Just cleaning up a couple of loose ends.
As you may remember, I entered a local photo contest. I have several photos on display in the Albany City Hall and at Two Rivers Market across from the Albany Visitor's Center. Dont' know the results, yet. There is a reception Wednesday evening. There the winners of each division will be announced.
One of my goals was to put the photos up and compare them with the other entries. For example, there are 48 entries in the "Events" category. I have a couple of photos in this class. Probably having low expectations, my goal was to not embarrass myself. I'm pleased to say that my photos are certainly no worse than the others. Mission accomplished.
Yesterday a letter arrived in the mail. The Visitor's Association sent me a letter specifically mentioning a couple of my photos. Enclosed was a release form. They want to use the photos for promotional purposes. Of course, I'm flattered. I keep the rights to the originals while they get free usage. Works for me for now.
This isn't one they asked to use. Just something I fooled with in Photoshop. It puts me in mind of the Red Sky at Morning warning to sailors.
On a recent post a few folks asked for some refresher information on cornering technique.
Would you please let me know if there is a particular part of cornering you wanted to read about? Or just the whole technique in general? I'd be pleased to do so, just let me know what would be useful. Warmer weather is right around the corner and a lot of corner carving is due to start soon! Might as well be as prepared as possible, right?
Miles and smiles,
Dan
6 comments:
Good job re the photo contest Dan, now having met YOUR goal....I hope you win in your category!
So what's the prize?
Irondad:
I was reading Geoff James blog about "Straightlining" being illegal in NZ. But that is what I had been doing when you are sure that there are no other vehicles coming your way and you are trying to straighten the curves by cutting the corners, but being very careful to get back to your side as soon as you cannot scan ahead anymore due to blind corners or tight curves.
Also he was talking about riders new to an area and taking the curves too HOT, not being able to negotiate the corner and going off the embankment. When I am unfamiliar with the area I usually take the corners at/or below the posted speed.
I attended the Rally in the Gorge in 2008 and sat in a tutorial given by David Hough, on cornering dynamics and traction control. He had a slide presentation with numerous photos of the situations and asked us to make assumptions, which the next slide negated, such as a large lumber truck over the line on a tight curve on the Olympic Peninsula. He also had diagrams of the lines to take, where you should start based upon the situation and where the apex should be.
He also drives a Hack. I have photos of it somewhere
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
I know this may be basic, but how about a post on bike prep and safety, it is spring after all. Also, I've always wondered, how do you keep your bike cleanish during the cold months?
Dear IronDad (Dan):
I wish you the best of luck in the photography contests that you have entered... And I am relieved that you think your pictures are no worse than the others presented there. My question is "Were these contests strictly for amateurs?"
If so, then I would be surprised if you didn't place highly. But the best contests to win are also the toughest... These are the public acclaim forums of the marketplace. My suggestion to you, and to anyone looking to enter the commercial artistic marketplace, is to only compare their stuff against the best. Be it writing, painting, photography, or even music... The hardest lessons come studing the masters.
Now I don't know squat about taking pictures... But I remember what I learned about riding a motorcycle. And only by emulating the techniques of the experts can you get to the point of validating your own style. So my thought was that you should take a couple of courses, find a style you liked and admired, and studied the elements of that style, and others, to move the fastest through the learning process.
That was my point (which I didn't make very well) in a previous post. Leslie (my squeeze) just sold a picture she took for a couple of hundred dollars. She is walking on clouds. But she has just raised the bar for herself too.
Make sure you do a post on the prizes you have undoubtedly won. I wish you the best of luck in this new endeavor. I did my first ride of the new season this pat weekend. It was a paltry 228 miles. I am still crippled from the effort.
Sincerely,
Jack
bobs and Geoff
Straight-lining (or off-siding) was certainly accepted as a technique in the 'tool box' of the advanced rider in UK up until about 10 years ago.
Since then the emphasis has been more to ride as straight as possible, while remaining on your side of the road. Separately as well many of the really sinueous roads have now being marked by solid line. In UK this signifies that no part of the vehicle (or rider!) is supposed to cross or straddle the line. So to off-side would mean that you were breaking the law and it would be an immediate nick.
The examining bodies came to the conclusion that the extra view, stability (by remaining closer to the vertical) and therefore speed allowed by the technique, were marginal when compared to the extra risk created.
The obvious risk of; 'coming into comflict with oncoming traffic' is not simply your personal risk of ending up as a hood ornament, but also that of the oncoming driver. When he sees you heading towards him on his side of the road ....even if there is sufficent time for you to come back to your side in safety, his first reaction will be
to brake which may affect the stability and safety of his vehicle and that of any other following him.
For my part I would like some comment on something that may be mis-interpretation on my part. But I get the impression that you teach a different line through the curves than in the UK. I would tend to keep in a constant radius towards the gutter or the road centre as appropriate in order to maximise my view. Your techniques seem to suggest that you cut in towards the apex of the curve much earlier.
Good luck with the photo contest and congrats on the new D5000. It seems we both have awesome wives! Mine bought me a new camera too.
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