Scooter in the Sticks

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

3 Prints Project: February 17, 2008

by 10 Comments

Another week and more film through the camera and darkroom. Three rolls of Ilford HP5 35mm film, one more than my weekly goal. And I actually made 9 8×10 prints. But I’ll burden you only with three that reflect the ongoing winter weather last week that has kept my Vespa in the garage. It has to stop sometime right?

80 plus year old neighbor rides by on his bicycle.

This man rides relentlessly year round. I was standing out in the road trying to decide if I should ride to work. He went by and I drove the car. I’ve lost my winter riding edge.

Bench in park down the road from our house

Apple tree in backyard

I’ve gotten into a photographic flow. Shooting, processing, and printing is easier though the last batch of prints came out of the wash water at 1 AM. I must be reliving my energetic youth. A focus is beginning to emerge that can be best described in words provided by my friend Frank Armstrong — pictures of an ordinary life. After thinking about it that is what I photograph; the ordinary moments and places that appear in front of me as I live each day. I do the same thing with my riding. I ride in the places here where I live. We’ll see how it turns out.


DON’T FORGET!

It’s that time of year again when you can choose the best and worst of the motorcycle and scooter industry. The motorcycle industry is starting to take bloggers and blog readers seriously. Your vote will matter and who knows what that might mean down the road.

To view the nominations and vote click—-> 2008 Riders Choice Awards.

3 Prints Project — February 10, 2008

by 9 Comments

I’ve continued to expose film and it is getting easier. I am almost finished with my second roll for the coming week. That should allow for more time to process and print. These prints were made late at night. My flatbed scanner appears to attract dust that I just can’t see on the glass. The prints are clean but the scans look as if I made the prints in the dirtiest darkroom on the planet…

I made six prints this week. My goal is to make at least three a week. Here they are:

Dawn just before ride to work

Birch trees in front yard at dusk

View into backyard at the end of the day

My friend Paul relaxing at local tavern

Turn out areas for horses

Rock in garden

3 Prints Project Index

by 4 Comments

I’ve been tackling a goal I set for myself to shoot two rolls of film every week. And then process, contact, and make three gelatin silver prints. Work prints. Every week, rain or shine, no excuses. And so far I have been pretty successful. And to add another motivational stick I am going to begin posting those prints here every Sunday night/Monday morning.

I’ve undertaken this work because I have been searching for my next creative direction. I have never planned out my projects. They just appear, find me in some mystical fashion. And they only appear when I’m working, while I’m pressing the shutter in response to something that interests me personally. And when I am engaged like that something will happen. It always does if I am patient.

Below are links to the project posts.

3 Prints Project — February 3, 2008

by 8 Comments

Another week has passed and I managed to shoot two more rolls and make prints. It is becoming easier to get myself into the darkroom and exposing the film is becoming more transparent in my life. It definitely helps that I carry my Leica M6 with me everywhere.

Here are the pictures…

Early last Sunday morning at local cafe
Kim in parking lot

Farm along long route to work

The Three Prints a Week Project

by 17 Comments

For the past couple months I’ve been tackling a goal I set for myself to shoot two rolls of film every week. And then process, contact, and make three gelatin silver prints. Work prints. Every week, rain or shine, no excuses. And so far I have been pretty successful. And to add another motivational stick I am going to begin posting those prints here every Sunday night/Monday morning.

I’ve undertaken this work because I have been searching for my next creative direction. I have never planned out my projects. They just appear, find me in some mystical fashion. And they only appear when I’m working, while I’m pressing the shutter in response to something that interests me personally. And when I am engaged like that something will happen. It always does if I am patient.

To keep things simple I’ve decided to use simple tools. My Leica M6 rangefinder camera, black and white film, D-76 developer for film, Dektol for prints, and Forte Elegance Polywarmtone Plus paper. If something appears and I want to pursue it outside this print project I can use other cameras of materials but for now I don’t want any mental distractions.

Professionally I work exclusively with digital tools. To help separate my professional and personal work I am using film. It is an elegant way to work. The Vespa may find it’s way into some of the pictures but it’s anyone’s guess where things will go. So here are this week’s pictures.

My dog Essa exploring the garden during her morning walk.

Kim stretching

My Vespa in an underground loading dock