For this edition of SYNC’s Photographer Spotlight we would like to acknowledge photographer Michael Crook!   She has been making a name for her self in the pro cycling circuit shooting for Fuji Bicycles, Milani Cycles, and Peloton Magazine. Her latest adventure was shooting a documentary on Italian Cycling for Peloton Magazine. The documentary is titled “The Pillars of Italian Cycling” and here is what she had to say about it:

“I spent many weeks working on this film series while I was in Italy. With the help of Peloton Magazine and many cyclists, race organizers, marketing directors, motociclistas, policemen, kind fellow photographers, my assistant Marco, and my friends and supporters, I managed to tackle the challenge.  I wanted to maintain the unique aesthetic found in my photos, while somehow trying to make my still photography start to move. This was not easy and I learned a lot.”

“Through the daily frustrations, stress, physical and mental breakdowns, and the often technically archaic nature of Italy in general, I found beauty, life, happiness, and pure satisfaction at every turn.  I traveled on trains, in planes, on motos and subways, in cars, in the back of cars, buses, race vehicles, and countless other people movers every day. I ate paninis in train stations, drank espressos on street corners, packed apples and oranges in my camera bags, carried tripods, cameras, microphones, maps, a black backdrop, hard drives, and Davide Boifava‘s book all over that amazing country. Almost always alone. Almost every day.”

“I had a solid and steady goal: To make a film. A film about cycling. A film filled with passion and history. A film that I could call my own. I reached higher than I have ever reached, to dug deeper than I have ever dug. I found strength, creativity and beauty in a world that was new and so very old.”

“I thank everyone who helped me accomplish this amazing feat.  I am very proud.”

“For some of you, this may not be the most interesting of all subjects, but I hope you take the time to enjoy the imagery, the original score by the amazing Michael Ward, and perhaps learn a little about this sport which has become a huge part of my life.”

We would like to congratulate Michael on her success and thank her for sharing this extraordinary video with us!  With that being said, let’s take a look at it!

Pillars of Italian Cycling

Michael also recently shot her first ad campaign for Outdoor Research and has previously shot for Ferrari R3 Motorsports, Heritage Sailing Team, Santa Monica Rugby Club and Trinity Boxing Gym.

To view more of Michael’s work check out her site: http://www.michaelcrook.com/.