Denali - In full view

I sat down to write about this past weekend where my wife and I attended a retreat out near Red Wing Minnesota. I wanted to write about the vastness of the silence of the villa as well as the peace and joy I experienced while away. However, when I sat down to write I saw the new film & slide scanner sitting next to my computer and I jumped into digging through old boxes of film and slides. That's how my simple mind works and wonders.

I immediately went back to my old Alaska to Utah bike tour of the 90's. I shot color slides and black & white film. I have done little with these precious images and memories. In fact, I bet I've only printed about 1/10th of the images I captured. Well....the time has come to delve into the past and start rehashing those memories.

It will take me a while to really get this all figured out, but I am going to spend some time scanning images and see if I can put together some stories worth telling. Until then, here is my first lo res scan. Shot on T-Max with my old Pentax 35mm film camera.  I know I need to learn how to clean the negatives and do some touch up afterward but I thought I'd share my starting point. It also adds a bit of a vintage feel to the image. Hope you enjoy.

Denali - In full view

I call this image In full view. Denali had eluded us for some time and on this day, we got our first perfect glimpse of the full mountain. I find the hardest thing is to gauge the size of something like Denali. Imagine that snow line being roughly 5-8,000 ft. Simply incredible.

So...Lot's more to come as I process and scan images. I can't wait.

Photo Friday - Alaska Beach Riders

Alaska Beach Riders - ISO 320 - f13 - 1/500th - 300mm

This is one of my top 5 favorite images I took in Alaska. For this particular image, I converted to black & white, increased contrast, added some grain and experimented with a hand painted burnt border. While many won't like the photo treatment, this image really reflects the mood of this specific day and location. This image is burned into my memory. I hope I never forget it. 

In other news it is Friday and I'm looking forward to a nice weekend. We've got a wedding to attend too and I'm looking forward to getting dressed up and going out with my wife. It's been too long.

That's all I've got today. Hope your weekend goes well. I know mine will.

Ride your bike! Take some pictures!

Getting Dirty

Getting dirty Mukluk style - Alaska.

Getting dirty with fat tires isn't what I'm talking about today. In typical fashion whenever I travel I think and I've been thinking a lot. Plane rides to it to me and I have had lots of those recently. You see, I have had a side project on my mind for some time. It's more related to photography. In fact, I've got two side projects I've been thinking about, creating a website for sales of prints as well as reviving my old NoDSLR's website.

Now...I haven't completely fallen off my rocker and gone in head first. I'm actually just taking time to think about them, do some research and write some ideas down on paper. Truthfully, I don't really want to make it a real business. I just want to have fun and make enough money to justify spending money on camera gear and software.

I have been researching printing labs, printers, color calibration, and photo books. None of this is really related to anything other just simply wanting to see some of my images in and on print. It's hard to justify all this work I do with this passion without being able to hold something in my hand. I just want to see some of this stuff printed.

The pay off for getting dirty Mukluk style - Alaska

Ok....So it's not really getting that dirty. I am just doing a bunch of research thinking about ideas and the future. Sometimes getting dirty is worth it when the pay off is so good. 

Photo Friday - On the rocks with salt please

On the rocks with salt please - Homer, AK

It's Friday! Finally. I'm on the road again and on my way home. I can't wait for the weekend at home with my family. I've got few words today, but for some reason I'm thinking about a margarita on the rocks with salt.

Have a great day and even a better weekend.

Ride your bike! Take some pictures!

Project - 4 best adventure bicycling photos?!

Earlier this week I was asked to provide my favorite 4 images representing adventure bicycling. The end result is a one page piece with these 4 images and a short script that supports the images and represents my vision of adventure bicycling. Seriously, 4 images? I love taking images, sharing them and rambling on about riding bicycles but how am I supposed to filter these down to 4 when I have hundreds I love?

I'll be honest, I'm not that good at filtering them down and as an editor I have too many attachments to the images, the places and the experiences to be unbiased. So, all next week I'll be posting some images that may or may not make the cut. You're input will be greatly appreciated.

Beyond that, I'm still digging out of and processing all my adventures and all my images. My crazy schedule will end shortly and I hope to have time to really dig into the images and share some more stories and images from Alaska, the Northwoods, bike touring with my kids and Europe.



Out There

Out There - Self Portrait - Alaska

Over the last month I've spent more time "out there" than I have in many years. I've mountain biked in Alaska, done a fatbike beach tour (Also in Alaska), ridden MTB's with my family up north in Wisconsin and completed 2 mini bike tours with my kids. In that time I've found great clarity. In fact, I feel better (mentally) than I have in the past 12 months. I love being out there.

