The Back Series: A Pashnit Photographic Essay

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Recently got reminded of this little hobby of mine, when watching the (free) Pashnit Screensaver scroll through it's 4650 photos. Saw this:

Yosemite National Park on Tioga Pass

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Really not important to see the peoples faces, probably even a prerequisite for this sort of photo. However, even though you can't see the riders faces, the photo tells a story.

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Taking this sort of shot is by far one of my all time favorites. I look at this, and I want to jump inside the picture! Where is that?! (It's South Frk Mtn Rd btw.)



Another favorite shot along the same road of Forest Rd 1 - this is Alan btw. (TheMadOtter)

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Sometimes I'll ride with certain people, and we come to a distant view, they get the same look in their eye each time. They just stop and gaze off into the distance unmoving. This was Jim.

Jim at the Rocky Point Restaurant along Hwy 1



Jim along Nacimiento Rd

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Sometimes I even end up as the subject in the photo. Self portrait at Hell Hole Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Not a soul up here.

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Group shot for the Back Series - the Cycle World crew. That's Brian Catterson at left, the new editor of Motorcyclist Magazine, and at far right is David Edwards, editor of Cycle World Magazine. Another favorite. This is Bolinas Ridge Rd just north of San Francisco.

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Sometimes be standing there & I'll see something- the rider that just pauses, seemingly mezmorized as to where I've taken them.

I asked Frank not to move a muscle, and starting clicking away. Goal is to try several angles to capture what he's seeing and feeling. This is Hwy 33 near Ojai, CA in Southern Cal.




And then to try a slightly different style of photo. Note the balance of objects in this one: Bike+road+person=photo.

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Catching riders on their bikes is another favorite, but really difficult shot. Often times, they are stopped, don't know I'm behind them, and just leave at will. Got to quickly fire up the camera (which is around my neck), and get the shot off b/f they take off again. I think these sorts of shot so capture that split-second moment of riding, of what it feels like to be on that bike, that road. In a sense being able to look over their shoulder. Always makes me want to go back.



All takes place in mere seconds. The entire shot couldn't have taken more than 20-30 seconds, and they left as I fired off the shots with the Hayabusa idling beneath me.

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Photographing riders inside the scenery so to speak. This shot, I want to purposely blend the riders into the scenery so you see that first, than just happen to notice the riders. Do that with their position in the shot, and the focal length of the lens. Shot along Scott River Rd in the NorCal Motorcycle Paradise. Can barely see the road along the Scott River.



Same style of shot, but purposely make the riders small in the shot to try to increase that sense of space. Shot along Hwy 108 - Sonora Pass.



Just a good clean photo on the summit on Hwy 299 - Trinity National Scenic Byway.

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Funny how I can bring a rider up here to the same spot years later, and still get the same reaction. Same place as post #3.