Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa Scooter and Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.

Relativity

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Vespa GTS scooter along snow covered fieldAfter weeks of frigid weather it’s amazing how 35 degrees Fahrenheit can feel positively warm — a nod to relativity.  The scooter spent considerable time in the garage this week but this morning I dragged it to the road.  Nice ride into town to drink tea and talk photography.

Ilford Multigrade Fiber package on back of Vespa scooterI had more prints to show today.  The 11×14 prints don’t really fit well on the Vespa.  They ride in a grocery bag hung from the purse hook.  Looking at that sentence I realize why I’ll probably never be a Harley rider.

Self portrait of Steve WilliamsWandering towards Saint’s Cafe I find an opportunity for a self portrait in the window of a local optometrist.  Still not making selfies but maybe this is a step in that direction.

Paul Ruby looking at 35mm contact sheetsPaul Ruby, fresh off a cruise to the Bahamas, inspects the 35mm contact sheets from the past couple weeks.  I notice that the older you get the closer the contacts get to your face.  I’ll have to start shooting larger formats to compensate for old eyes.

Science fiction writer Daryl Gregory makes an appearance at the left of this picture.  I’ve known him a long time now having met him when he and my wife worked together on a writing gig.  He gave her the name, “Fireball”.

Belgian Sheepdog in snowOne of the 3 Prints Project prints from this week — my Belgian Sheepdog Junior on a snowy path at the Pennsylvania Military Museum.  Not sure when this was taken — an image on the last three rolls of film left to be processed this week.  Now I have to shoot some new rolls of film.

Aleta with ducks at Tallyrand Park in Bellefonte, PAThis is youngest daughter and Yamaha Vino scooter rider Aleta inspecting the ducks at Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania.  I think this photo was made either right before or right after breakfast at Cafe on the Park.

Tree at Black Moshannon State ParkA tree that caught my attention at Black Moshannon State Park.  I have many tree photos that caught my eye.

vespa scooter at stone quarryOn the way home, a last stop before a mountain of chores and some editing on a manuscript for work.  For a few moments I considered riding on past the house, down the road, keep going into the afternoon.  But the grown-up side of me took control.

Until next week…

3 Prints Project Resurrected

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Black and white contact sheets from 35mm filmI have a small gray notebook to keep track of the black and white film I process.  Entries include date, number of rolls, developer, temperature, developing time and notes on how the negatives look.  Sometimes there may be a notation on the subject.  Until now the last roll of film developed was in October 2011.  That’s when the sink sprung a leak and how long it has taken me to make repairs.  Obviously it doesn’t take that long to fix a sink.  Life just got in the way.

Slowly working through the backlog of exposed film and getting into the flow of processing — I had forgotten how satisfying the ritual dance in the darkroom can me, the low amber glow, the soft sound of water trickling through trays, the quiet disconnection from technology and distraction.

Such is the attraction of black and white film photography.

Leica M6 camera with Domke bagUsing a film camera is a different experience than using a digital camera.  I like to believe the image is all that matters but I know that’s not true.  A body of work doesn’t spring into existence without a lot of work and sweat.  The tools and processes involved not only affect the final product, but also the worker.  For me, film has always resonated in my personal work.  For the past couple years I’ve wandered away from it.

The Leica M6 has been a faithful companion for over a decade.  It’s simple and reliable, much like the Vespa scooter I ride.

Gordon Harkins looking at prints at Saint's CafeAt Saint’s Cafe this morning Gordon looked over prints and contact sheets, a part of the long sharing we’ve engaged in to help motivate continued personal work.  It’s easy to stop in favor of so many other things but I’m grateful that I’ve continued making photographs for myself for over 50 years.  It just works.

Below are the images I brought to the cafe.

Carl Ector at Saint's CafeCarl is a Saint’s Cafe regular.  I showed him the print and he did not recall me making the photo.  I remember it well; standing outside the window waving to get his attention but he was lost in thought.  Carl told me he must have been working on his Huuduu composition, a jazz-funk piece.  He’s a musician and concert violinist.

Kim Dionis in her Boalsburg gardenMy friend and love, wife and confidant Kim in her garden.  She sees everything.

Aleta De veau at Johns Hopkins Bayview CenterAleta, the youngest child.  She went with me to Baltimore at my last appointment at Johns Hopkins.  I think she was smiling because afterwards we would pay a visit to IKEA where she would acquire some furniture.

 

A New Year, Another Ride, and Another 3 Prints Project Meeting

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Downtown State College, Pennsylvania on New Year’s Day.  The ice sculpture remnants from First Night glistening in the morning sun. The first day of the year was mild for the beginning of January.  Almost no snow so far this winter.  A nice way to begin 2012.  Riding, I was thinking about resolutions. About not making any.

Leica M6 in tow and a box of black & white prints on hand Gordon and I started the year with new prints.  Our 3 Prints Project agreement is to show up each week having exposed two rolls of film and three new prints.  It’s a tough assignment amidst a busy life.

As part of my avoidance of making resolutions I was reading those of others.  Joe Crivelli, author of No Baffles motorcycle blog, had a good set of resolutions for riders titled New Year’s Resolutions — Motorcycle Related.  Good reminders for the road.

Mandoo is a regular at Starbucks.  He and Junior have met on several occasions and have a genial relationship.  Junior could learn a lot from Mandoo.  On command he will sing, or more specifically, utter a long lonely howl.  Seems like an important part of growing up canine.

On the subject of learning I can across a list of lessons learned during the past year written by Bobbi Newman, author of Librarian by Day.  Her list is a good reminder of some of the important things in life and is titled “Looking Back: The 5 Most Valuable Lessons I Learned (or Re-Learned) in 2011”.

