WLWielerfotografie | |||||||||||||||||||
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About me ... | |||||||||||||||||||
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My name: |
Wim Lemmens | ||||||||||||||||||
Greatest hobby: |
Cycling sport | ||||||||||||||||||
Other hobbys: |
Gardening, NFL | ||||||||||||||||||
When did it all start: |
1967 World Championship in Heerlen. | ||||||||||||||||||
I was still a kid and my parents took me to the race. | |||||||||||||||||||
The main obstacle De Bergseweg was just around the corner, a 3-minutes walk. | |||||||||||||||||||
Big crowds on hand supporting the Dutch favourite Jan Janssen but he came in second. A real disappointment! | |||||||||||||||||||
Some months earlier I heard my parents talking about a rider that was killed in the Tour de France. | |||||||||||||||||||
But the roots go tens of years back. My dad and his brothers where also very interested in cycling. | |||||||||||||||||||
Immediate after the Second World War they visited all the big races in the region mainly in Valkenburg. | |||||||||||||||||||
The 1948 world championship in Valkenburg was one of the highlights. | |||||||||||||||||||
And when the Tour or the World's (1952 Luxembourg and 1954 Solingen) where not to far away they rented a bus and together | |||||||||||||||||||
with their friends they visited those races also. | |||||||||||||||||||
First race seen on TV: |
Tour de France 1968. Jan Janssen became the first Dutchman ever to win the race. | ||||||||||||||||||
I can remember that we all watched on tv the final outcome of a very tense final stage. What a climax! | |||||||||||||||||||
During the summer vacation I always watched the Tour de France. | |||||||||||||||||||
From the years 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1975 I can still remember some moments. | |||||||||||||||||||
The 1976 Tour de France was the first race that I watched in total on the television. | |||||||||||||||||||
I do remember the world championships of 1972, 1974 and especially 1975 in Yvoir when Hennie Kuiper claimed the title in front of hostile crowds. | |||||||||||||||||||
In the seventies most of the big races were already covered by Dutch television. | |||||||||||||||||||
Photo camera: |
I bought my first camera a Minolta slr. in 1985. Almost Fl.800,-. A that time a lot of money. | ||||||||||||||||||
The spectacular 1986 Amstel Gold Race was the first race I shot some photos. | |||||||||||||||||||
Nobody was interested in my pics; the night before the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded. | |||||||||||||||||||
For almost 12 years Minolta cameras where my working tool. | |||||||||||||||||||
In 1998 I switched to Nikon. From 1995 to 2008 I also had a Bronica medium size camera. A Bronica SQ-Ai 6x6. | |||||||||||||||||||
Some of my best photos ever are made with this very special gear. | |||||||||||||||||||
My website: |
I started my own website in 2005. That was a real challenge then before that time I had never worked with a computer. | ||||||||||||||||||
Now my website contains several thousands of photos. | |||||||||||||||||||
Visit to the races: |
In 1978 I followed the Amstel Gold Race for the first time on my bike. | ||||||||||||||||||
I am still following all the races in my region on my bike. It makes me more flexible and gives me easier access. | |||||||||||||||||||
Early nineties my mobility had increased so I could visit more races. | |||||||||||||||||||
Best professional photographer: |
Graham Watson. Unfortunately he went in retirement at the beginning of the 2017 season. | ||||||||||||||||||
Most interesting races to visit: |
Paris-Roubaix, Tour de Romandie, Vuelta a Espana. | ||||||||||||||||||
Worst races to visit: |
Amstel Gold Race. The race is in my backyard but since the early nineties organisers made a mess of it. | ||||||||||||||||||
Most memorable cycling moments: |
Joop Zoetemelk winning the 1985 world championship title in Italy. What a moment! | ||||||||||||||||||
And that day in May 2003 visiting the Giro d'Italia when legendary Marco Pantani signed several photos I took. | |||||||||||||||||||
He gave me a compliment for my excellent work. 'Bella fotos!' | |||||||||||||||||||
Worst cycling moment: |
Many! | ||||||||||||||||||
How long will it go on: |
I don't know, but when my time has come al photos will be destroyed. I am not Vincent van Gogh! | ||||||||||||||||||
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