Headin' for the Panhandle

Packed the Low Rider, kickstand up, heading for the Texas Panhandle.  Early morning rain cleared to blue skies dotted with puffy clouds.  Tail wind north on I25 to Springer, NM.  From Springer following the Santa Fe Trail to Clayton, NM.  Dropped south to Dalhart, TX into the great Panhandle.  Hamburger highway to Dalhart = thousands of hamburgers on the hoof.  Spending the next 5 days zig zagging across the Texas Panhandle riding the black ribbon of highway into towns lost in history.  Working with a  Texas photographer, riding, exploring, making photographs of yesterday's way of life.  Motophoto Tour at it's best.

Gladstone, NM.  Looking for faces in the strangest places.  Gladstone Trading Post.  High on my list for Green Chili Cheese Burgers.  

Kickstand down in Dalhart.  Bagged my seat.  Rain tonight.  For all you bikers...be sure to add "key to bike" on your check list before heading out of town.

be strong, be safe, Carlan 

Expressive Black and White Landscape Workshop:

Several years ago working on a commercial photography assignment I was asked a question which has stuck with me ever since.  The question?   What’s in your tool kit?  In other words, what do you need to get the job done?  A camera is a tool, and a powerful one at that.  It’s not so much about the camera, but how it’s used.  Good photographs require the photographer to slow down, see, and personally express the world in front of them. 
 

Landscape photography is formed by the point of view of the photographer; it is a spiritual experience, the reflection of a culture. Historically, the great masters of black-and-white landscape used large-format cameras and traditional film processes. Now advances in digital technology have opened new opportunities for photographers who wish to explore the aesthetic and technical aspects of digital black-and-white landscapes. 

In this workshop we take the time to see and fully express the spirit of the black-and-white landscape as we discover a place and the secrets of its beauty. We consider the concept of landscape and how it is connected to the cultural, social, and geographical aspects of our environment.

 

Join me November 2-6 at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops in Santa Fe, NM for Expressive Black and White Landscape Photography. More information here:

 

be strong, be safe, Carlan

Flattest Camera in the West

Harley-Davidson HOG member?  Check out the Flattest Camera in the West feature article both on-line and in print.  Some fun pointers on capturing the ride with you phone!

be strong, be safe, Carlan

Sorting it Out...Putting it Together

There are times when life's experiences seem like a puzzle.  Often wondering how the pieces fit together.  Ridin' the open road is the medicine needed to sort it out.  Week home from Sturgis now.  All the pieces fitting together.  Every morning on the way to and from Sturgis as well as during Sturgis never ate breakfast alone.  Had good conversation and meals with bikers from California, Iowa, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, Nebraska, Illinois, Australia, and Scotland.  It's all about the conversation.  Sharing stories with folks across the country.  Where you from?  What's the weather like in your part of the country?  You can learn a lot.  Helps to fit the pieces together.  It's what riding' the open road is all about.

Kickstand down in Santa Fe...not for long.

be strong, be safe, Carlan

Two lane highway from Sturgis:

Left Rapid City this morning under blue skies with the wind on my back.  Decided to take the back roads through the Badlands across the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Few miles out of Rapid City the traffic disappeared.  The thousands of bikers and rumbles of V-twins began to fade like old paint on a 50's Harley.  Thump of my bike's motor became one with the rhythm of my heart.

Entering the Pine Ridge Reservation it was clear to understand the Lakota People's call... "Save Our Land".  The road reached out to the land.  The land to the sky.  The sky to the clouds.

Slowing, breaking to a stop, looking up, clouds wrapped around a hilltop knoll.  Low wire fence encircles a mass grave site.  Wounded Knee.  I have visited here many times.  Each time stopping to pay respect to the brave Lakota women, children, and elders whose spirits are present.

Into Nebraska stayed on the back roads.  Smooth two lane.  Rolling sand hills.  Dotted with ranches and farms.  Found a rest area with full services including WiFi.  Standing at the rest area a lonely car pulls to a stop.  A family from Scotland touring the US.  "Is this actually an authorized highway rest area?"  Yes, I reply with a smile, "you may not find another one like this for miles". 

Just outside of Alliance, NE  short stop to record the wonders of Carhedge.  Motorhead art at it's best.

Kickstand down in Bridgeport, NE tonight.  Perfect day riding with the wind, embracing the freedom of the open road, remembering the history of our country.

be strong, be safe, Carlan

Wrappin' it up at Sturgis "75"

Streets were full every day by 8AM 

 You can always tell an official photographer by his hat

"Issy" was busy all week making magic with ink on skin 

Kings of the Road

Baring it for a biker from Barre

Important historical information

 

Ridin' in style

Leavin' Sturgis behind

Kickstand up in the morning.  Rolling on the throttle.  Heading for home.  It was a very good Rally.

be strong, be safe, Carlan

Sturgis 2015 Takin' It To The Streets:

Talking with some of the locals today in Sturgis the word on the streets is the 75th Rally may break 1.8 million bikers.  No exact figures yet.  From what I saw it would not surprise me.  By 7 AM the streets were full of bikes, parking filled up quickly.

Roamed the streets all day.  Met so many great folks.

 What a bucket list...and ink to match.  Better yet was her big engaging smile.

 Visited with old friends as they worked their daily art.

 "In Memory of My Dad"

 Hard to chain this bull down.

 Old School Choppers.  Desert "DOC" working his magic on repairs.

 Body "ART" at it's best.

 True blue "Harley" from bike to ink.

OK...what can I say...everyone is working the streets to earn a buck.

Freedom of speech...freedom to express yourself...this is what Sturgis is all about.

Inked and proud of it!

No question about his favorite things in life.

Everybody coming together as one.  Doesn't get any better.

A good day to be in Sturgis.

be strong, be safe, Carlan