In that time I've found freedom and reignited my passion for riding bicycles. I feel less stressed. I'm happier. I'm thinking about a lot of things and planning for next year. Family. Friends. Experiences. Gravel racing. Tours. You name it, it's on my mind. I'm not ready to commit to anything yet other than getting my health back in order. I'm not terribly unhealthy, I've just let some things go on too long and formed some bad eating habits. I need to strengthen my back and shoulder (from my seperated shoulder injury two years ago) and ride my bike for fun. I've been talking about it for a long time. It's time to get it done. I can't do the things I want to do if I'm not healthy and happy. That is where I'm going to start and my hopes and dreams can build on that.

Also, I'm out for the next week. I'll be back next Tuesday. I've got some stuff going on and I need to have one less thing to worry about. I'm hopeful I can capture some interesting imagery to share.

See you all next week.

Alaska - Sun up. Sun down.

Anyone who calls themselves a photographer, whether a pro or an enthusiast, knows that the hours before and after sun up & sun down make your images better. Well, I think Alaska has got to be one of those special places that give you many hours of this amazing light and almost endless viewpoints and landscapes to enjoy and capture . Part of this may be simply the angle of the sun and the path it takes across the Alaska sky, but in many cases the "special" light lasted for what seemed like forever.  Here are a few shots taken during those special hours from my recent trip to Alaska. Hope you enjoy.

Sun up. Sun down. I'm convinced Alaska has better light than anywhere I've ever been too and that it lasts for hours. I miss it already and can't wait to one day experience it again.

Alaska - Take One

The last time I took this flight from Minneapolis, MN to Anchorage, AK was almost 20 years ago. I was headed to Alaska on a grand bicycle tour. I was young, foolish, and filled with ambition. I was on a journey from Alaska to Utah. As I looked out the window of the plan I was flooded with memories and unfulfilled dreams. As we crossed Canada, I remembered how vast and beautiful the land is and how I said I would explore Canada by bike one day (I haven't yet). As we flew over the Wrangel St. Elias range we saw Mount Logan, Canada's highest peak, peeking through the clouds. I remembered saying that one day I'd do a big back packing trip there (I haven't yet). As we approached Anchorage I looked over to where you would see Denali on a clear day. it was blanketed in clouds and rain just as it often is. I remembered looking upon Denali on a perfectly clear day almost 20 years ago saying I'd be back to Alaska with my bike one day. Going back to Alaska has been a lifelong dream of mine. This dream has come to reality and it is about to begin.

Mike and I arrived in Anchorage mid afternoon. Our plan was to pick up bikes, see our friend Eric Parsons and get food for an Alaskan fat bike beach tour. My previous bicycle trip to Alaska was with skinny tires, panniers and everything under the sun strapped to my bike. This trip was about touring Kenai's endless beaches on fatbikes. With 8 other riders, we'd be doing a fairly casual, unusual and amazing beach tour ending in Homer, Alaska.

As I researched and prepared for this trip, I ran across Pat Irwins and Kathy Sarns recap of the initial charting of this route. I was excited that Path and Kathy would be joining us. In many ways they were both the hosts and the leaders. I read the article twice taking in every nugget of information. I was eager to meet them and experience the beach for myself.

The ride itself did not disappoint. In all honesty, it is hard to explain just what I am feeling about this experience. Visually the trip blew my mind. Beauty was everywhere and in such abundance. I shot a few thousand images and don't even know where to begin with sharing them. Physically this trip wasn't not all that challenging for me. Sure we could have pushed for more miles and/or do it faster. That was not the intent of this trip. Yet, I left Alaska with a strengthenedpassion for riding. Professionally, I found some clarity about my future and where I am headed. Personally, I left with new, meaningful relationships with amazing people and with a new appreciation for the land we live on. Mostly, I left Alaska in awe of God's creations and with a thankful heart that I got to go on this trip. Somehow my path and my choices led me to this point.

Over the next few weeks both here and on the Salsa Cycles blog, I will be digging into some of these things specifically as well as gear and lessons learned. Until then, you will just have to settle for a few pics that capture the essence of this experience (for me). I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy sharing them.

I need to share one last picture and one more volcano today. This picture just has to be seen in color to appreciate it. Take a gander at the Alaskan volcano Redoubt by the morning light.

Yes, Alaska was good to me. More to come and make sure to check out my post later today at the Salsa blog for some more images.

Alaska - Back Home

I'm back home from my Alaskan Mukluk beach tour. While the trip was incredible, it's so great to be home.  OK....This post is short as I'm processing a few thousand images. I wrote some notes on the plane ride home yesterday. So...I should have a post up later today or at the latest tomorrow with some pics. Check back later if you get a chance.

Drying out

My Alaska Mukluk beach tour is over. I am drying out and processing words and eventually my images (only iPhone photos for now). This trip was amazing. I am leaving Alaska with such a sense of awe and an appreciation for great people. I hope as I process and share my images you get that feeling too. I also leave with a new appreciation of fatbikes. Truly anything is possible with these bikes.

I hope to be back online later this week with at least a few photos. Enjoy your week.