular. Later moved to mountainbiking while still riding my race bike.
I think the black/white helps to put more motion and feeling into the rider and surroundings. Great pics. Thanks for sharing
And it was raining like hell.
I’m an italian “ciclista”, this is life, this is freedom, passion, devotion…
“Devotion”, that is the word I was looking for.
Beautiful shots, congrats on freshly pressed! Are you shooting with film or using software (like VSCO)?
Thank you and I shoot digital, but didn’t use VSCO film presets. Just a little processing technique that can be done in many applications where you can change the contrast curve.
Cool, well shot well edited. Nicely done! Keep up the good work
Beautiful photos! The words completely encompass what cycling is like.
I’ve been meaning to get into long-distance cycling. I think this post was just the ticket for much-needed inspiration. Many thanks!
i’ve never got the hang of bike riding but have always enjoyed media about bikes like these pix and the movies “breaking away” and “the bicycle thief.”
Great cycling photos.
Great post!
Yeah, I love Cycling too, and I agree with you “Cycling is passion, cycling is life.”
Thanks for sharing.
where does one start in cycling? bicycle to purchase?
best of luck of your good work
Beautiful. Sleek, just like a bike. Thank you.
Great photos!
Cycling can be so rewarding… I love the feel of the wind brushing pass
Awesome, Great images. I really like the B&W.
http://m2explore.wordpress.com
Superb images – keep up the good work!
Great photographs for which black and white works well.
Amzing pics..
Hi Wouter,
I really love this set of amazing images. I think what makes them so captivating is your intimate personal involvement. There’s no distance between the photographer and the subject as is often the case. Nicely done!
Thanks Björn! Hope you had a joyful cruise on the Adrianatic.
Pues si, el ciclismo es todo eso y mucho mas…y acompañado de unas imagenes estupendas.
I really like your blog! Feel free to take a look at mine and let me know what you think! Have a great day!
It’s fabulous to see the bicycle and cycling revered in your photos, words and all of the comments! As a former racing cyclist and now a fat tire enthusiast I your work reminds me that the will be no excuse for not going for a ride tomorrow rain or shine! Thanks
great and inspiring pic’s…
I love these pictures, very interesting!
Beautiful shots, I love the details. Your header image is really neat too.
Hi Wouter, I like your digital pictures especially in black! Keep on riding!! Thanks for sharing. Segmation.
I’m just a commuter cyclist so I have enjoying the photography more than the story itself but as commuter sometimes while watching Tour of France, since a live in Europe, you imagine yourself in one of these races climbing the Tourmalet.
But commuter just climb over cars in city…while breathing pollution.
Beauty of cycling – your photos make me feel good. Cycling is a lifestyle… even here in north.
I can’t imagine al the beautiful places that you saw during that travel.
gratz! self portrait while riding, watch out! ;P
I really enjoyed your photographs!!
❤❤❤
❤❤❤ love it!
Great shots. I’m into motorcycles, but it all started with bicycles, which I still ride. But mostly, very nice shots, very nice showing of action, composition.
Yes, cycling is passion, it is life: from a regular cyclist for the past 20 yrs. and still goin’. I’ve been car-free for a few decades. Cycling can become a drug, like blogging.
An old proverb: http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/zen-proverb-on-bicycling/ May you always love cycling and do it often!
Beautiful.
I agree with you on the drug cheats still working very hard – still hate them though. Great photos, very easy to imagine the ride.
Amazing photos, Wouter! I’m an amateur cyclist – used to Race in the USCF – CAT 3. Now I just ride for fun, Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed and thank you for the beautiful photos!
Cathy
Nice shots. Looking for some feedback:
hankbeyer.wordpress.com
Excellent stuff, Wouter! My favourites are top right, and that face, next row down. Adrian
Great shots. Especially ♥ b&w.
Inspires me to take a ride
Some really cool photos you got there
http://journeythroughhtml.wordpress.com/
these pictures are awesome
Great shots and nice style. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful photos! I always wanted to ride a bike but nobody taught me how to use it when I was younger, It sort of awkward to be learning how to pedal at my age now. Cheers to you for making this post to freshly pressed by the way.
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Great work. I really like the black & white imagery here. Really makes you focus on the compositions.
I love your photos in this post…
Your pictures make me want to ride!
You should submit these with some little captions to Bicycle Times magazine. They are always looking for awesome photography. Go through your files and send them a photo story. I know they will print it, and you will get a bit of cash too.
These photos are stupendous. What a excellent photo essay. Great job!
I think people who cycle are extremely cool, wish I had the stamina. We got my son a bike for his birthday, cant wait for him to enjoy the summer riding it. I love your black and white pix. I had a cam when I was younger and took some really cool pix with it.
You have a very interesting eye (photographically)
I just love your photos! P.S. I just bought a bike to zip around Manhattan.
Witnessing the dreams, following the roads, living a rambling life. The essence of cycling in words & photographs, my friend! Chapeau!
All the best & safe travels, Fritsch.
Exceptional work. Excellent use of light and compositions. Keep up the good work!
Zee
Black and white + cycling + European countryside = stunning photography!
wow!