Reasons to hate Dave P.

Well, here's a few. His motorcycles are not only cooler than mine, but more numerous. Down with Dave.



Aw, Dave. I didn't mean it. Chin up, big guy!

Dave P. is actually a very talented man. He's built more beautiful motorcycles than a man his age ought to have. There's another in the oven right now. Hopefully it'll be up and running and we'll shoot it for a magazine real soon. That is if Dave will talk to me after this.

July 4th in Peru, Iowa = Hot Dang!

Our friend Leah grew up on a cattle farm in Iowa. She asked us to go back with her sometime and kick it farm style for a weekend. We chose the weekend of the 4th. Her brother served in Iraq for several years and so to this family the 4th had a little more meaning.

Fun times. I rode a 4 wheeler, shot rifles, drank gravy from a mug, ate the freshest steaks I've ever had, hung out with Iowa good 'ole boys, and much, much more. Here's a photo walk through the holiday weekend.

Abbie is the sweetest dog I ever met that lives in a barn.

Nothing is more American than an Iowa farm.

Nobody ever sits here anymore.

This whitetail antler was nearly as thick as my wrist!

Kona. We found that she likes to roll in horse poop.

Jack takes careful aim at a charcoal brick.

Boone, 5 yrs, loading his .22 rifle.

Mitch and daughter. She was kind enough to hold his Schlitz while he prepared for another M-80.

Boone between rounds.

Caiman skin boots

Mike is so funny?

Matt and Mitch singing "Folsom Prison".

The boys caught a firefly, or lightning bug - whichever you prefer.

Fireworks out of the back of a Chevy. As it should be.

A few bottle rockets...

Mitch, WD40, lighter + those bottle rockets = the best show going!

Independence is sweet.

Genuine Iowan Ditch Weed - not for smoking, kids.

Pit Bulls need love too.

This is my dog, Lucy. She's a Staffordshire Terrier, which is nearly the same as a Pit bull. Most people cannot tell the difference.

She's by far the best dog I have ever had and continues to win people over. Pits are not bad dogs, just dogs that often get bad owners.

Here's a shot I took of her while we were hanging out on the living room floor tonight.

Another from Black Elm Woodworking

Kris, at Black Elm Woodworking had me photograph a picture frame this week. It is walnut and thus beautiful. It is also for sale. He has a store on Etsy if you have to own it. He'd like that.

More...

New deal.

Work has been slower than I would like this last month, so I have had time to think of things, and hatch ideas. I has occurred to me that I do not shoot enough photos for the sake of fun. I want to shoot things for the pure fun of it. So, I am trying to get better at just taking a camera with me and making fun images where and when I can.

I am going to post them here as I accumulate them. It could be once a week, or twice a day - I am not sure how it will go? Whatever happens, this is the kick-off day.

Image #1 is Rod. Rod is a neighbor of mine who I met because he rides a 1942 Harley. I like old bikes and had to meet him. He is a good guy to know if you like motorcycles - he has dozens of them. Not all pristine, or even ridable, but all cool in one way or another.

This shot is Rod cruising in North Minneapolis. He will be featured in a magazine soon called Greasy Kulture. I do work for these guys every once in a while. Cool Mag, cool neighbor. I took this image while riding my motorcycle next to him. This was the kind of stuff I am referring to; the fun stuff.

Stay tuned for more images of this bike and for random photos that I will be taking per my new deal.

Hitched!

Several weeks ago my sister-in-law got married. The wedding was a very small, intimate gathering of family members. The ceremony was in a little clearing surrounded by woods in east central Minnesota. It was nice. A bit chilly, but really nice.

My new brother in law is a stand-up guy. He (they) lives on a house boat and rides a Triumph Bonneville. He's not bad looking either, I hear.

These are a few shots that I liked. I do not do many weddings, mostly friends (or family) but as I used to shoot a lot of them, I still attract a wedding client or two each year. If you have a wedding coming up, I might be your guy?

Big congrats again, Ami and Jimmy.

Adventure Racing

I've been asked multiple times to join teams for an adventure race, but for some reason or another was never able to do it. I finally got my chance last weekend. Stephen Regenold (of www.thegearjunkie.com) my adventure journalist partner, old pal Stanley (whom I met on North Dakota's Mah Dah Hey trail in '06), and a friend of his, Stephanie embarked on a 6.5 hour race.

First we started on foot, reading maps, orienteering our way to checkpoints. We ran through groves of saplings, swamps, rocky ravines and more. Length: Approx. 6 miles.

Then we were routed to a creek. We hiked/ran up the creek, hitting checkpoints along the way. The creek wound through several huge culverts that were dark and dripping. As if hiking through a creek is not hard enough, try turning out the lights! This was actually a favorite part of the race for me.

When the creek dead-ended at a 80' waterfall, we climbed out of the creek and onto bicycles. We rode roughly 12 miles on the road to a river.

At the river we loaded our bikes into a truck, grabbed 2 inflatable kayaks, paddles, and set off for 6 miles of wet drudgery. Not really. My legs were welcoming the rest and the day was perfect for a paddle. Hot, but not too hot. The water felt good. River was s bit low, so there were some short portages.

Upon reaching the 6 mile point we exited the water and grabbed our bikes for another few miles of road biking that would bring us to Mount Kato - a ski hill that has singletrack trails all over it. We rode 8 or 9 miles of singletrack, hitting checkpoints along the way. Another 4-5 miles of road biking to the finish point.

We were the second co-ed, 4 person team to show, but a missed optional checkpoint bumped us into 3rd when the team behind us made it to the finish with their time bonus. Dern. We had to settle for 3rd place. For a first race, I was happy enough. It was super fun to be in the woods and wild all day. There was suffering and cramps to be sure, but it was too fun to dwell on the negatives.

I might get into another one of these this year - I'll post if I do.

***Not sure who to credit photos to. Someone borrowed Stephen's camera. If you want credit, stand up.

In hind sight...

A few months ago an advertising agency client of mine mentioned that there would be a dress code for an upcoming job. The shoot would be for a pretty formal, professional client of theirs. So, being the dork that I am, I send a few options for them - total tongue-in-cheek style. This was my favorite. It is 80's T.C. I am wearing an ostrich skin (likely fake) leather jacket with shoulder pads and oversized bicep area. Tight pants with a lot of belt loops, tight-rolled of course. A righteous turquoise, tight shirt with pink flamingos. Lastly an attempt to feather what hair I had at the time.

Amazingly the client continued plans for the shoot and has even allowed me to bid on an upcoming job! Lucky for me they have a sense of humor.

Happy Friday, everyone. Enjoy another summer weekend!