Goals, My next book

Winter is the worst time for motorcycle riders, because you can't ride; so the other morning I woke needing to hop on my motorcycle, but I was unable to do so, because snow had fallen the night before.  

Needless to say, I had a little pent up energy, that I was able to overcome, slightly anyway, through a creative type of outlet. So with a cup of coffee in my hand, I went to my computer, pulled up the BookWright software from Blurb.com and created what I am calling a very preliminary and potential cover for a photo book about my motorcycle photography, that I am thinking of calling, Harleys and Holgas Forever, after my Instagram handle.  

If you are fan of my photography, and I know that there at least 10 of you out there, you may remember my first photo book, Trout Dreams; I know that there are at least 10 of you out there, because 14 copies of it were bought, and I bought four copies myself.

I learned a lot doing the first book and hope to make this better.  It took me about six years to have enough photographs that I felt were worthy to be in the book and by the looks of my Flickr photstream, I posted my first motorcycle photographs in 2016, so it could be at least two years before I get to that point. 

So here's to more photographs and to more riding of course.  

If you are in the greater Wasatch Front area, in Northern Utah, and want to be a part of the book or at least photograph you and your bike, look for me out on the open road, contact me through here, or on Instagram: Harleys_and_Holgas_Forever. 

Let's Ride

Brian 

Rider and Bike

I like meeting people, I like seeing cool motorcycles, so naturally when I saw this cool "76" Harley Shovelhead ride in at an event a while ago, I knew that I had talk to it's owner and make a few photographs of it.

I usually like to get an over all portrait of a bike, but I think in this case the other two photographs that I made

I always like making a portrait of the rider and his or her bike, and I really think that this one turned out well. I'll say something like, "Give me your best, Yeah, I ride a Harley pose", which always tends to lighten the mood and enables me to get a good portrait.

I like to get a detail photograph of a bike a lot too, and this left side of this Shovelhead, with it's "suicide shift" and skull picture on the tank did not disappoint.

It's coming up on the end of 2019, so this will probably be my last group of photographs that I will post for a while. I am not sure what 2020 will bring, but I will always bring my Holgas with me, and even if I don't make any photographs with my Holgas, I am sure that I will at least make some pictures that you will probably see on my Instagram account, Harleys_and_Holgas_Forever. So check me out there if you already don't.

Here's to many more miles and smiles in the coming year and decade!
Let's Ride!
Brian

Veteran suicide

November 10, 2018 the day before Veteran's Day, an organization in Tooele, Utah, the Life's Worth Living Foundation, unveiled what is being heralded as a first of its kind monument to dedicated to the issue of Veteran suicide.
Being a Veteran, I am horribly concerned about this issue, so naturally I went and took a few friends, both Veteran and non-Veteran alike
 

The numbers vary over the past few years, but it is estimated that 20-22 of my fellow Veterans take their own lives each, which averages to be about one suicide every 65 minutes.  I personally believe that this epidemic is preventable, by doing a very simple thing, something that we are trained to do and is a part of the culture of the military, and that is look out for one another. I realize that this isn't a be all solution, and I am not even sure that there is such a thing for this epidemic, but I know that it is something that can prevent someone from taking their life.

Even if you are not a Veteran, you can help with this epidemic, you can reach out to a Veteran that you may know,  especially if you know that he or she is in crisis.

As I have often said, I am grateful for our nation and the Veteran community, in particular Viet Nam Veterans, because there are many organizations that have been created by Viet Nam Veterans to help Veterans, in particular  my generation to deal with all of the crazy stuff that Veterans deal with.  I could easily name countless organizations like that help teach Veterans an activity or skill, but I will list the following:
Project Healing Waters
Guitars for Vets
Veterans Charity Ride

There are also other organizations like The National Center for Veterans Studies, that are studying this epidemic and making a huge difference.

If you are a Veteran and are in crisis, please call the VA Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1 to talk to someone, or if you prefer, send  a text message to 838255 to connect with a VA responder, and they also offer a confidential online chat session at  VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.

You can also go to a VA facility near you, or even a medical facility of your choosing in your area.

In closing, I want to you to recite in someway and  remember the words of the Spartan Pledge,
"I will not take my own life by my own hand until I talk to my battle buddy first. 

My mission is to find a mission to help my warfighter family."

Life is worth living, so please choose to live.   

Brian

Somewhere on a desert highway...

Somewhere on  a desert highway, she rides a motorcycle...

I know that Neil's lyrics mention Harley-Davidson, but motorcycle at least fits the meter!

From a recent moto road trip that my wife and I took where we rode about 1200 miles in the Southern Utah area.   This particular photograph was on the La Sal Mountain Road, a little side trip we took that day.  The further along we got, the more technical it got, especially for a couple of cruisers, I am sure the couple of adventure bikers we saw that day were wondering what we were doing there.  Ththe road was paved and in good shape the entire way, although there were several cut offs that diverted off into the Moab desert. The road peaks at a summit that is somewhere around 8000', if you follow me on Instagram @ harleys_and_holgas_forever,  you can see a picture I posted of my  Harley in the view area parking lot with the Castle Valley in the background.  

Summer is basically here, which means that I will be riding more, so watch for more moto photos!

Ride safe!

Brian

Fly FIshing, The Wind River Range

Every now and again, I am randomly contacted or by someone I know to either publish a photograph or two or to work on a project together, which is what happened a few years ago from my friend Chadd Vanzanten. Like  most of the projects I am contacted about, Chadd and I began talking about this long before bags (or shall I say backpacks) were packed, plans made, film was purchased, etc for a backpack trip that occurred in July of 2016.

But now, I am happy to announce that the book, On Fly Fishing, The Wind River Range, Essays and What not to Bring, is now available! 

 

I have seven photographs in the  book that accompany a couple of the essays that Chadd wrote that came from our backpacking and fishing trip that we made in July 2016.  

For your viewing pleasure I am posting two photographs from that trip, one that will be in the book and one that won't be.  

This was on the hike out to our base camp and was at a point that was around 10,800'.

The view at our base camp.

To see more and to find out which of these two photographs were in the book go and buy it.  Chadd's essays are great to read and there are several other photographs that his son did too.

Brian

Details

It's been a while since I put anything out there, so I thought I'd post this photograph, a detail shot of tricked out Road King.

I remember seeing this bike in May I believe, at a local biker bar and it immediately caught my eye.  I was able to talk to its owner and took a few photographs of it, but this is  my favorite.
Turns out the owner, goes by "Sarge" is an Army Veteran and we even worked in the same MOS during our respective time in the Army.
You can see the other photograph I took of this gorgeous Road King and more on my Flickr stream, https://www.flickr.com/photos/29959477@N00/ .
If you are on Flickr, look me up, I go by Red Holga Man 

Ride Safe!

Brian

People I ride with - PGR edition

When I was first started riding motorcycles, I remember meeting and talking to a woman at the local Harley dealer who told about her motorcycle experience and how she meet a lot of great people, had been to and seen new places, and other things all because she rode a motorcycle; looking back on that conversation, I can honestly say I have done that and more.

One of the things I have done, that has introduced me to many new people and has provided an opportunity to continue serving my fellow Veterans and their families was join an organization called Patriot Guard Riders or the PGR as we call it.   What is the PGR you ask?

The Patriot Guard Riders is a 100% Volunteer, Federally registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization which ensures dignity and respect at memorial services honoring Fallen Military Heroes, First Responders and honorably discharged Veterans.”

I ride with the Utah Patriot Guard Riders and through it I have met a lot of great people like my brother Mike here.

 To everyone in the PGR, especially those here in Utah, I salute you.

Let's Ride!
Brian