Places

What is a Cycling Photographer?

The other day someone asked me “What is a cycling photographer? Does that mean you just shoot cycling?”

Well…No. I had to think about that a bit. Just what is a cycling photographer? I like cycling. I shoot cycling. I shoot while cycling. I cycle to inspire me to shoot photographs. I photograph cycling experiences and events. I photograph bike races. I photograph bike rides. I photograph cyclists. I capture cycling moments, both in victory and in defeat. I photograph cycling in hopes of inspiring others to get out there and experience the world by bicycle. I’d like to think the definition of a cycling photographer is all of those things.

The road to Wonder Lake, Alaska – That’s Denali in the background – 1995 or 1996

That image above was taken by someone at a campground on the road to Wonder Lake, in Denali National Park on my bike tour from Alaska to Utah. My friend and tour mate John made it the Eugene, OR while I travelled all the way to Moab, UT to meet some friends and do a Canyon Lands bike and 4×4 tour. It was on this trip that I married carrying a camera with me while cycling.

To help define and answer the original question, I want to share a number of images that I have shared on Facebook over the years. I have thousands of images from around the globe like these in my catalog. These are low res, un edited from how I shared them originally so I apologize that they are not a uniform set. I think they will help add some definition and support what I am trying to say. For me, seeing this stuff together cemented the definition of a cycling photographer. I love cycling. I love photography. I love anything that puts those two things together. There are 50 or so of them so I hope you enjoy the slide show and then head outside to ride your bike or book a trip to plan your next tour or ride.

Click on any image below to go toea Lightbox Slide Show Mode!

Reflections on Seattle

I was fortunate to get to celebrate my friend, and friendships, in Seattle last weekend. It was a short trip arranged by my close friend’s wife. When asked to go I jumped at the opportunity. Any time I can garner time and experiences with these two fine fellas is worth any amount of $$ or energy. Every single time I get together with these folks I laugh. I cry. I learn. I eat fine foods. I drink a lot of coffee in the morning and cocktails in the evening. I leave inspired. Again, my friends, delivered. Thank you boys and happy birthday Brady!

The friendship and our recipe of traveling to a city to explore and photograph is pretty much a proven and known formula at this point. I think we could find interest anywhere. As I reflect on Seattle and our time spent there, I again came home inspired. I again fell in love with the location and what it has to offer. I also came home with some images that I like. While not technically perfect in anyway, I like them for various reasons, one of which was I pushed myself on this trip to see differently.

I also went into it with a bit of prior knowledge as I had been there a few years ago with my wife. I had some places in mind. I went in with a plan to push myself and not just take the shots that one might expect from me if you have followed along at all over the years. I went in with a plan to show some of the many postcard shots in Seattle in a different way. I went in with a plan of printing a couple of specific things and I wanted color and contrast in those images.

While I certainly did take a few of my expected shots, I pushed myself a bit as I was in a beautiful city and what did I have to lose? Nothing. But I had everything to gain. And with that, here are few collections reflecting my personal challenge. These are edited to taste and not reflective of out of camera.

Series 1: Reflections – I have always been inspired by street photographers that layer reflections and shadows on the subject. Consider this an exploration. Some of these are not what you think you are seeing.

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Series 2 – Light and shadows at the Chihuly

Series 3 – The postcard shots….But in my interpretation.

The famous Seattle Skyline

The famous Gum Wall

The Space Needle – Look closely at the layers too!

And lastly, because even though I challenged myself to not just take the postcard shots, I share one that doesn’t fit the series that I absolutely love. One might call it a post card shot from Pike Street Market. It’s not the famous sign but if you’ve been there you’ve certainly seen the beautiful flowers throughout the market.

And with that, I am signing off. Thanks again boys. What a blast. Here’s to planning the next meet up!

Parting Shot: Cocktails before dinner…..And gear talk.

A Gnat Family Holiday Break – Costa Rica!

