Never would have thought I’d make two trips to Missoula within 4 months. Then again, never figured I’d get opportunities to work on such cool projects either. Getting out there just in time to beat the hammer falling that is winter in Big Sky Country. Figures that when I get such an excellent two-part shoot both parts would be in northern climes and that each would be right on the edge of winter. Speaking of which, we’ve been tempting the fates up here, trying to squeeze in the last couple mountain bike shoots in the woods before they go over completely to the frozen wasteland look we have for 5 months. Still some color on the trees, btu not much. It all happens so quick. That is, when it’s not creeping.

Last night, a heavy wind blew all the leafs out of our yard and into our neighbor’s. But they have a tree that looks like it might fall on my car someday. Finally got around to cleaning out a box of film that’s been sitting in my fridge for who knows how long. I’ve been pecking away at it but don’t shoot nearly enough 35mm to merit keeping it. So I’m selling 70 rolls. Go get ‘em. After a quiet month the ivories are starting to get tickled again, looks like busy could be the new black pretty soon.

Hell yes smokes and soda made this country great. Photographic proof right here. And as Sager said, if you can pay $40+ for a carton of smokes, you’re a baller. Where to start with this duo? The image itself pretty much says it all, at least it’s not a mounted jackalope, though.

From Boise, Idaho, a happy accident. We were waiting in this cemetery to shoot a ride that was meant to cut through it on its way out of town. But somehow the group had gotten ahead of us, so we sat there for more than 30 minutes waiting and waiting and waiting. That happens all the time, never stops getting frustrating, but on occasion you do get a shot while waiting. Like this one. Nice morning light.

Yes, yes, it’s the middle of CX season so all shots should be of guys racing bikes, right? Yeah, well, everyone needs a break. Keep it fresh. So when asked to help out and get some shots of major league triathlete Sarah Groff, not riding a bike no less, it was easy to say yes. Of course we got flicked by bad weather one day but her schedule and mine worked out to get another day in before she left for a race. We were treated to a super nice late-afternoon in VT, got like 2 hours of very pretty light before it shut down entirely. And now it’s snowing, damn. Word is she’s going to move to the area, so it might bot ne the last time I shoot her, which is a good thing.

Sometimes when you’re shooting a race you cannot really appreciate what the top guys are doing. Your view is so small, so concentrated, that the bigger perspective is hard to grasp. Like right here: Tim Johnson absolutely railing a turn at the Rhode Island races this weekend. I know he was hitting everything just about perfect all weekend, but, damn, look at that lean. How much confidence and skill does it take to hit that every time? All I got out of my own racing was a last-row start and a 3rd lap flat (goodbye Dugast Typhoon). Still, the 6+ hours of driving were worth it, I think, as some new business may be the result.

I come across some good people in my travels, but none better than this guy, Cole Maness. And this shot has received more comments than any other I took this summer. Who is that guy? Look at him, how cool. Cole’s cool comes through in almost every image you see of him, whether he has the handlebar, the full crazy beard, or is clean shaven. I have no idea where Cole is right now or what he’s doing, but imagining both makes me smile.

Part of the plan is to keep the evolution going, not shooting the same thing the same way year after year. This explains, in part, my waning contribution to the catalog of bike race imagery. But (there’s always a but), since I go to many of the same races year after year I’m in the position to do just that. Gloucester CX for like the 10th year, shot for something like the 8th time. Not the most photogenic race, I missed the good one on Saturday when it was a total bog, but one does what one can. At least the racing was top drawer - Page, Johnson, Powers, Driscoll. For my racing, the less said the better. Turns out you need to train fast to go fast. Speaking of going fast, bam, get on this before they’re gone. The prints look great, the Embro guys really came through on making this happen, thank you to them.