Day 20 - Project 365

Life Is a Journey Measured in Miles -

Tonight presented an opportunity to step outside my small box of comfort. (until recently it could have been more accurately described as a match box.) Contrary to popular belief, I am a shy person. I get a laugh every time I tell someone that. It makes me laugh just thinking about people's reactions. I think It might be the beard. It's like a shield of confidence. Its growing pretty fast and i'm afraid that if someone doesn't publish my work soon I'll be looking like our friend Clyde. (well except my beard is 80% black with specs of grey.) My usual suspects would get the night off as my aim was to get one of those gritty and real portraits that let you see into the soul of a person.

So… My beard and I set out to bike night. A weekly gathering of everything 2 and sometimes 3 wheeled. With the help of my trusty side kick and ever reliable light stand of a brother, his son and my mother. We all walked up and down the strip looking for the quintessential biker. I first spotted a man with a long white beard, backwards harley davidson hat and a leather biker vest. Wolf was his name. I'd imagine it was what his friends called him but I didn't ask. We walked over to his bike and after a quick discussion of what I wanted, we jumped right into it. The bright flashing lights quickly drew a crowd in which both Wolf and myself were in the spotlight. This was a good place to get noticed as inquisitive onlookers would ask "whats this for?". My card would be given out along with a quick explanation of what I'm trying to accomplish. With every passing day I find myself becoming more engrossed in this project. I'm loving the interactions with people both in reality and online as well as the sudden and sharp increase of time I get to spend with my friends.

After Wolf, we started to walk back to the car when I spotted a biker and a woman rolling in to the gathering. I quickly thought, now that is the look I was going after. I said, "we have to get him" I pointed and we once again started up the street. I felt bad for Shawn as he had both the 25lb vagabond Battery pack in a backpack, the Avenger chromoly boom pole (15lbs) and the AB800 with Beauty Dish (6lbs) He might as well of been dressed in fatigues with full battle gear on. He really is dedicated to this project. He is almost always willing to lug my equipment around - Thanks Shawn. We make it half way down 2nd Ave. When my mother turns to me and says "I hope you kept an eye on him, cuz I lost him" Just then I spot him directly across the street. I walk over, introduce myself and within 10 seconds I was following the man who introduced himself as Cylde, to his bike. Clyde was a soft spoken, kind man who's exterior was a sharp contrast to his personality. He was more than willing to accommodate me in my efforts to capture day 20. He was even willing to move his bike anywhere I needed it. I assured him that he was fine where he was as I was looking for a tight cropped portrait. I instructed him to sit on his bike and just act natural. He nailed the direction perfectly! I either must be getting better or he just acted natural pretty damn naturally! All in all the shot turned out amazing. A face that tells a story, a portrait that makes you think. Day 20 - Life Is a Journey Measured in Miles.

Lighting:

AB800 Beauty Dish Boomed by shawn over head about 2 feet overhead. 1/8th power.