brian vernor making blog

THE COMMENTATOR

2012-02-28T09:34:00.000-08:00

In 2005, I brought my first film, Pure Sweet Hell, to the Bicycle Film Festival. That year Jorgen Leth was there. His films inspired me and meeting him was more exciting for me than the chance to meet any other film director. His intelligence and originality applied to professional cycling created a trilogy of cycling films which transcended simple sports documentation, and elevated their subject matter into the realm of art. I am proud to be part of this production which celebrates THE COMMENTATOR, himself: Jorgen Leth. This project needs your support!

And with an original score by Blonde Redhead!

Makers (part 5): Whose Bike Is That Anyway?

2012-02-23T23:03:00.000-08:00

Professional cycling teams are often sponsored by bicycle brands. That sponsorship, however, hasn't always meant those bike brands made the bikes their teams used. Throughout the history of bicycle racing cycling teams or individual riders went to "contractors," for their racing bikes. Though the perception now is that this occurs less than before I really can't say how true that is. In the late 1980s carbon fiber was just starting to be used as a material for bicycle construction. Craig Calfee, of Watsonville, CA, started Calfee Designs after making his first carbon frame in 1987. His brand was built on an initial relationship as a contractor, building bikes for Greg Lemond's Z-Team. Here's a classic Z-Team-era bike that Calfee Designs was repairing while I was at the shop. I was lucky enough to tour the facility recently while shooting a story for Bicycling Magazine. The story focuses on the surging business of carbon fiber frame repair which Calfee Designs is a leader in. This story is in print and on the newsstand this week. An expanded photo gallery is available via digital subscription and on Bicycling.com.

BIKE Magazine: Solitary Perfection

2012-02-23T16:07:00.001-08:00

The March Issue of BIKE Magazine should be on your local bookshelf this week. For this issue I worked on a feature story about Anthony Mangieri, the classic restauranteur, formerly of NYC, and now set up in San Francisco. Writer Gary Boulanger, scribbled a fine story about Anthony's well-known hands-on approach to making food, as well as his lesser known affinity for custom bicycles.

Makers (Part 4): The Details

2012-02-21T21:47:00.000-08:00

With the North American Handmade Bike Show coming up at the beginning of March, I'll be posting some in-the-shop and builder photos here on the blog, and on my FLICKR and INSTAGRAM (@vernor).

Makers (part 3): Burn On

2012-02-17T00:01:00.000-08:00

Continuing on the theme of custom bicycle makers here's a glimpse of some Japanese brazing style. Shigeru Nakagawa is a maverick in his home country where most makers follow the path of the Keirin racing bicycle. Nakagawa was a racer himself, cyclocross, road and track. After an early injury ended his racing he started building bikes. As a builder he finds it more interesting to construct a variety of bikes, not simply the popular single purpose Keirin bike. Twice in two years while I was filming The Cyclocross Meeting, I visited the Nakagawa Cycle Works shop in Osaka. Mr Nakagawa kindly recounted his personal history making bikes but always made sure to emphasize the great racing culture in Japan. Possibly in typical Japanese fashion he placed the greatest value on the whole of Japanese cycling, not himself.

With the North American Handmade Bike Show coming up at the beginning of March, I'll be posting some in-the-shop and builder photos here on the blog, and on my FLICKR and INSTAGRAM (@vernor).

In The Woods

2012-02-15T16:47:00.001-08:00

A little while back I went for an ADVENTURE for my friends at Poler Camping Stuff. We tried to keep the final photo selection to twenty-five, so there were some good ones that got away. Here are a few outtakes from our Big Basin explorations:

Makers (part 2): Local Production

2012-02-13T11:55:00.000-08:00

How custom is your custom bicycle? There are a lot of little bits that most builders purchase and incorporate into their bikes. I think that's just fine. Pacenti, Henry James, and Paragon all offer well designed and soundly made bits any builder can purchase. However, I appreciate when a builder designs and manufactures their own bits like a fork dropout. Here's a sheet of steel that's been water jet cut to make fork drop outs for cyclocross bikes made by Rick of Hunter Cycles. Rick's dropouts have changed a progressed over the years (he's been building almost 20 years) and I shot this sheet a few years ago in his Bonny Doon, CA shop.

With the North American Handmade Bike Show coming up at the beginning of March, I'll be posting some in-the-shop and builder photos here on the blog, and on my FLICKR and INSTAGRAM (@vernor).

Sunday

2012-02-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

Makers

2012-02-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

With the North American Handmade Bike Show coming up at the beginning of March, and being so close to home up in Sacramento, I thought I'd let slip some favorite in-the-workshop and custom builder photos I've been ~~taking~~ making over the years. This one is interesting to me for the rarity of the unused fork crown (it's now on a bike), and the place in mountain bike history it holds. This is a Ritchey ~~Unicrown~~ fork crown from the early 1980s, and Paul Sadoff of Rock Lobster held onto it until just this last year, saving it for the right customer's bike.

Over the next few weeks I'll be posting more on my FLICKR and INSTAGRAM (@vernor).

