Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

Riding or Obsession?

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Sitting at home late this afternoon reading a book when I suddenly noticed the fading light, warmly orange streaking across the hilltops and clouds.  Dropping everything, I grabbed my camera and raced to the garage.

I like to think that I love to ride but it clearly isn’t that simple.  And I’ve been a working photographer my entire adult life though I let countless things derail a wide range of photographic opportunities and projects.  I want to make simple assessments of my life and actions but it just isn’t so simple.

Riding the Vespa and making photographs are clearly linked in some unholy manner.  More than one person has referenced my obsessive placement of the scooter in pictures and I confess to a powerful draw to do so.  As I stood in front of Mount Nittany in the fading light I forced myself to make a photograph without the Vespa.

The race was on as I forged ahead in the cold as the indicator flashed 27F on the instrument cluster.  I usually am careful to be warm before departure but this time I neglected to do so and could feel my feet getting cold after five miles.  Not a good thing for someone who suffers from Chilblains, a condition where the capillaries in my feet are easily damaged by cold and can lead to some nasty blistering.

Just one of a few medical conditions foisted on my by bad genetics and age.  But the recognition wasn’t enough to turn me towards the warmth of home and instead I kept riding, searching for some image or experience.  On rides like this I really do wonder about my obsessive traits.  They may account for some of my ability to focus doggedly on projects, at least those that capture my interest.  Things like painting walls or mowing lawns, they don’t attract any of my obsessive powers.

Riding on two wheels has some advantages — in this case being able to navigate around locked gates and other barriers to four wheeled vehicles.

By the time I rode through State College, Pennsylvania I was ready to head home.  The cold had won out over other obsessive/creative desires.  For a moment I considered stopping at Starbucks for tea and some sort of sugar delivery system but decided to ride home where I could wrap my feet tightly in warm blankets.  Good thing too since my feet were almost on fire in a decidedly cold way when I arrived.

Preparations for First Night are underway with an assortment of ice sculptors practicing their craft.  The weather will be more cooperative this year with a bit of cold to keep the ice in good shape for a few days.

So I’m left wondering if I’m driven by a passion to make photographs, and strong desire to ride, or if some other psychological mechanism is at work.  Many riders tell me they enjoy riding, it’s fun and exciting.  This ride wasn’t fun by any definition I use and I don’t think I derived any enjoyment.  I can say the same thing about photography — it’s neither a hobby or an activity to have fun.  In riding and photography I’m driven by something else.  It’s work, at times a burden, but I need to do it.

Something to think about as the year comes to a close…

Non-Riding Days

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I have no fixed formula for deciding when to ride a scooter or motorcycle.  Weather, time, destination and other elements factor into the decision but the mix can be cloudy and inconsistencies develop.  This morning was a perfect example.  Light rain and mild temperatures and I decided to drive.  Safer and easier than riding in snow but I was tired and just not in the mood to put on the gear and deal with the weather.

Any second guessing about the decision were gone by the time I got to town as the rain fell harder.  State College was empty — few people and fewer cars.  Nothing quite as lonely as a college town during the Christmas break.

Last meeting at Saint’s with Gordon this year.  He surprised me by showing up with gelatin silver prints made in his darkroom.  I’m motivated now to finish the repairs to my darkroom sink and produce some prints of my own.  Who knows what kind of photographic work the new year will bring.

Writer-artist wife Kim in her studio.  On rainy days we talk about projects and things we can work on together.  Again, not sure what the new year will bring.

Junior continues to practice the art of guilt, flashing those sad eyes at whoever he can in hopes of inspiring a change in action.

He usually gets what he wants — food, treats, a walk, or a trip up the mountain to run and play ball.  What a life.

As the new year approaches I think I’ll try to be a lot more like a dog…

Chasing the Night

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I’ve had a picture in my head for a few weeks — a picture of the Christmas lights in State College in the snow.  Bad planning on my part let that opportunity slip away as the temperatures soared and the snow melted.  Even so, I rode into town thinking there was still some sort of possible picture to make.  More bad planning — I arrived too early.  At 1:20am there is still a lot of activity on the streets and I just couldn’t get myself or the Vespa in the position I needed.

