Featured: Matteo's Automotive Monogamy Project Pt. 1

Matteo’s Automotive Monogamy Project Pt. 1

By Petrolicious
October 10, 2012

Matteo Ferrari is a fashion photographer who has been traveling all over the world from the time he was a child. He is now based in Milan, but his love for cars and surfing takes him to many countries; all he needs to get himself moving are long waves and interesting automobiles.

Here is a Quick Take on him and his photo project.

If you also have a photo spread or story you’d like us to publish, please write us at info@petrolicious.com.

Your name: Matteo Ferrari

Your project: Automotive Monogamy

Where does your project take place? 

So far in Italy and Argentina, but my plan is to go everywhere to find interesting long-term relationship stories between cars and their owners. My next targets are the United Kingdom and Detroit, USA.

Top: Mr. Gerli 1977 / Mr. Gerli 2005 (Italy); Middle: Mr. & Mrs. Marzoli (Italy); Bottom: Mr. J.Bas 1972  / Mr. J.Bas 2009 (Argentina)

Driving or surfing? 

Despite my last name (Ferrari) my love for cars started much later in life than my love for photography and surfing. But my interest in old motors is growing as my project progresses: in addition to my surfboards, I’m now the proud owner of a 1962 Lambretta 125Li.

Filmmaking or still photography? 

I started with photography but I do love both, especially if I can shoot film and not digital, which I luckily manage to do most of the time. But the important thing is to go out and shoot anytime I get a chance.

When did you see a camera for the very first time? 

It was 1978, I was 10 and we lived in Cameroon. My father set up a darkroom in our home, and I was mesmerized by the pictures appearing on the paper. From that day I started shooting pictures and have never stopped. The following year I bought my first camera: a rangefinder Petri.

Top: Mr. & Mrs. Aratari 1981 / Mr. & Mrs. Aratari 2001 (Italy); Middle: Mr. Pearce (Great Britain); Bottom: Santamb Family 1978 / Santamb Family 2005 (Italy)

Who were your mentors?

As an assistant photographer, early in my career, I worked with many amazing and inspiring photographers such as Peter Lindbergh, Barry Lategan, Mario Sorrenti, Enrique Badulescu, and especially Helmut Newton. Working with these masters had a big impact on me. I started working in fashion photography, quit my engineering studies, and moved to Paris.

How did your Automotive Monogamy project start?

The idea came up at a meeting for a magazine, but I soon started working on it on my own. I would look for interesting cars while driving my scooter in the streets of Milan and leave little notes on them explaining my project. Occasionally I would even stop people in the street while they were driving, but I don’t recommend doing that on a scooter in Italy!

What fascinates you most about monogamist car owners? 

The best part for me are their stories: the trips they took and other memories related to their cars. [The cars] are no longer merely modes of transportation but things that play important roles in peoples’ lives. What I also like is a less romantic aspect: the reason some of these people never changed their cars was simply because [the cars] always worked OK, and they just didn’t need to buy new ones. It’s a very unusual attitude in our world, where most people are constantly running after the latest model of everything.

– – –

Check back tomorrow for more photos from Matteo Ferrari’s Automotive Monogamy project.

Top: Giralt Family 1995 / Giralt Family 2009 (Argentina); Middle: Pascuali Family 1968 / Pascuali Family 2010 (Argentina); Bottom: Mr. Caponnetto 1983 / Mr. Caponnetto 2005 (Argentina)

 

Tags
Join the Conversation
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
21 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
beglinux
beglinux
5 years ago

best tips tricks, guides about tech and reviews you can visit the site here https://toptenbiz.com

kalaloda14
kalaloda14
5 years ago

joi the giveaway at https://freevbucks.in for free v bucks online.

nissan juke
nissan juke
7 years ago

Thank you I Have learnt a lot
(http://www.nissanvietnam.net/nissan-juke/)

honda city
honda city
7 years ago

Thank you I Have learnt a lot
(http://www.hondaototayho.org/honda-city/)

Chevrolet Spark duo
Chevrolet Spark duo
7 years ago

This post makes a lot of sense indeed and I appreciate the work
(http://www.chevroletphumyhung.org/chevrolet-spark-duo/)

oto Long Bien
oto Long Bien
7 years ago

i thinks so Occasionally I would even stop people in the street while they were driving, but I don’t recommend doing that on a scooter in Italy! …http://www.hondaotolongbien.org/

Trần Hưng
Trần Hưng
7 years ago

it is a legend never remember … But the important thing is to go out and shoot anytime I get a chance. … http://www.chevroletnewway.org/

Pedro Valente Silva
Pedro Valente Silva
7 years ago

Fantastic project!

David Supple
David Supple
8 years ago

Brilliant – love stuff like this. I’m envious of a climate where your treasured motor doesn’t rust away to dust in front of your eyes…

Horacio Romeo
Horacio Romeo
8 years ago

You’ll notice different license plates in the argentine cars, this is due to a change in the format of them if I’m not wrong in 1995? The older ones had a letter that identified the province, plus the numbers (6 at the beginning and later a 7th one was added, perhaps because they ran out of numbers.) Later they changed for 3 letters+3 numbers, which allowed more combinations, with no regional identification, and recently the Mercosur plates with random combinations of numbers and letters.

Horacio Romeo
Horacio Romeo
8 years ago

Amazed to see the family with the Torino! That came as a surprise, i have the fondest memories of my dad’s 3 Torinos when I still had hair……( a 300s, an S, and the third one a TS ..my first 200 km/h experience…)

Phil James
Phil James
8 years ago

Totally get the commitment to a car, but I’m polygamist. Still holding cars with decades of memories.

Kyle Bollinger
Kyle Bollinger
8 years ago

This is awesome!

Cameron Krt
Cameron Krt
8 years ago

This will be me one day with my silver E46 M3 in manual. Half the reason I got silver is that it’ll always be a beautiful colour. It’ll always show off the lines and curves of Germany’s finest sports saloon.

Cameron Krt
Cameron Krt
8 years ago
Reply to  Cameron Krt

Sergio Gianni Pineda
Sergio Gianni Pineda
8 years ago

This really is inspiring to me. I am 24 years old and i feel connected already to my 86 Toyota. I want to pass on to my kids one day and tell the memories that have yet to come.

José Pinho
José Pinho
9 years ago

oh that ritmo…

GibsonSG
GibsonSG
9 years ago
Reply to  José Pinho

I noticed it was UK-registered – that would have been a Strada over here – and it’s a very desirable 105TC model. I used to pester my father constantly to buy a Strada as I loved the TV advert for them. However, he was devout to his Jaguar’s and Ford Granada’s and would never be seen in a FIAT for whatever reason.

Carlos Ferreira
Carlos Ferreira
8 years ago
Reply to  José Pinho

I love that bodystyle! So much more interesting than the contemporary Golf.

Matija Dagović
Matija Dagović
10 years ago

Mr. Caponetto is obviously from Italy, judging by the old white on black plates from the ’80s on the older photo and the recent black on white ones from the newer one. Just Sayin’ :p

Horacio Romeo
Horacio Romeo
8 years ago

Positively those aren’t argentine license plates. The Fiat in the background leads me to think it is italy.

Petrolicious Newsletter