Talkdemonic::Music::Filter Magazine

2012-02-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

I truly enjoy the music of Talkdemonic, and it was fun working on this short film about the Portland band. It premiered today at FILTER MAGAZINE.

Packin'

2012-01-24T15:42:00.000-08:00

Time once again to bump up my flight miles. Every time I get ready for a trip I start with my camera bag, and then I don't have time to think about the clothes and other stuff. Oh well, I've obviously got my priorities straight. Here's a phone pick of the basics:

I'm heading to Belgium, Germany and France to shoot a story for PAVED Magazine and to work on something for myself. The blog might get a bit of a slowdown, but if you're curious I'll be posting along the way via @vernor on the instagram.

The Weekend: To The Races

2012-01-20T11:01:00.000-08:00

For some hearty souls there's still a few weeks of cyclocross racing to be had this season.

Team Awesome

2012-01-18T17:49:00.000-08:00

My first mountain bike race was in 1993, at Wilder Ranch State Park (just North of Santa Cruz). Back then these jerseys were the uniform of anyone who new what they were doing. I didn't have one. Thanks to Monkeywrench Cycles, in Lincoln, NE, we can view them all in one place. Monkeywrench has one of the best collections of vintage mountain bikes and related stuff, most of which is on display in the store, though there are some gems yet to be revealed.

Coozy and Me

2012-01-17T18:23:00.000-08:00

Essential camping gear.

Cut Your Hair

2012-01-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

A couple nights ago I watched the film "When We Were Kings," a powerful documentary about the 1974 Ali vs. Forman fight in Zaire. There are many possible important conversations one could have after watching the film, but in a funny way I got stuck on haircuts. The fight was delayed six weeks while Forman recovered from a cut eye, and undoubtably both Ali and Forman had to get their hair cut in the two months they spent in Zaire. Haircuts are NOT important to the story told in the film, but many comparing and contrasting observations between African and African American culture are made throughout the film. In some way I wish the film could have gone to the barbershop. Inevitably, it would have inspired another brilliant speech from Ali (there are many in the film), about the handsome and admirable culture of Africa.

And The Winners Are

2012-01-08T16:56:00.000-08:00

Today's Elite Cyclocross National Championship races were a bit chaotic. I ran around shooting my super 8 camera all day while trying to sneak in a few still shots while I was at it. Nobody was surprised by the women's champion, Eight Straight, Katie Compton:

And Jeremy Powers, finally gets that National Champ jersey. Congrats:

More to come when I get home...

US Cyclocross National Championships

2012-01-07T15:55:00.000-08:00

Zach McDonald cruised to the win in the U23 race today:

Cyclocross Nationals

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'll try to post up something from the races while I'm there.

Talkdemonic (LIVE!) accompanied by my unnedited super 8 and 16mm 'cross footage. Cyclocross Nationals 2009.

#cyclocross + #campvibes

2012-01-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

A double exposed Portra 400 neg of Ty Hathaway, Team POLER Camping Stuff, expressing his #campvibes via the up-and-over at SoCaL Cyclocross last month.

Check out Ty's bike shop: Golden Saddle Cyclery in LA.

Winter in LA

2012-01-02T11:43:00.000-08:00

This version of winter looks pretty good to me right now, though up here in Santa Cruz, I can't complain about the riding or the weather. I shot this in December, a few years back, but it ran in the Summer, 2011, issue of Paved Magazine.

Suggested New Years Resolution #1

2011-12-27T23:06:00.000-08:00

MORNING CALISTHENICS.

If you can do a backflip off a bus stop in Botswana, you probably don't need a New Year's resolution to exercise. This here is Christian Huizenga and he definitely doesn't sweat the resolutions.

Get Up Early

2011-12-19T04:00:00.000-08:00

Folks who know me know, I am not one of those "morning people." However, getting awesome, beautiful, inspiring photos often means getting up early and the easiest way I've found to force the early wake-up is simply to sleep outside, right in the location where you want to take those awesome photos. Here I am in the amazing Big Basin State Park (California's first state park, home of the Sempervirens and the roots of Western conservationist action).

This morning in particular I was on a mission, or I should say Adventure, for the magical camping outfitter POLER. You can see the edit from this early wake-up over on their website in the Adventures Section.

Just Driving Along in my Tractor

2011-12-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

You know? What other attire would you find yourself in if you were heading to work the strawberry fields in your KUBOTA 8950?

Oh, Distraction

2011-12-08T12:21:00.001-08:00

Usually, the enemy of the self-employed is oneself...

The simplest toys call out loudest!

More Common Than A Smile

2011-12-02T12:44:00.001-08:00

Another reluctant model! I almost always know the people I'm photographing. Real people who really ride bikes, run, play music...I think it's a rarity that I don't get the finger at least once during any shoot (Good thing we're all friends). It's usually just after the finger comes out that the shoot starts to flow. People take a little while to lose the self consciousness that is normal when a camera is pointed at them. Sometimes it helps to remind them who's buying the beers, but in this case I think Rick reminded me who was buying!