The bars close at 2am and by 3am things should be in better shape for the picture I want to make.  I’ll just have to get my head around staying up that late or getting up that early.

For this ride it was a pleasure to ride with the temperature near 60F despite a brisk wind.

Rest, Relaxation and the End of a Vacation

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Unshaven, rested, relaxed.  That’s what a week of vacation can do for a person.  My friend Gordon made the photograph, my wife Kim said I looked relaxed, and I know I’m rested and unshaven.  The past week has been an exercise in no plans, no schedule, no goals, no nothing.  I like to think I’m a creature of habit but it’s more likely I’m a creature of circumstance.  With no schedule to adhere to I’ve stayed up ’til dawn, slept past noon, hung out in coffee shops and generally watched the world go by.

And did some Vespa riding.

On days I didn’t sleep past noon I was out in the cold with the dog or on the Vespa.  A week of that was all it took to acclimate to the frigid weather.  Now everything from 20F and higher feels comfortable.  Or at least tolerable.

This image was made on Sunday morning at sunrise with Junior in tow.  A dog offers fine examples of how to embrace life at it’s simplest level.

Junior pausing briefly for me to make a portrait.  Cold enough outside for his breath to freeze over the hair on his neck.  He just walked through the living room, looked at me, and went upstairs to bed. “He know’s the day’s over,” said Kim.  “No more walks, treats or food.  Nothing left but to go to sleep.”

I’m almost in the same place.

It’s been a cold week with snow and ice and have helped thicken my riding blood.  This morning Mr. Pumpkin looked particularly annoyed by the 18F temperature reading as I got ready to ride into town to meet my photography compatriots at Saint’s Cafe.  Neither the Vespa or I uttered a complaint.

Morning has more attraction for me than any other time of day — visually and mentally.  I awake quickly with no need for coffee or tea.  Seeing the sun rise and the warm beams of light lick through the trees continues to cause the heart to beat faster.

Allen Street is still asleep at 8:30 on a Sunday morning.  Plenty of parking and no traffic to contend with is fine by me.

Saint’s Cafe in State College, Pennsylvania.  The holiday decorations have already gone up.  The place seems personal, friendly and like home.

Simple pleasures during the vacation.  Hot chocolate and a few moments alone with my thoughts.

The earlybirds.  In thirty minutes the place will start to fill up and the hustle and bustle will become more pronounced.  Being away from that pace for just a week makes the change seem dramatic.

During the past week the Vespa and I have ridden the familiar tracks and explored some new ones.  The snow and ice have offered an opportunity to sharpen my skills and mind and the time away from work has allowed my batteries to recharge so I can jump head first into some big projects.

And the rides have given me a chance to catch up with old friends if only for a few moments. But mostly I just laid about in decadent sloth.  So much for plans to organize my digital photos or straightening up the garage.  It was far more satisfying to nap, eat, ride play with the dog, hang out with Kim and anything other than be a responsible adult.

Damn, I guess I need to go upstairs and shave now.

View Through My Visor

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Seeing is an intoxication.  Over 40 years as a photographer has not dulled the desire to look, observe, watch.  Riding a scooter or motorcycle has been useful tool in extending that habit, or more likely, obsession.

The ride to and from work continues to provide opportunities to practice with the camera and the eye.  The image above was made on the way home from work, a hilltop I’ve seen a thousand times and still there is something new.  A different hue, tone, or glow of light.  The Vespa makes it possible to stop and make a picture.

Mount Nittany glows like Ayers Rock.  The last few minutes of light as the sun touches the horizon, the odd afterglow as it descends — it’s never the same.  Riding home, winding along the gravel paths used by vehicles attending Penn State football games, there are often views I’ve not felt before.  The Vespa on the center stand, a quick removal of the Canon G15 from under the seat, and then I’m gone.

The house that Joe Paterno built — Beaver Stadium as it appeared on my way to work.  While waiting at a traffic light I pushed the scooter to the side of the road to make this image.  A few seconds of my time and off again.

Just a few of the views through my visor….