SWEDEN, WEEK 1

Post by Michael Lichter

Written on May 28, 2008

What more can I say about the opportunity of a 3-week visit to Sweden. Catherine had been asking to go to Scandinavia for years, and here I'm invited to be a guest judge at the famous Twin Club Norrtelje custom bike show. Before I got to the club, we had an amazing 2-week tour of the country. Most of the time, we were typical tourists enjoying the amazing landscape and history of Stockholm, the interior area's of Värmland and Dalarna, and the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea but motorcycles crept in. It was also an opportunity to take photos just for fun. We started out in Stockholm, based from an apartment I rented on the internet. We were taken out for a great dinner on our first night by Mark Wilhelm, the previous head of North American motorcycle tire sales at Metzeler, and now the head of Pirelli Tire sales for Scandanavia. By the end of the week, we met up with Sten and Jasmin Lundgren, the owners of a Hogtech custom Swedish chopper that was in my "One World Choppers" 2007 Sturgis exhibition. They hosted us for a weekend at their amazing home in Arboga and a great friendship was born. They took us to lunch at Carl Steimar's place where his Cala's High Performance custom shop is housed on the property of a several hundred year old castle in Eskilstuna. We also visited Peder and Visnja Johansson at Hogtech in Eskilstuna and toured the region around their home.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 17:05. On our first walk-about, a security detail reminds me of a Fellini film they wait for the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, as he tours the Nobel Museum with visiting dignitaries. Stockholm, Sweden.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 20:42. We experience the beautiful light and colors of Stockholm as we walk back to our apartment after dinner in Gamla Stan. Stockholm, Sweden.

Thursday, May 22, 2008, 14:47. Catherine walks up to the entrance of the Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace) & Museum. Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden.

Thursday, May 22, 2008, 22:10. After dinner at Lena's apartment across the river, we were struck not only by the spectacular view of the city but how light the sky was after 10pm. Stockholm, Sweden.

Friday, May 23, 2008, 13:33. Carl Steimar' gave us a tour of the castle that his Cala's High Performance shop is on the property of. This could be the "Blue Room." Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Friday, May 23, 2008, 15:24. Inside of Cala's High Performance shop. The first bike shop I've ever visited at a "castle!" Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Saturday, May 24, 2008, 16:54. Sten & Jasmin with their Hogtech "New-Stalgia" chopper and one of his hotrods. Arboga, Sweden.

Sunday, May 25, 2008, 12:07. Peder Johansson puts the finishing touches on his Hogtech S&S 50th Anniversary Panhead that he will show in Wisconsin. Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Sunday, May 25, 2008, 21:38. I had to stop on this empty road as we made our way back to our hotel after dinner, between Grythyttan and Loka Brunn, Sweden.

Monday, May 26, 2008, 08:54. Swedish hospitality! Catherine helps herself to breakfast in Loka Brunn. It is early in the season so we were two of the five guests staying at this resort, yet look how they put out a spread of fresh breads, pastry, meats, seafood, cheeses, fruits, fresh juices, eggs.... And candles to boot!!!

BIG DOG 360'S

Post by Steve Temple

A couple years ago Big Dog Motorcycles asked if we could do 360 degree shots of their bikes for a web animation, and of course we said yes! It presented a really cool challenge, something we had never done, but at the same time a great new tool for the belt. A lot of ideas were thrown around, some good, come not so good. We finally settled on a wood platform that rotated on a central axis and used equidistant marks on the paper underneath for rotation targets. The final rotation was made from 32 frames and knocked out, below is the raw version on the original background.

One last note, we'd like to thank everyone for leaving their comments on Facebook and MySpace. Since Michael's head is already spinning from the 3 time zones he's visited on the last week, we'd like to ask that all comments be made here on the blog instead of Facebook and MySpace. That way, when Michael's head spins down he only has to check one site to read your great comments. Thanks a bunch and keep 'em coming!!

WILEY-X SUNGLASSES & THE NIKON D3x

Post by Michael Lichter

Written on December 10, 2008

I had a great day scouting and visiting with Jay Allen and Claudia in Bisbee prior to the shoot. Jay showed me around and had plenty of suggestions for the shoot. While scouting and before flying down to join me, Steve surprised me with a call and asked "So what piece of equipment do you want me to bring more than any other?" I told him all I really need are my cameras but he responded with "how about a D3x?" WOW! I've been asking Nikon for this beast for years and just recently, they told me about it and booked me for a shoot a couple of weeks out. Then Nikon decided I could try it out to get familiar with it before the shoot I would be doing for them. With our busy schedule and the holidays coming up, Steve and I agreed we couldn't make a total change without the time in advance to test the camera and process images in our workflow, and we only had one body, so the plan was to shoot with my D3's, and run the D3x through its paces in the real world as we could. Just for fun, I'll just include the D3x images below.