Rick Hunter, Japan, 2011.

RACE CROSS!

2011-11-26T00:40:00.001-08:00

Island Time (Japan)

2011-11-21T15:36:00.001-08:00

I'm over in Japan taking some photos so posting is a little slow. Will have a lot to share when I'm back home.

photo by (((Kei Tsuji)))

Cyclocross Shapes

2011-11-09T09:14:00.000-08:00

Cyclocross is pretty much where I started. Before I ever shot a magazine assignment or commercial gig, my friend Willie K. Bullion and I made a film about American Cyclocross called Pure Sweet Hell. Every Fall I look forward to racing myself, and shooting it up at the races. Cyclocross is personal. Recently, I did a short interview and gallery for the (((RAPHA blog))). And here's a small gallery of my photos posted up on the (((MASH SF magazine site))).

Justin Robinson, North Cal. legend, rides for Cal Giant Berry Farms, and is the single biggest reason I started racing cyclocross myself. We've been buddies since the big wheels days.

The Everyday Adventure

2011-11-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

There's a new "Adventure" on the Poler Stuff website. POLER are all about the HIGHEST standards in stuff-making. Click on over there for my North Coast adventure photo-essay with Keegan Sauder and Will of Vancouver.

The everyday adventure is the idea that one step out your front door is a vast world that we probably don't know as well as we think we know it. That idea lead Keegan, Will and myself out my front door on our bikes to explore a chunk of coastline we thought we new well but which inevitably offered places and experiences we'd never known. We took our time. We smelled the salt water. We investigated the ubiquitous North Coast nomad's custom mobile homes. We drank a couple beers. We camped out amongst the mountain lions and coyotes, and we had a blast even though we didn't always have the right shoes, a proper map, or enough water (much less a filter). For 36 hours we made our own adventure from the idea that there's still plenty of mystery in our everyday world. That's pretty much what POLER had in mind when they produced their new line of camping stuff.

Winter is Coming

2011-11-04T10:32:00.000-07:00

We might not feel it that much if we stay perched on the landmass known as California, but stick a toe in the great Pacific Ocean and we know it well. Here it comes...

If It Ain't Moto It's Worthless (part 3): Choices

2011-10-31T11:08:00.000-07:00

What we gonna do today?

So many inspirations come from Rick Hunter's Royal Stable. More on my Flickr (((Here)))

Trans Andes Challenge

2011-10-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

After a season-long run with the Bicycle Film Festival, and a few other screenings at Greentopia, the full edit of the Trans Andes Challenge film is online.

This film is a celebration of the landscape of mountain bike racing during a week-long mountain bike stage race in Patagonia, Chile. Following an international team, Jamis Bicycles, the film documents the life of professional racers as they explore the people, food and countryside of Chile, train in the
mountains of the Patagonia region, and ultimately compete in the grueling competition known as Trans Andes Challenge.

The Trans Andes Challenge is one of the premier international mountain bike stage races, with participants
representing some 20 + countries. Two-person and solo teams compete over the course of a week and the best over-all time wins. Participants share meals and live in a roaming camp as the race progresses across 250 miles.

Produced by Jason Sager
Directed by Brian Vernor
Featuring Blake Harlan, Ben Sonntag, Jason Sager, Mary McConneloug, and Mike Broderick

My Work Is Fun

2011-10-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

I received a box of "Camping Stuff" the other day and before going out for an "Adventure" I had to try out a few pieces. This fine looking garment/sleeping bag is called the Knapsack (of course!) and you can get one from POLERSTUFF.COM. I first thought of the Knapsack in a perplexed kind of way, but then it clicked and now I can't believe more bag makers don't make bags that can be easily worn around the campsite, or maybe while lurking around with a BB gun. Come back soon for an update on my North Coast "Adventure" shoot for POLER, with Keegan and Will, my man models/skateboarders/bikers/adventurers/campers/all-around rad guys.

Let's Be

2011-10-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

Eastern Washington:

Where Should We Go This Weekend?

2011-10-14T15:57:00.000-07:00

Aaron Gwin

2011-10-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

Aaron Gwin was in Santa Cruz yesterday. He's fast. Five World Cup downhill mountain bike wins this last season. American. 24 years old. He is good friends with none other than the legend John Tomac. I think Johnny T might have given Aaron a few pointers over the years. Aaron was very cool in person. Calm. Quiet but Engaged. Thoughtful and serious about the technical side of the BELL gear he rides. Once the autograph session started he showed his easy laugh.

Talkdemonic

2011-10-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

Talkdemonic's new album "Ruins" is out now on Glacial Pace Records. Get it (((HERE))). Stay tuned for my short film about Talkdemonic.

Levi Leipheimer at Home

2011-10-04T18:53:00.000-07:00

Giro Catalog outtake:

A Show. Installed.

2011-09-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

OPENING TONIGHT: September 30, 7PM at the Rapha Cycle Club SF

It's Racing Season

2011-09-26T23:35:00.000-07:00

Course tape: Seattle, WA

A SHoW: Uncle Charlie's and Other Stories of North Cal. Cyclocross

2011-09-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

Uncle Charlie and Other Stories of the North Cal. Cyclocross
An art show dedicated to the spirit of North Cal Cyclocross, its roots, and its current spectacle.

