Every man needs a hobby. From collecting stamps to axe throwing, there are so many hobbies one can choose from. And, of all the hobbies available, I was stupid enough to pick two expensive ones: photography and cycling.
Yet this post is not about the cash I burn with these money sucking hobbies, nor my frustration from being unable to control my gear acquisition syndrome. It is actually about a project where I was able to merge both hobbies.
“Life of a Road Cyclist”
Is the name of a photo project of mine that was published in Halftone #09 magazine last year. Through photos taken with my iPhone and Insta360 in my training sessions, together with a short written description, my intent was to share with the viewer what makes road cycling so special to me. What goes through my mind when I’m cycling, the passion, the self-discipline. And the suffering.
Since this was published already a year ago, I thought it would be interesting to share it here in Measuring Light.
Let’s start with the intro from Halftone’s editorial team:
“(…) Life of a Road Cyclist by André Ritchie embodies the physically demanding process of cycling, reflected in the raw, visceral nature of the imagery. The intense focus and bodily engagement of the photographer are palpable, as the photographs convey a sense of struggle, passion, and endurance. This methodological approach echoes Helmut and Alison Gernheims’ ideas about photography’s evolution in capturing profound personal and emotional experiences, emphasizing lived experiences and the photographer’s intimate connection with their subject matter. (…)”
Now my project, as presented in Halftone #09.
Act I – Cocooned
Undisturbed by people and things that have no place in this very world of mine, I listen to my body and monitor my performance in numbers shown in the screen. Placed in this physically demanding backdrop, I find inner peace. Present-day dilemmas unfold in my mind. I get solutions in the most inspiring fashion.
Act II – Adulation
A man-machine affair based on pure functional criteria? Truthfully, it is everything but rational. Indeed, it is emotional for it concerns the passion and luxury of exhausting an extraordinary product made to achieve outstanding results through marginal gains. And the sheer pleasure one gets from owning it, using it and contemplating its flattering existence.
Act III – Tempo
It is always a fight, no matter what. Against whoever next to you, friend or stranger. Against whoever in the horizon that you will chase and hunt down. Or just against the clock, when there is no one else.
Act IV – Pain
Physically or mentally, the punishment is ever present. Either resulting from extreme exertion, or from the unfortunate event of an accident. How much you want to endure is something for you to decide. You may stop at any time, but then you may not because this is how it is meant to be. Ultimately, you may just decide to carry on – and beat yesterday.
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About this project
All photos were taken with my iPhone and edited in Photos app. Except in Act IV – Pain, the image with both views of the road ahead (top) and selfie (bottom). These are actually screenshots from my Insta360 footage.
Working in this project, going through hundreds of photos taken during my training sessions, I felt like a photojournalist embedded in a group of road cyclists, covering their cycling routines similar to Stories category in World Press Photo.
But I was both the photojournalist and the cyclist. Dealing with the contradiction of this dual role, after much hesitation I had finally decided to write in the first person. The writing is a bit pretentious, yes. I was not happy with the first drafts that were too objective and technical, more appropriate to a cycling magazine. I gave it a lyrical spin and came out with that.
Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.