We met up at Caren's Big Sky Motorcycles a bit earlier than originally planned since the weather forecast for Sunday wasn't great. Today was the day to make hay. Caren organized a great group of riders for me that included a good mix of solo riders, and a couple of 2-up's. I reviewed the shoot with everyone, and told them how they would all know each other real well by the time they returned on Sunday. The plan was to beat it down the highway to Mountain View and head south on 83 where we would start shooting. I sat behind Ray, a motor-officer on the Phoenix force. Ray was a rock and the other riders caught on quick. By the time we stopped in Sonoita, it was old hat. Too many great places to stop but we used the bulk of our time in Tombstone where we met up with Jay Allen. It was dusk by the time we pulled into Bisbee, with plenty of shots in the can. Hanging out with Jay on the roof of his incredible place before dinner was a blast. Then off to Santiago's where they had a single long table reserved for 14. They took great care of us (especially when they personally topped off each of our margs with Grand Marnier!) After dinner, we just crawled across the street to listen and/or dance at The Stock Exchange Saloon. It was late but what a fun night. Don't forget, we were working hard!

Saturday, December 6, 2008, 12:57. Jerod hoisted Danielle onto his back during a stop in Whetstone on our ride from Tucson to Bisbee, AZ for Wiley X sunglasses. (The glasses were there!)

Saturday, December 6, 2008, 13:25. Alana and John at a pull-off before getting to Bisbee, AZ.

Saturday, December 6, 2008, 15:12. Jay Allen on the main street. Is that Doc Holiday down the center? Tombstone, AZ.

Saturday, December 6, 2008, 15:31. Lance and Caren together on the main street, although this was the bike Caren was riding solo. (She is quite the rider!) Tombstone, AZ.

Saturday, December 6, 2008, 15:54. Jay Allen riding Highway 84 south of Tombstone, AZ.

Saturday, December 6, 2008, 16:07. The crew riding the hills just north of Bisbee, AZ

Saturday, December 6, 2008, 23:15. Caren and Danielle dancing to live music at The Stock Exchange Saloon, Bisbee, AZ

Sunday, December 7, 2008, 12:28. Jerod and Danielle in Jay's garage before riding into Bisbee, and on to Tucson.

Sunday, December 7, 2008, 14:28. Danielle looks back as we get near Tucson.

Monday, December 8, 2008, 11:34. Michael directing Caren and her son Dan in old town Tucson.

2009 SMOKE OUT EAST

Post by Steve Temple

Last month Michael met up in Memphis with riders heading to Smoke Out East. He rode to their final destination of Rockingham, NC in usual fashion, straddling the back seat of a motorcycle and facing the wrong direction. Why the wrong direction you may ask? To do what he does best, create a visual journal of the day's ride. Along the way they stopped at the Wheels Through Time museum in Maggie Valley, NC to take in some history and marvel at the collection.

Many more photos will be posted to lichterphoto.com in the coming months and we'll notify you know here first.

REBEL ROUSERS AT THE BUFFALO CHIP

Post by Steve Temple

The ninth incarnation of Michael's Motorcycles as Art Exhibit will be held in the new Lichter Exhibition Hall at The Legendary Buffalo Chip. This year's show, Rebel Rousers, Motorcycle Icons that Inspire Us To Ride will run from Saturday August 1st through August 8th and be open 10 am to 10 pm daily.

Here's the official release:

The ninth year of Michael Lichter’s Motorcycles as Art Exhibit puts the icons who inspired us to ride in the spotlight. Rebel Rousers, the official title, has its home in the 7,000 square foot gallery and features the vintage history of the motorcycle attitude. This stunning review of world-class motorcycles, art and movie memorabilia takes visitors through a visual display to recapture some of the original sense of the word “icon” as it refers to symbols and revered images.

On display will be motorcycles, from Captain America and Billy bike to Dave Mann’s Ghostrider, and memorable images like Rollie Free flying down the salt, as well as posters and stills from films like The Wild One, On Any Sunday and Easy Rider. All of the objects in the show have in some way become sacred to bikers. They have inspired -- and will continue to inspire -- the devotion of enthusiasts. In addition to looking back, the exhibit will look at contemporary images and bikes that may be considered iconic to future generations of bikers, such as films from Biker Boyz to The Worlds Fastest Indian, and motorcycles like Jesse James’ “Camel Bike” and Indian Larry’s “Wild Child” BBO bike. The exhibit includes more than 100 pieces that equally define the meaning of icon and make the 9th Annual Motorcycles as Art exhibit a masterpiece.

Rebel Rousers is brought to you by these fine sponsors Interstate Batteries, Metzeler Motorcycle Tires, Progressive Motorcycle Insurance and Spectro Oil. Rebel Rousers will open Saturday August 1st at 10am and will be open each day thereafter from 10am to 10pm. The exhibit is a legendary display and has no cost to attend. Free parking is located at the east gate where the Lichter Exhibition Hall is conveniently located.

Here is the custom artwork and logo created for the show:

NEW WALLPAPER, FACEBOOK & MYSPACE

Post by Steve Temple

You probably read in my earlier post A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER that I'm the one to blame for not changing our Free Wallpaper often enough. Good news, the wallpaper has been changed!! This time around features a sunset silhouette taken at the Buffalo Chip during the 2007 rally, and custom bikes by Keiji Kawakita of Hot Dock and Arlen Ness.