Featuring works of photography, writing, sculpture, painting, collage, as well as historical documents and images.

Curated by Brian Vernor and Presented by the Rapha Cycle Club SF.

Contributing Artists and story tellers: Willie K. Bullion, “Pineapple” Bob Kurosawa, Pamela Palma, Jeff Hantman, Stevil Smith, Ray Stafford, Chris McNally, Paul Sadoff, Tom Simpson, Mike Ferrentino, and Brian Vernor.

Bicycle Film Festival in SF

2011-09-20T16:32:00.000-07:00

The Bicycle Film Festival is coming back to San Francisco this week. I've been a part of the festival every year since 2005. Brendt Barbur and friends have always done amazing things for us filmmakers, and bikers. The BFF was a visionary idea eleven years ago, and every year it's gotten better. The films this year look fantastic and I'm proud to have a short film in the schedule once again. More information and full San Francisco schedule at www.bicyclefilmfestival.com.
The Victoria Theatre on 16th Street at Mission Street.

BFF Street Party on Capp Street.

Brendt Barbur, BFF Director/founder (on Great Jones Street, NYC, 2008).

BFF legs! On the bike ride to the theatre in Alameda, CA (2009).

The Legend! Jonas Mekas (NYC, 2009) opened the festival with his friends including John Zorn (kind of a big deal).

My film Trans Andes Challenge, plays in the screening bloc "Racing Toward Red Hook." Trailer below.

"Righteous use of internal combustion"

2011-09-13T09:43:00.000-07:00

You won't find this beast in no Sears & Roebuck's catalog. The one and only Rick Hunter built this in his Bonny Doon, Ca, shop. Just don't ask him to build you one. This is a one-off he made in a blaze of impulse.

Don't Mix the Colors

2011-09-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

I took this photo in artist/illustrator Chris McNally's San Francisco studio. Every time I look at it I can't help but think of Lois Maffeo + Pat Maley's cover of the Beat Happening song, Don't Mix the Colors. Another time at Chris' studio I shot some photos of the newly launched Reverb Helmet from Giro and I just noticed some of those images went live on their WEBSITE.

Where the Magic Happens

2011-09-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

I've been updating the "REAL Website" a lot recently, and I've started up a section about custom bike builders. Mostly due to my own interest in these people and the unique bikes they make, and partly due to various magazine assignments, I have gathered a significant collection of builder and shop photography. The first time I became aware of custom bikes was almost twenty years ago, and it was because of a Rock Lobster road bike built by Paul Sadoff. He's a local here in Santa Cruz, and I visit him at his shop from time to time. We're always running into each other out on rides, too. His shop space is like a cluttered museum. It is hard to focus on any one thing because so much curious stuff is lying around. His tool bench. Need I say more:

"Scrapin' on my Scraper Bike"

2011-09-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

The East Bay/Oakland Scraper Bike crew is very cool, very fun, and a very constructive group of people that happen to mix their creativity with bicycles. I did a short ride lead by the Scraper Bike crew a while back and got this shot. I'm still jealous of those people who can wheelie like it's nothing. This kid could go for miles. The Scraper Bike Team has a lot going on and you can follow them/support them by going (((HERE))).
Straight from the Original Scraper Bike Team: The Scraper Bike Movement seeks to capture the creativity of youth living within dangerous communities. It gives them a positive outlet that is fun, educational, and promotes healthy lifestyles. The Scraper Bike Movement offers youth a sustainable group of peers that is positive and motivating. We want to expand and enlighten young peoples perspective on life through fixing and painting bicycles. Our goal is to support youth entrepreneurship and cultural innovation.

Deform/Nature

2011-09-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

Philosophical words from the namesake of my university (Seen somewhere in the blurry vortex of the tri-state border of Vermont, New Hampshire, & Mass.):

El Pais Basko

2011-09-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

From a story about Basque cycling for Paved Magazine. Tear sheets of the full story available on the 'real' website HERE.

Talkdemonic is on tour

2011-08-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

DATES HERE

Here's a couple songs from a live performance with Talkdemonic in Oregon. I projected the film reels:

Nowhere in Summertime

2011-08-26T01:23:00.000-07:00

Somewhere. Nowhere. Road tripping and the forgettable landscapes of American gasoline getting spots.

That Fence was put there to make me want to climb over it.

2011-08-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

It's Summer. It's Hot. Ain't no fence gonna stop me from playing in the garden.

More shredding from the Mattson 2

2011-08-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

Last Night in Santa Cruz:

Get this album! http://www.galaxiarecords.com/

Is it Summertime?

2011-08-14T23:46:00.001-07:00

Man. Dogs. Summer. OK!

New Work: Giro 2012 Catalog

2011-08-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

I updated my website with some recent work for GIRO, the Shoes, Helmets, riding gear brand. Check it out **HERE**.

