The Velominati site has drawn out many interesting, talented people these last few years, from frame builders to custom V-bar plug makers. We all know @pedale.forchetta as a Moots riding, bidon cage disdaining Italian cyclist. What’s not to love already… and generous too? From the beginning he has been sharing his photos with us all: the Giro, Milan-Sanremo, Il Lombardia. Luckily for us he is not a professional cycling photographer. For starters he might not post his photos on Velominati so easily. He is not on a moto. He is on foot taking pictures of the Italian fans, police, riders, directors, ex-riding legends and the tifosi’s cars. While most professional photogs shoot the race, Angelo captures the tension and excitement before the race and the emotion and exhaustion after it. He is the best.
His before-and-after photos of Milan-Sanremo 2012 were amazing. He has ridden in a Androni Giocattoli team car during an edition of MSR. His black and white photos on the Muro di Sormano were otherworldly. If he was not a cyclist we wouldn’t know him on Velominati. We might have missed his photography, until Milan-Sanremo 2013. The day of the race he sent a few fast photos to Velominati so we could be there too. Since this MSR, I’ve seen his shots on PEZ and Il Dolore. When the going gets tough, Angelo gets going. Luckily for us all, Angelo Giangregorio was there on that crazy day from Milan to Sanremo.
Personally I’d say these are some of his best photos ever. It was an epic day. I’ve watched some poor quality video of the race, yeah, it was grim, I get it. But no, I didn’t really get it until I looked through a set of Angelo’s photos. There is a shot of Mark Cavendish at the start that is so mesmerizing, it could be in Vogue.
Does being a cyclist make him a better photographer? It has to. He understands the beauty and humanity that is cycling and captures it with his camera. Does being Italian make him a better photographer? Of course it does. He shoots the people at races as much as the racers and his Italian generosity come through in his photos.
I’ll let Simon of Il Dolore say it properly.
The Cycling Photographs of Angelo Giangregorio.
I’ve known Angelo for about three years now ever since I used his photographs on my old website La Gazzetta della Bici. Ever since then I don’t think I have ever seen Angelo take a bad snap. He is by far my favourite photographer and one of the nicest people I know. Italy bleeds from Angelo’s photographs. He not only photographs the sport of cycling but manages to capture the heart and soul of the riders and the fans in every photograph he takes. I always look forward to a new set of Angelo’s photographs not just because they feature Italian cycling but that they always show the very soul of what it means to ride a bike, watch cycling and be aware of the life around us.
Grazie socio, Angelo.
Writing about photography doesn’t work so I’ll stop right now. Look at his pictures. In fifty years from now, when people are looking back to the old days and epic races, Milan-Sanremo 2013 is going to be one of those races and Angelo’s photos are going to be the pictures people remember.
Here is his MRS 2013 flikr set, and make sure you check out his amazing Photo Stream.
[dmalbum flikr=”72157633022136858/”/]
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
The photos are wonderful. This brings to mind something I meant to bring up a while back. Has there ever been consideration given to having a Velominati Gallery?
I am no web designer but have seen many other websites with one. Not sure if could be self posting, or moderated or just a pick of the best V photos.
Or maybe it is just a slightly more expanded version of our Wallpapers section?
Nice piece Gianni and Pedale.....thank you
Il Delore is a cool blog. One of my favourite photos is Coppi and his Alfa, @pedale captures the same 'decisive moment'. He definitely knows his zucchini.
To quote Buck Rodgers: Fuck Graham Watson, the Leni Riefenstahl of Cycling, I'll take Pedele.Forchetta any day!
It might not be my place to award this, but that gets the +1 award of the month. I'll never look at GW the same way again. That is a classic line that had me LOL.
PF's work is stunning - and I work in the art world so I have some knowledge. GW's pictures are just so clinical and dry in comparison.
@Gianni
My problem is I don't have 2 hours a day to soak up and appreciate what he posts. Simon is sitting on a treasure trove.
Many great images, captured brilliantly for sure, all deserving of a spot on the lounge wall...
My favorite (among many) and I'm not sure how to ID the picture, but about half way through the slideshow there is a Europcar chap walking between a couple cars (titled MSR 2013). Not sure if he abandoned or if it's at the finish, but his posture spoke volumes to me as soon as I saw it.
Having complied with Rule #9 from time to time, I find that after hammering yourself for hours and remaining indifferent to the conditions, this is how you walk when you finally dismount.. It takes awhile to straighten up and for the effects of said ride to dissipate...it's subtle, non-Velominati would not even see this, but once you've experienced it - you don't need words to recognize it.
Stu
I've praised PF in the VSR thread but am more than happy to do so again here!
You're photography is absolutely amazing, sir. To say you have a talent would be a compliment for an amateur. What you are doing with the camera is a skillful art. You manage to capture cyclists in photographs as only another cyclist could. You know what to look for and what is meaningful to the lens. That cannot be taught and few have that ability. If you're not currently paid for your photography, you certainly deserve to be.
Thank you for sharing your craft with us.
-Dinan
@wiscot Because those are news shots he's doing. They show a sports event unfolding. They are great for what they do and have their place in history: The man is badass. These are very different, they aren't news shots, and they have far more soul in them.
I'm very stupid about the visual arts so I don't know the appropriate term of art, but PF's eye is all over the scene, capturing all sorts of interesting and beautiful things. A visit or four to his Flickr photostream is time well spent.
What's with the leg warmers on top of bib shorts? I see a couple photos of guys doing that. Oh the humanity!