3 Prints Project: January 1, 2012

Last week on a morning walk through town.  Shadows and road markings always catch my attention.

Kim makes a lot of photographs with her digital camera with an intensity that I admire and wish I had.  She sees things I miss because I am hurrying on to the next subject.
The front window at Saint’s.  People seem to get lost in things within those walls.
I’m carrying the Leica M6, there’s a roll of film in my pocket, and have a few project ideas in my head.  A good start to a new year.  
Happy New Year!

The Aging Rider

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My father used to tell me “It’s hell to get old”. I’m beginning to understand and move that comment from the joke category in my brain to the section reserved for current events. My friend Gordon recently made this picture of me at one of our Sunday morning print meetings and I see my father. And I’m saying to myself “It’s hell to get old”.

Standing at the kitchen sink last night with a handful of Methotrexate I realized something had changed. Almost overnight I’ve traveled from oblivious through denial and on into acceptance that I’ve become an aging rider and with it all the rights and responsibilities attendant to a change in physical ability.

A week ago I was standing in a hospital gown with my back to a wall while two rheumatologists at Johns Hopkins Medical Center recorded measurements of joint flexibility, pain and range of motion, and finally confirming the diagnosis of my family doctor — “You have psoriatic arthritis Mr. Williams.”

Great.

Aging is a natural, nearly invisible process until it isn’t. And one day a light is turned on and you realize some new limitation has formed, some new element to be managed. And it reaches out to every detail and aspect of living and informs a new life. It branded me an aging rider.

Men live in denial though.  I can’t speak for women.

Two months ago I was deep in it, telling myself that my arthritis would have no effect on my riding. Sitting astride the Vespa was easy and I could ride all day but stopping was another story. The joints in my toes were on fire and walking was a problem. Pushing the scooter onto the centerstand was a challenge. And walking to make a photograph along this winding gravel road in Rothrock State Forest was near torture.

But I ignored it and pushed onwards in the rain.

I see pictures when I ride and especially ones where the scooter plays a role. Standing some distance away from the Vespa, thinking about this shot, I was regretting wandering so far from the seated comfort of my ride. Not yet thinking of myself as an aging rider I rode on.

Fear of aging generates denial. It takes time to acknowledge the fear and more time to understand what the march of time means. Personal dishonesty in this area can lead to bad decisions. An acquaintance comes to mind — a fellow in his early 70’s who purchased his first motorcycle two years ago — a Harley Davidson Ultra Glide. He had never ridden before but was persuaded by a friend that he would love riding.

Whenever I run into him I ask if he still has the Harley. His face lights up and he responds with a bright “Sure do!”. What I’m careful not to ask is if he rides it (which I’m sure he doesn’t) Not long after his purchase he discovered that riding a big motorcycle is not an innate skill and after a few scary moments on the road he parked it in the garage for good.

Denial is a wonderful thing and is helpful in making irrational decisions. I’m not saying a 70 year old can’t ride but I might suggest a different path to the road for a first time rider of any age. The accumulation of years (and wisdom) will quickly raise its case in these kinds of situations.

Back on the road I continued to ride and find opportunities for more pictures. Picking my way through the rocks on sore feet finally illuminated my limitations. I was going to have to change the way I think about my capabilities.

The Death Equation.

I like to think that I’m not the only one doing death mathmatics in their head — calculating the difference in years between your current age and the age of your father or grandfather when they died. I can’t remember when I started doing this but it’s definitely related to aging and a growing awareness of the finite number of days at my disposal. I should add that it’s not depressing or obsessive but a result of an awareness and acceptance of my mortality. And fueled by my latest medical adventure.

Right now the only thing keeping me from riding to work is the fact that the Vespa is in for service. I postponed the work until a time I can meet with the technician to photograph him for a blog post. But soon the scooter will be parked again outside my office like it is in this picture expect the sportbikes will cease to appear as winter descends.

In the meantime Junior continues to keep me busy though our walks have diminished in favor of drives to the part where I can stand in one place and heave the ball across the field for him. He’s a potent reminder of the mobility that I have lost for now. He’s always in motion. I’m always…. not.

The change is something new to manage. Like rain or snow or darkness. As I assess routes and weather I now have to assess my physical state. Reading the current issue of the BMW Owners News I’m impressed by the number of aged riders piling up tens of thousands of miles every year. During murky thoughts it helps remind me that the passing of years doesn’t have to relegate me to the rocking chair, or worse, a trike. Actually, I’ve never ridden a trike. Experience has shown me that I really need to try something before judging it harshly.

A shiver of excitement swept over me as I stood in the road with the Leica. Despite any current physical ailments the road still rolled on ahead. There are more rides to make and things to see. And I’ll view these rides through a new filter…

…as an aging rider.

3 Prints Project: September 16, 2011

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black and white print in darkroom trayAfter months of neglect I returned to the darkroom.  Ritual film development, printing and processing were an unexpected high in an otherwise hectic life.  I’m not certain what changed but I found myself carrying the Leica M6 again, one lens, and an extra roll of film in my pocket.  The familiar actions related to using that camera surged into an excitement that bordered on giddy.  Thankfully I didn’t question my sanity or state of mind and just went with the flow, a re-acquaintance with the 3 Prints Project.

That’s my friend Paul Ruby floating in the tray.  I made a picture of a piece he had in a local exhibit, a large self portrait made while he was in India.  He works and prints digitally since he no longer has a darkroom.Continue Reading