*********************************************************************************************************************
PS. A Blogospheric interview with me over at The Bicycle Story.
I have a film in the Bicycle Film Festival, and the trailer is **HERE**.
Also, Watershed Cinema Center in Bristol (UK) is screening my film The Cyclocross Meeting. Info **HERE**.

I'm Not Your F'n Model

2011-08-09T22:27:00.000-07:00

Emily loves the camera...

*********************************************************************************************************************
PS. New Work/Tears up on the "real" website, click **HERE**.
A Blogospheric interview with me over at The Bicycle Story.
I have a film in the Bicycle Film Festival, and the trailer is **HERE**.
Also, Watershed Cinema Center in Bristol (UK) is screening my film The Cyclocross Meeting. Info **HERE**.

Running at night in Bilbao

2011-08-04T15:29:00.000-07:00

I've given running a try numerous times throughout my life. Doesn't always stick for me. Maybe a few months here and there, but I can't claim to be a lifer. If every run included a tour of Bilbao at night, well, things might be different. Got this shot on the Puente del Ayuntamiento Bridge.

Texas! Palm in Big Bend

2011-08-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

This one from February, 2011. Camping far, far away from any lights.

Early Inspiration

2011-07-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

In a way-back way, so much inspiration came from music projects. K records graphic design by Tae Won Yu, and tons of photography in album artwork and from live shows. I always dug this Spinanes album cover for Manos. Earlier this year I interviewed Rebecca Gates from the Spinanes, and we talked about this photo and the artwork from a bunch of albums from the early 90s. In that pre-internet downloading era album artwork meant soooo much.

Life Made Simple

2011-07-27T09:10:00.000-07:00

Try and skip a rock with a bad thought in your head. Doesn't work. Rock skipping=outdoorsmen meditation.

If it ain't MOTO it's worthless (part 2).

2011-07-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

Crowe Customs.

If it ain't MOTO it's worthless.

2011-07-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

Scoboni's racing leathers. Petaluma, CA.

What's My Story?

2011-07-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

The Bicycle Story's Josh Coen interviewed me about railroadin', cycle crossin', and the future (which I guessed about). Check it out in it's entirety HERE.
ME (photo by csh):

Express Yourself With Buckshot

2011-07-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

Chicago X 3

2011-07-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Since I was a kid visiting family in Chicago I've loved these buildings:
Lake front was sooo windy. Crazy November day before last year's snow:

The BEAN. It has powers to make anyone into a cliche(!):

I'm going to Downieville, again.

2011-07-06T23:36:00.000-07:00

If the Downieville Classic ever changes it's name, it'll be changed to "There Will Be Beer."

I am a TREE.

2011-07-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

Guided by Voices--I am a Tree:
I am a tree - I show my age when I don't cry
I have the leaves that will fall off when wind blows by
Don't strip off my bark - I have been stripped of it before
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow has so much more in store

You are a bird - you're taking off in every way
Say the last word until there is nothing more to say

Don't interrupt - you know the squirrels are my friends
Get off my limb - for I will break before I bend

I'm planning to see
I'm planning to feel you all over me
So climb up my trunk and build on your nest
Come and get the sap out if me

I am a tree!
Fruitless and free!
No symmetry!
Touch me and see!

I am a tree - counting my rings will do no good
I won't live long but I would be with you if I could
When you take flight, remember me to one who lives there
Since you have flown, there's something special in the air

Virginia! (JUly 4, 2009)

2011-07-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

Arkansas!

2011-06-30T15:03:00.001-07:00

I love traveling in America.

LA

2011-06-29T00:20:00.000-07:00

...from a safe distance:

Music video: Talkdemonic's Midcentury Motion (coming soon!)

2011-06-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

Talkdemonic make great music and I'm excited to be working on a video for their song Midcentury Motion. Lisa shot some behind the scenes iphone video HERE. I first saw them play at Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco, in 2007, and their albums and live show keep getting better. A new Talkdemonic album is coming out in October, on Glacial Pace

Sunday Photo (Monday version)

2011-06-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to see the 2011 women's pro cyclocross field this coming season. It just feels ripe for some new names and faces. Kaitlin Antonneau was on the front row of the USGP last year, if not quite a regular on the podium...Maybe this is her year.

Go Faster!

2011-06-16T00:54:00.000-07:00

Scene 1: The Forrest of Nisene Marks, Aptos, CA. Saturday.
biker dude: "Hey bro, I'm bonking, you got any Clif Bars?"
other guy: "Nah, but you can try this."

Sunday Photo

2011-06-11T23:29:00.000-07:00

Never hurts to remember lands traveled. Here we are above the Getxo skatepark, near the end of the train line out of Bilbao.

