UnDead

I've made an observation that I hesitate to mention...well, let me back up a little.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I have been a little remise in the taking advantage of photo opportunities. This past Sunday, we held Round 3 of the SE ITSA series in Goodlettsville TN. Trent Parks was host of this, his first event and it couldn't have gone much better. More on that part later; right now I'd like to point out that I not only brought my camera, but I took it on the trail and took dozens of shots of some good rides and great efforts. I got Peewee and Malcolm styling through mud holes and hillsides. I got Chip and Ray slipping and sliding (like everyone else) in several of the slick creek sections. I got one really good shot of Randy Blackwell doing a pretty good SUPERMAN stunt, with his bike on the back wheel while he hung on for dear life. Sweet, just because I was (for once) ready on the spot for the shot.

I get home, plug the ol' Nikon into the computer and prepare to access the photos inside. What did I find? The single shot above! The rest are just...gone. If not for the one remaining, I'd claim mechanical difficulties, or even operator error. But since this picture did take, I can only conclude one thing. Except for Ray and Graham, I've obviously been riding all day with a bunch of Vampires. Dang

A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words

We've all heard that before, uh. It's true that a photo greatly enhances a story, or sometimes it can say a lot on it's own. I take a camera with me almost everywhere I go, yet I get so wrapped up in whatever I'm doing, I can never remember to use it. I've seen some great shit too. I've seen all my riding buddies crash at one time, or many. I've seen wildlife acting tame and I've seen domestic pets acting wild. I saw Nubbie do a nose-drive into a dead cedar tree, stumble back to the camp fire and proceed to quote verse after verse of Poe's Raven. Bet my camera was in my pocket at the time. I've seen Charlie destroy more wood than all the dozers can in a week of mowing down the rain forests of South America, yet I got no pictures of him doing any of it. I've seen a good man shoot a short canon, with a shot that could be heard around the world (or at least anywhere on Big Bartons Creek). Or how about my good buddy R.Q. (young-at-heart) flying around the side of a hill, racing...well, racing something. I could have taken priceless shots of that!

I started this blog entry with the idea of giving a little report on the section-clearing trip to Trent's last weekend, then I got to thinking how much better (or at least mildly bearable) for anyone reading this, if I'd had some photos to put with it. I'm getting on Ebay right now, and find me some kind of Helmet cam, or lapel spy camera, or maybe even a pretty little college girl who likes to draw. Something...then watch out, because when you least expect it, you're elected......