Matteo’s Automotive Monogamy Project Pt. 1

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.

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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)