Itching to go

2011-06-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

With the official/mystical/ordained/f-yeah beginning of Summer just a couple weeks away, I can't get the idea of traveling out of my head. maybe by rail:

or with a little internal combustion:

(Both bikes via the MAN, aka Rick Hunter)
or with a lot of internal combustion:

and maybe with some friends:

Trans Andes Challenge film for Jamis

2011-05-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here's the trailer for the Trans Andes Challenge film I'm working on with Team Jamis Mountain Bikes:

Chile, and the Patagonia region, was everything I'd hoped for before going. It still blows me away to think about flying 7000+ miles to spend 10 days anywhere, but this place was so special and the time spent was so rich I felt like I was there much longer than I was. I loved being on the side of a mountain and looking at huge active volcanoes in every direction. I loved the calm, coolness of Chileans. I loved that I was in high mountains yet the ocean was only a couple hours away. Working on the edit for this film I can't help but want to go back.....
Me:

The trees are insane:

There's nothing wrong with love:

Animal love:

I'm sorry. I love you. I really do.

2011-05-26T14:26:00.000-07:00

How often do we owe our bikes an apology? In my ten year relationship with this bike there have been many apologies.

accidental cinemascope

2011-05-22T12:46:00.000-07:00

For a short while in the 90s a lot of point and shoot cameras came with a ridiculous function/setting for "PANORAMIC" photos. On film cameras all this function offered was a cropped negative, not a true wider format negative. My daily tote camera, a nikon 35ti, has this function and it slipped on for a few frames of my last roll before i caught it and switched it back. I really liked the effect on a couple shots because it made me dream of making a film in true cinemascope. I doubt the dimensions are quite the same but nonetheless I think shooting with a wide frame would be so nice. Especially with all the dslr stuff spewing out at us right now a little frame mix-up would be nice. Here are a couple shots from a beginning-of-summer, afternoon mimosas day in Delores Park, SF:

TheLife.

2011-05-16T12:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes in Santa Cruz...

rick hunter:

the very tall mr. wicks:

A Photo Show: Red Hook Criterium

2011-05-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

This week in NYC:

Time Spent Driving

2011-04-28T21:41:00.000-07:00

I dropped out on the blogging activities recently. Got a bit busy with work and such. Most of the last couple weeks I was chasing bikers around while taking pictures. Go figure. I do that from time to time. Like with most jobs, what I'm working on now I can't share for a few months, until respective brands have their way with the select images. So for now, a glimpse of the chase. Lot's of Pacific Ocean in this shoot. How many roads offer "epic winding climbs ascending from the ocean"? Not that many when you really get to looking. At least not that many where the epic, curvy, dreamy road isn't encumbered by power lines and various buzz killers. Add on that just because we can see it doesn't mean the camera sees it the same way. After plans A and B looked bad due to weather I had to bust out some obscure local knowledge to get-the-shot, as they say. Happy to say it worked out more than fine.

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My photography WEBSITE
Sometimes I FLICKR
A video Interview about filming The Cyclocross Meeting
My Films:
In Africa
In Japan
My first movie: Pure Sweet Hell
I also participate in the internet in these places:
Good Problem Blog
Freeman Transport
My Camping and Photography Team (poler stuff)

OUT-TAKES--Paved Magazine Feature: Basque Cyclocross

2011-04-03T17:32:00.000-07:00

In December I was in the Basque region of Spain, to photograph a story for Paved Magazine. I was super psyched on the trip, the photos, and the whole story presentation when it came out in the magazine. The story is currently available at your local magazine rack, or directly from Paved, (((HERE))). No matter what, there's always a bunch of photos that don't find their way into print. Here are a few out-takes:

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My photography WEBSITE
Sometimes I FLICKR
A video Interview about filming The Cyclocross Meeting
An old interview in DIRT
My Films:
In Africa
In Japan
My first movie: Pure Sweet Hell
I also participate in the internet in these places:
Good Problem Blog
Freeman Transport
My Camping and Photography Team (poler stuff)

NYC is Cold. Red Hook Criterium 2011.

2011-03-29T17:51:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night was the 4th running of the Red Hook Criterium. I was out in NYC last year, and did a short story about it that ran in PAVED Magazine. I made it to the race this year, too, and the it was bigger and badder than before. So many super psyched spectators, and the race favorites delivered a dramatic battle that ended in a three-up sprint at the line. This race is serious, and seriously fun. The weather was rough, even by New York standards. After the race, and after the after-partying, it was 27 degrees outside(and with windchill?) and i had a 30 minute, 3am bike ride back to my friend's apartment in Green Point, Brooklyn...couldn't have made it without the 4 bourbons.

The RHC moves to Berlin and Milan later this year....
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My photography WEBSITE
Sometimes I FLICKR
A video Interview about filming The Cyclocross Meeting
An old interview in DIRT
My Films:
In Africa
In Japan
My first movie: Pure Sweet Hell
I also participate in the internet in these places:
Good Problem Blog
Freeman Transport
My Camping and Photography Team (poler stuff)

At home:

2011-03-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

I've been in Santa Cruz for two whole weeks! With as much travel as I do my friends are usually surprised when they realize I'm around town. Recently, I've been lucky enough to do some work locally. Giro has something new up their sleeve, and I'm not allowed to say any more(!):

The Homeless/nomad population in Santa Cruz has their priorities straight:

Wilder Ranch State Park is a gift. This ocean slab is 15 minutes from my doorstep:

Heading to NYC on thursday...Santa Cruz is always here when i get back.
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My photography WEBSITE
Sometimes I FLICKR
A video Interview about filming The Cyclocross Meeting
An old interview in DIRT
My Films:
In Africa
In Japan
My first movie: Pure Sweet Hell
I also participate in the internet in these places:
Good Problem Blog
Freeman Transport
My Camping and Photography Team (poler stuff)

Every Ride Has A Story series for Truvativ

2011-03-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Here's part two of my Black Cat Bicycles/Truvativ piece. Black Cat is the first subject in Truvativ's series, Every Ride Has A Story. More to come throughout 2011.