Next, I'd to send a formal invitation for everyone to add Michael as a friend on MySpace and/or Facebook. We'll be using both networking sites to announce posts on this blog. If you don't have a page on either site you can subscribe to our blog using the links in the right column of this page.

Here's a preview of the new Free Wallpaper.

ALL 2008 BIKES ARE ONLINE

Post by Steve Temple

After weeks of blood, sweat and tears (ok it wasn't that bad), all the bikes we shot in 2008 are uploaded and ready for your viewing pleasure. This set includes the balance of bikes shot at the S&S 50th Anniversary plus all the bikes shot in Sturgis. Builders include; Arlen & Cory Ness, Fred Kodlin, Jesse James, Bill Steele, Paul Cox, Michael Prugh and too many more to mention. Click Here and jump right to the gallery. Ride safe.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Post by Steve Temple

We shoot motorcycles (OK we shoot A LOT of motorcycles), and when photographing something that big you need a big light, enter Chimera. Chimera has been producing lightbanks and light shaping products for a loooong time. Over ten years ago they helped Michael create our current location light featured in the video below. That setup has served us very well coming in at just over 50 pounds with a 6 by 12 foot light surface, but it's time to move on. Enter Chimera again with their new F2x line of lightbanks. The F2x is based on the legendary F2 line (pictured below) used to wash cars, planes or whatever you have in beautiful soft light. So what's new with the F2x? It's lighter, packs up smaller, can be setup in the same time as our previous light, and it's BIGGER. With that, I have to throw out a huge thanks to Eileen and Greg at Chimera, they've been a huge help with the modifications we're making. The new light will be making it's debut performance in Sturgis at the Buffalo Chip shooting bike features for Easyriders' family of magazines. Ride safe.

MORE 2008 CUSTOM BIKES

Post by Steve Temple

So today I gaff-taped myself in front of the computer determined to upload the 2nd set of 2008 bikes on lichterphoto.com, and it's done!! This set of bikes is totally comprised of customs photographed at the S&S 50th Anniversary Build-Off in La Crosse, WI. If you're not familiar, last year S&S Cycle threw a huge party at the Oktoberfest grounds in La Crosse to celebrate their 50th anniversary. As part of the show, 50 domestic and international custom builders were asked to take S&S's latest motors and create amazing bikes around them. Michael was hired to shoot all 50 bikes for both magazines and an upcoming book that's at the printer as of this writing. Here's the link and some samples of the bikes. Ride safe.

A LOT OF GROUND TO COVER

Post by Steve Temple

First of all, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Steve Temple and I've been working with Michael since October, 1998. After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a BS in photography I immediately moved to Denver seeking out the best photographers to work for. A few months after arriving I got my first opportunity to work with Michael, which turned out to be a 17-hour day in a functioning dialysis lab shooting for Gambro, a dialysis machine manufacturer. It was by far the longest day I had ever worked, and a serious introduction into how Michael works, which is hard! Michael's full-time person at the time was pulling back from travel so he asked if I was interested in going to a 'bike show'. Of course I said yes, and what I quickly learned was that all those photos I'd seen in my brother's Easyriders magazine were taken by the guy I was now working for. It came as a bit of a shock at first, but with my inaugural trip to Sturgis it became quickly apparent that Michael was entrenched in the biker culture and a seasoned pro at capturing it through a lens. Since becoming full-time here at the studio, my hats have grown in both size and quantity. I manage a steadily expanding 3-terabyte image library, serve as website designer and webmaster (I'm the one to blame for not changing the wallpaper regularly), digital image processor, printer, Mac Genius, framer, grip, etc., etc. Over ten years later and with a Harley of my own, I can say it's been a great ride, and it will only continue.

Enough about me, let's talk about this blog. With Michael's incredibly busy schedule, he's unable to keep in touch as much as he would like through Facebook and MySpace, and that's where this blog comes in. We'll be posting regular updates, photos, behind-the-scenes stuff, and more. Whether Michael is off to Moscow, Russia to shoot a bike show, or giving you the latest info on our upcoming Sturgis exhibition, 'Rebel Rousers' it'll be blogged here! The blog will also serve as a notice of new content added to lichterphoto.com, so I encourage everyone to subscribe using the links provided in the right column of this page.

Speaking of Michael's travel, right now he's in New Hampshire getting ready to shoot Laconia Motorcycle Week fresh from shooting the ROT Biker Rally in Texas this last weekend. Be sure to smile when he points the camera your way!!

One last bit of business before I let you go. Last week we uploaded our first group of custom bikes from 2008 in the Motorcycles Image Gallery. We shot some amazing custom bikes in 2008 from builders Russell Marlowe, Billy Lane, Shannon Davidson of the Chopp shop, Bill Steele and more. We hope you go and take a look at the first batch, the second will be coming soon. Here's a sampling of the bikes. Cheers and ride safe.