FULL SPEED AHEAD

Post by Steve Temple

With only 38 days until Sturgis, Michael and I are full speed ahead preparing for the Eternal Combustion exhibit at the Buffalo Chip. Photographers and artists alike have their own methods for laying out an exhibit. They need to decide what images make the cut, what order they get hung on the walls and even what size they're printed. Michael's method is simple and effective, he makes small prints of every potential image and lays them out on a table. The result is a table completely covered in prints, but permits complete previsualization of the entire show.

Photo courtesy Walter Gemeinhardt

LOTS GOIN' ON

Post by Steve Temple

As you could most likely tell by our total lack of contribution to this blog, we've been pretty busy lately. Here's a (very) quick recap and preview of what's to come.

Michael just came back full of enthusiasm from shooting the Big Mountain Run and got some amazing images. Among the photographic activities, he rode the Tail of the Dragon backwards under the very capable piloting of Chris Callen, and then proceeded to shoot Bean're, Pat from Led Sled and some of their friends navigating foot-clutch big twins through a creek (video). Here are some of Michael's favorite images.

While Michael was rolling through the mountains, I was back in the studio scanning film from the 70's, 80's and 90's in preparation for Michael's Eternal Combustion exhibit coming this August during Sturgis at the Buffalo Chip. This will be Michael's 10th Motorcycles as Art exhibit and 30th year photographing the Sturgis rally. Here's a sneek peek at some of the never before seen images that will be in the exhibit.

March was a busy month as well. After a frigid Daytona Bike Week, Michael was off to Utah shooting a profile on Jeff Decker for HOG® Magazine. He spent 3-days with Jeff as he worked with sculptures, wrenched on bikes, researched his vast collection of motorcycling history for inspiration, and rode the Utah back roads on a Panhead.

Not long after returning from Utah, Michael was off to Germany for the Custom Chrome Europe Dealer Show and AMD Championship Bike Show. He's attended this event for the past 3 years always coming back with images of cutting-edge customs, parties and American builders/industry taking in German historical sites.

That's it for now. Have a great Memorial Day!

ETERNAL COMBUSTION

Post by Michael Lichter

So here it is - the 10th annual "Motorcycles as Art" exhibition I curate each year was announced at the V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati Sunday morning so I can tell you all about it. It will again be held at the 6,500 square foot Lichter Exhibition Hall built last summer on the grounds of the Legendary Buffalo Chip, and like last year, there is no admission fee.

Basically, the exhibit will focus on the explosion of interest and the passion for custom motorcycles seen over the last 30-years. I titled it “Eternal Combustion- 30 in the Wind”, and it poses the question, “How is this passion passed on through time?” by displaying 30 recently built custom motorcycles by 15 pairs of builders tied together by family, respect, friendship or apprenticeship. On the walls, I will display my work (the first time in a number of years) to celebrate my 30th anniversary of attending bike week in Sturgis. The builder teams highlighted within the show include: Arlen Ness & Paul Yaffe, Carl & Matt Olsen, Dave & Jody Perewitz, Donnie Smith & Brian Klock, Eddie Trotta & Todd Silicato, Kevin Baas & his Kennedy High School Chopper Class, Gard Hollinger & Satya Kraus, James & Dave Kaye, Jerry & David Covington, Kirk Taylor & Brian Schimke, Roland Sands & Drake McGillroy, Ron Finch & Gary Maurer, Ron & Hunter Simms, and Sugarbear & Counts Customs.

I hope you all get a chance to see it during bike week when it will be open from August 7th-13th. If you aren't familiar with the venue from last year's "Rebel Rousers - Motorcycle Icons that Inspire Us to Ride" exhibit, this is what is looked like -

FLYING START TO 2010 - DELAND, FL EASYRIDERS APPAREL SHOOT

Post by Michael Lichter

2010 was off to a flying start with a shoot in Deland, FL to update photos for the Easyriders clothing catalogue. As we prepared for what was to be an outdoor location shoot, the Florida forecast was nerve-racking with temps dipping into the mid-20’s each night! As always, we were prepared with everything we needed to set up a studio at Da Vinci’s / Florida Victorian (check this place out for music, drink and antiques the next time you are in Deland – its awesome!!!) and shot a little outside during the warmest hours of the day. Lisa and Tanea of the Purrfect Angelz flew in from CA to model and Melissa Penland arrived with her crew from Easyriders Apparel / Hot Action Sportswear in Daytona Beach with the product. Last minute help with male models came from John Lodi at Bikers Bay who sent Canada Dave over who not only modeled but thinking hanging out with pretty women on a photo shoot wasn't a bad way to end his trip to Florida, so he helped us out for 2-whole days. After a visit to West End Cycles where I'm sure they thought I was nuts asking people to model a couple of hours later, Matt came over to model. Same thing at Addicted To Ink Tattoos but Philly John from came over too. The biggest surprise was when Regina pulled up in her ’34 rat rod with Philly and a huge smile came across my face. She came to give Philly a ride and moral support since this modeling thing can be a bit discombobulating, but before she got out of the car, I knew she would be in front of the camera. Her car and beautiful self were in more photos than anyone! The shoot came off perfect with new locations (we've shot most of the last few years at the Iron Horse Saloon and Broken Spoke in Daytona) and the strong, dramatically lit studio shots will add a new dimension to the catalogue. Special thanks to Tim and Eric who helped out all 3-days barely saying a word, Steve Temple who traveled with me from CO and Billi Jo who got right in there primping and pinning.

Gina with her '34 rat rod in the last seconds of sunlight in the Deland-Deltona Beacon garage.


Lisa hamming it up with a big knocker


Philly John minutes after arriving in Gina's rat rod


Canada Dave with his nephew Cayne


Big Steve took a break from the Iron Horse Saloon



Tanea staying warm in the last rays


Gina and Uncle DC who brought her over on the rainy day


Gina as she looking pulling up in her rat rod - we only had to swap her shirt. 300 CI inline-6


Canada Dave finished off a supposedly warm 2-month trip with his bike in FL with the shoot