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My photography WEBSITE
Sometimes I FLICKR
A video Interview about filming The Cyclocross Meeting
An old interview in DIRT
My Films:
In Africa
In Japan
My first movie: Pure Sweet Hell
I also participate in the internet in these places:
Good Problem Blog
Freeman Transport
My Camping and Photography Team (poler stuff)

Parties in the U.S.A.

2011-03-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

Johnny's Barbershop opened up this last Friday in Santa Cruz. Local sharp dressed men now have a place to get sharp lookin' cuts. The Mattson 2 were on hand shredding some of their new songs about to come out on Galaxia Records.

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My photography WEBSITE
Sometimes I FLICKR
A video Interview about filming The Cyclocross Meeting
An old interview in DIRT
My Films:
In Africa
In Japan
My first movie: Pure Sweet Hell
I also participate in the internet in these places:
Good Problem Blog
Freeman Transport
My Camping and Photography Team (poler stuff)

10 speeding is cool, man!

2011-03-10T19:28:00.000-08:00

New paved magazine is here. I'm really proud of my work in this magazine. I shot a story about the Basque country, and cyclocross. I've also got some images in the gallery section called "proof."
Take a look:

paved Magazine: Issue 2 from (((vernor))) on Vimeo.

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My photography WEBSITE
Sometimes I FLICKR
A video Interview about filming The Cyclocross Meeting
An old interview in DIRT
My Films:
In Africa
In Japan
My first movie: Pure Sweet Hell
I also participate in the internet in these places:
Good Problem Blog
Freeman Transport
My Camping and Photography Team (poler stuff)

NorCal Builder and the way-back files, continued.

2011-03-09T09:38:00.000-08:00

I think it is safe to say that Curtis Inglis, AKA Retrotec Cycles, has the best collection of sneakers of any framebuilder in the world. More substantially, however, I love his bikes and after 15+ years of seeing his cruiser-fashioned mountain and road bikes I still get a chuckle whenever I see one fly by a pack of disposable carbon race bikes. His bikes are a constant reminder that it's not about about the bike, it's all about the ride. Keep smiling. Here's an oldy of Curtis in his Napa, CA shop, followed by a couple of him with his personal bikes, the triple top tube SS cross bike, and the 29er SS step-through:

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My photography WEBSITE
Sometimes I FLICKR
A video Interview about filming The Cyclocross Meeting
An old interview in DIRT
My Films:
In Africa
In Japan
My first movie: Pure Sweet Hell
I also participate in the internet in these places:
Good Problem Blog
Freeman Transport
My Camping and Photography Team (poler stuff)

Hand Made,,,Made to be ridden: Black Cat Bicycles

2011-02-25T16:38:00.000-08:00

The first of a two part video I made about Todd Ingermanson, aka Black Cat Bicycles:

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My photography WEBSITE
Sometimes I FLICKR
A video Interview about filming The Cyclocross Meeting
An old interview in DIRT
My Films:
In Africa
In Japan
My first movie: Pure Sweet Hell
I also participate in the internet in these places:
Good Problem Blog
Freeman Transport
My Camping and Photography Team (poler stuff)

Powder Coat

2011-02-23T09:51:00.000-08:00

About 5 years ago I worked at Santa Cruz Bicycles. It was a good job for me since they let me take off and go whenever I had an opportunity to shoot photos or travel around to cyclocross races. A lot of people there were good to me, and I probably couldn't have started making films and taking photos full time without the flexibility they extended. This photo is of Victor Sanchez, the nicest of nice guys. He has probably powder coated more bicycles than anyone in America. Well, I have no idea about the accuracy of that statement, but Victor has done a lot of bikes. Whenever I talk to custom builders about powder coat they say it is hard to find a powder coat shop that does bikes well. Too many surfaces, and many powder coat shops are used to more industrial work, not finished work like a bicycle requires. Todd Ingermanson, AKA Black Cat Bicycles, is lucky enough to get his bikes coated at SCB, and Victor does all of them. Here's a shot of Victor after he coated one of Todd's bikes he made for the NAHBS show in Austin.

Back when I was at SCB they gave me a chance to make a film about the people I worked with. It is called We Just Work Here. It travelled around with the Bicycle Film Festival in 2006, and there are undoubtably many, many dvds still laying around the SCB offices. Here's the trailer:

On the way to Austin

2011-02-17T22:24:00.000-08:00

Two nights ago I slept at 7,600 feet and the temperature was way below freezing. Today I was dodging 35 foot tall saguaro cacti and the temperature was 75 degrees. Winter in the Southwest....not missing the rain at home in Santa Cruz.

