I didn’t shoot this picture. It appeared on the Sartorialist, a blog about fashion by Scott Schuman. Schuman is a photographer who writes and has a tremendous following in the fashion industry. Seen as one of the most influential men in fashion it’s no wonder considering he measures visitors to his blog each month in the millions.
New York Magazine had a great story about the Sartorialist, Schuman and his blogger wife, Garance Dore.
His photography attracted me, his ability to see, approach and document an aspect of life that he’s passionately connected to. Motorcycles and scooters make their way into his posts on ocassion and when I saw this one I thought it might be time to share. One of my photographic goals is to make portraits of some of the riders I see on the road. If I ever get around to doing it the Sartorialist will be something I try and emulate.
I admit feeling a bit ruffled and unkempt when I look at his photographs of people, found on the street, wearing what they wear. Not often making my way to Paris, New York or Milan, chances are you won’t see me appear on The Sartorialist any time soon.
Still, it’s worth a look.
I’ve looked in on The Sartorialist now and then for about 2 years now. I, too, love his photography and when a scooter makes an appearance, or a helmet as accessory (!) I’m delighted. I love the color and the sense of style and fun and creativity. It’s play. Life should be more play. And no one should have a steady diet of LL Bean, no matter how much we need it…play a little more, show some style. Nice post!
I’ve been a fan of Sartorialist for some time now. The site is largely responsible for popularizing (though not creating) this style of street photography. It’s spawned a lot of imitators, but part of what makes Sartorialist great is Schuman’s eye. I would love to do a scooter & rider-focused imitation of this myself. Maybe when I get that new camera…
Check out Dmitry Gudkov’s portraits of bicyclists in NYC: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodcough/sets/72157623741274256/
Just saw the post on The Sartorialist with the Cartier-Bresson photos! Wonderful! Does not get much better than C-B.
Thanks… Another place to burn through time.
Tiny Puppetmaster: Schuman is a good photographer and does a fantastic job with the Sartorialist. I look at those pictures and end up thinking I dress like an Amishman….
Eric Almendral: Thanks for the link to Gudkov’s site. I’ll have to go through it tomorrow.
I would like to do a scooter & rider focused series too but not enough subjects around here. I would have to pursue the Harley crowd to keep busy…
Anonymous: At least you didn’t say KILL time!
The relative rarity of unobstructed sunshine in my neck of the woods causes many people to shed clothing at the slightest opportunity— any temperature above 50°F; (as we had earlier in the week) is shorts and tank-top weather. And in a college town, reason enough for young women to appear in public half-naked.
Mr. Riepe would be beside himself, I’m sure. I’m hoping the woman in the picture became familiar with the term “wind chill” following her ride…
__Orin
Scootin’ Old Skool