It’s 2020! I made it another year here at the ImagineGnat blog. Committing for another year. Before I get to both a look back as well a look forward, I wanted to share some pics from our recent trip to Costa Rica with my friends and family. So….Get ready. Heavy dosages of pictures of family and fun.

But first a few words. For the first time in 20 years of marriage we broke family rules and traditions and escaped the cold. We went to Costa Rica as a family. My wife and I essentially captured our kids attention by removing them to another country. As they have aged and they continue to become more independent, we have missed them. So, taking them away seemed to be our only option. To add to the fun, we also didn’t tell them where we were going until we got to the airport.

In all honesty, it was the best thing we have done and I think we all came home happier and closer. I know my wife and I needed that connection time with the kids. We also had a total blast. Activities included hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, zip lining, surfing, slothing (guided tour looking for sloths), horseback riding, sleeping, family games, celebrating and on and on. It was simply incredible.

And with that, I will just share the pics. Hope you enjoy them. Leave a comment if you have a question. Click on any to go to slideshow mode. Thanks and enjoy!

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Gnat’s Ozark Ramble

As I write this, I am buried in work. Not caught up on my fall home owner chores. We had our first dinner as our family unit in two weeks and only the second or third in the past 6 weeks. Life. Is. Nuts. But…..I find myself energized, inspired and at peace.

Why? Aside from the obvious of my incredible family, I am feeling all these things because of last week. Last week I spent an entire week rambling through northwest Arkansas with many friends. I spent last week out there in the world. I wasn’t in an office with days filled with meetings. I wasn’t locked to a computer. Thanks to my incredible wife, I wasn’t at home juggling all the kid duties, pet duties and home duties.

Nope. I was hanging out with like minded folks that I have the pleasure to know and call friends. We were riding bikes, taking pictures, laughing until our guts hurt, wandering, rambling, drinking incredible coffee, eating fine foods, sampling brown liquids, expanding our minds and exploring. I planned this trip starting many months ago. It was exactly what I wanted for the milestone birthday I had just a few weeks ago.

I just want to say thanks to my family for supporting me on this fun filled week as well as all my friends that took their own PTO, took time away from their family, spent their own money to make my birthday special. I also want to thank those friends that just couldn’t make it and sent me good vibes and support too. We’ll see you soon and we’ll share a trail or gravel road sometime! Love you all!

And with that, here are a few pics. If you would like to know more about a picture or place, please leave a comment with a question and I’ll message you back. Hope you enjoy!

Until next time friends. More to come as I prepare for the coming year.

Views from Vietnam, Cambodia and Taiwan

Greetings folks. Just got back from a big, long work trip Vietnam, Cambodia and Taiwan. It was a long few weeks on the road. But an amazing one. I use these trips as a springboard for creativity and use photography to keep me aware, awake and inspired. I often walk and explore where ever I am at, both for curiosity purposes but also to just try to stay awake at night so I can get over the jet lag.

This trip did not disappoint! In fact, I think it brought me some of my favorite travel photography in some time. I usually do not mention camera gear in my posts, but this time I am so smitten with the gear that I had too. I am so smitten with the new little Ricoh GR that I may even write up some thoughts and do a curated gallery of images shot with it. This camera is so small and so powerful. It is a true pocket size camera with a largish APSC sensor. I truly fell in love with this camera and had it on me all times. I set the camera in SNAP focus, preset a focal length, set the shutter speed I wanted for the desired effect and just let the camera choose ISO. I had it with me all the time and it became an extension of my hand.

All but two of these shots were taken on the GR and transferred to my iPhone for processing. My processing included adding grain to the images so please do not hold that against the little GR. Many are taken while moving in a car or van/bus or walking. I wanted to try to mimic the constant motion and movement we had on this trip. I then uploaded them and wrote this post while on my 18 hour journey home. Modern technology is amazing. I knew if I waited too long, I’d get caught up in something else and it would be months before I posted anything.

As always, click on any image to go to slideshow mode. I just did a large slideshow. Sorry that I did not break out pics from each location. Please leave a comment if you have any questions?! Hope you enjoy the pics and this little sneak peek into my world of travel.