Bicycling Mag

2011-02-09T11:29:00.000-08:00

About when i started this blog I took a trip down to Juarez, Mexico. I was there riding and photographing the Chupacabras 100KM mountain bike race. It was an amazing event. Probably my favorite mountain bike race I've ever done. Well, the story from that trip is out now in Bicycling Magazine. I've done a few assignments for Bicycling, now, so keep looking at the mag if you want to see some of my work. This feature is the first of mine to come out.

the way-back files

2011-02-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

How long have I been taking photos of my friends and their bikes? Here are a few from the Ohio years: 1999-2001. I never really got too ambitious with shooting the bike scene back then. I don't even think I considered myself a photographer at the time. I did really love the way our bikes looked on film. I was a messenger for a year out in Columbus, and that scene was so much less self aware at the time. There were no more than 25-30 messengers on the street in COlumbus, we all knew one another, and even though I took some photos I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to see them. There was no COG magazine, Urban Velo, and certainly no NY Times coverage of the underground races/Alleycats. Anyway, here's a mini installment since I happened upon just these few images. Maybe I'll get to digging and see what else I can find. I know I have some mid-90's California cyclocross photos somewhere...

Start of the DC alleycat called "Mayhem". Dupont Circle, 2000.

My second work bike, a Surly Steamroller with a bit of custom rattle can paint and a Columbus Cripplers decal.

My first work bike, Bridgestone RB1, which i trashed in a single Midwest Winter. Not sure who took this photo.

Downtown Columbus, Ohio. 2001.

Midwest Jumpingships trackstand winner. I forget his name....(Kevin?). Sweet Indy Fab track bike and early C R C tshirt.

Me and Chuck Deluxe, the unofficial peacekeeper off the scene. This is a polaroid from my sister kara, sitting on the front porch of the house she bought for $80,000.

That's me about to go over the volcano.

2011-01-31T15:31:00.000-08:00

More to report soon, but here's a glimpse of how I spent a good part of the last 10 days in Patagonia, Chile. Dirt roads, back-of pick-up trucks, cameras everywhere, volcanoes everywhere, shades on (it's summer there!), and um, Pisco Sours. More about the trip over at Team Jamis.

I almost forgot about mornings.

2011-01-18T19:34:00.000-08:00

On monday I uncharacteristically scooped myself from bed around 6:15 am, and stumbled into warm clothes for a bike ride along the coastal artichoke and brussel sprout fields North of Santa Cruz. It's been a long time since i got up early for a pre-sunrise bike ride. Amazing time of the day. Todd of Black Cat Bicycles managed to meet me at the designated 6:30am. I got the coffee and he got the doughnuts. Way bromance!

PS. my sister is a published writer: Word Riot

NYC

2011-01-17T14:07:00.000-08:00

I spent a very quick two days in NYC last week. It was strange being in the cold and coming back to California just in time to catch some of the warmest days since September. I was out East filming interviews with some braniac bike designers and artists. This photo is from Vance Trimble's office. He designed the original Kestrel logo, the DKNY logo, and has an immense expertise in mid-century furniture design, as well as an inspiring collection of 70s road and track bikes (all of which he rides after building them up with period correct parts).

I also filmed Vance's nephew David, founder of the Red Hook Criterium, and all-around rad guy. Here he is in one of my favorite outtake from the Fall 2010 article for PAVED Magazine:

Basque Skateboarding

2011-01-12T01:12:00.000-08:00

Back in early December I was in Bilbao, Spain(Basque Country), and walked into a skate shop in the old town. It was like a museum. Lot's of old boards, a Roskopp 2, some powell decks, but i was mostly stoked to see the Sancheski boards, a now defunct board maker from the Basque country. The one on the right barrowed the Santa Cruz Skateboards type treatment:

The Calender is Full

2011-01-09T10:43:00.000-08:00

It's been an unusually busy January so far. And I haven't even left for Portland, or New York, or Patagonia. I will try to keep up with posting from the road.....

What would the world be like without toe straps?

2011-01-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

1001 uses for these things. Yesterday I was shooting over at the Black Cat Bicycles garage in Aptos, CA, and Todd said; "I don't know how the world functions without toe straps." Seriously, are people outside of the cycling wisdom using something else? I've never come across a simpler tool with more functions than a toe strap. Maybe duct tape, but you can't really re-use that so i don't think of it as a tool per se.

December shooting, keeping warm

2010-12-28T11:21:00.000-08:00

I had a 2-day stills and video shoot the week before Xmas, and despite cold and wet weather predictions we mostly only had to deal with the cold. I feared for the comfort, and the motivation, of the models so I brought along a little liquid inspiration. There's nothing like a quick shot of bourbon to keep the smiles and the legs warm. This probably isn't official brand policy for ad and catalog shoots so I'll leave you guessing on who I was working with.......

2010-12-24T11:15:00.000-08:00