Trinona Triatholon 2011

This last wknd I drove to the beautiful, bluff-country of Winona, Minnesota to photograph the 3rd running of the Trinona.  I was hired to shoot the race, billed as the "biggest little race".  The most notable feature is a monster climb on the bicycle leg and I have to give major props to all the racers who gutted it out to roll over the top of that hill.  It made me glad to be on a motorcycle!

My moto was actually a 1972 Moto Guzzi 850 and I was in the sidecar!  Awesome!  That was a first for me, and it actually worked out better than riding two-up on a normal bike.  I could really hang out of the sidecare and get some low perspectives. Thanks to my driver, Mark for whipping me around the course all morning.

I've got thousands of images to weed through, but I will be posting more as the week progresses.  Once again, well done, racers.  It was super fun to be there doucmenting your struggle.

More images here:  TC Worley Photographer - Facebook

Can you dig it?

Last week I shot photos of a community improvement project that was sponsoerd by American Express and Delta Airlines.  A lot of times the subject matter is not particularly exciting, but I still have to try to make it look intersting.  And whenever I shoot a job, I always try to make at least one image that I like.  It does not have to have mass appeal - it just has to appeal to me. 

This shot is the one I knew I'd like as soon as I took it.  The way these two were digging, mirrored, facing one another was visually interesting to me.  I also like the way the dirt and wall are divided into thirds -- it reminds me of neopolitan icecream. 

You don't have to like it though- this one was for me.

ps -I like my job.

Muddy racing.

This weekend, the first mountain bike race in the MNSCS series was held -- rain and all.  I'm suffering a nagging rib injury, so I (luckily) missed this one.  Not sure what your excuse was, but don't tell it to the lady on left below - she ain't hearing it.

Unidentified "masters" hard chargin lady /// Mrs. Sone in her first Mtn bike race.  Total domination.

Muddy guys.  Far left, Behind Bars///LGR's Mr. Jeff Austin - he gets the smiliest rider award this weekend.

It was a great time of seeing racing friends again after a long winter.  And also a great chance to wrap up testing on a few cameras I will be writing about.  The Olympus TG-610 and Olympus E-PL2 - all these images were taken with them.  Fun little things!

"Little Guy" Matt Allen of Behind Bars/LGR /// Seve Bobusch after his singlespeed annihilation - on his b-day!

Looking forward to more of these, and hopefully I'll be the guy on the bike soon...

Backpacking the Porcupine Mtns.

En route to camp  / A bear sculpture I found far in the woods.

This last weekend 4 friends and myself took to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for some fun in the woods.  The trip was the 2nd annual "Gents in Tents" -- now known for plenty of backwoods tom-foolery, but with an uplifting slant.  We've been known to pray for and check-in on each other when life's been tough for one of the guys.  It's been a great resource for those "bumpy" times.  I'm grateful for each of these guys and hope everyone will at some point have friends like these.

"Team-building" across a beaver swamp /  Sleepy camper

Overlooks with buddies rule  /  The Gents, headed to the campsite

Mtn Biking in Fruita, CO

Red Feather for Duffy and Partners

I had the pleasure of working with Duffy and Partners design firm for the first time this last fall.  They needed shots of snowshoes for their client, Redfeather Snowhoes out of La Crosse, Wisconsin. 

Joe Jr. at D n' P redesigned their entire line with new deck designs.  I love the busy textures on what is typically a mundane utility item.  It's about time good aesthetics came to the outdoor realm.  These are a few of my favorites from the job.

I also shot this image for their client, Water For People:

Fun in Fruita, CO

My pal Joe from Duffy and Partners took these images of buddy Pete B. and myself,  out in Fruita, Colorado this last weekend. 

 Yes, that is snow flying in the 2nd shot.  In the images shown in my last entry, (the 2nd one down) you will see the storm rolling in behind the rider.  Crazy weather in them there hills!

SingleTrack Attack!

Scott S. on the Niner A.I.R. 9 Carbon Single-Speed

While it is great to be home again, I am REALLY missing Fruita, CO right now.  I loaded up in a van with the crew from 29nSngl to spend 3 days railing our bikes around the Fruita trail system.  I'm still a little sore, but it was absolutely divine trail riding.  

Scott S. on the Niner A.I.R. 9 Carbon Single-Speed

The "Kessel Run" - maybe the most fun trail I have ever ridden?

Of course, I took my camera gear along and got some fun images of my friends having a ball out there. 

Joe D. on his Niner S.I.R.9 Steel Single-Speed

If you aren't finding some way to enjoy the outdoors this spring, you have got to get it together -- being active and outdoors with good friends is as much fun as anything I can think of. 

Mtn bike fever

I've been hit by a fierce case of singletrack fever and am striking out today in search of a cure.  My journey will take me to Western Colorado where the Fruita Mtn Bike Festival is happening.  I expect a full recovery no later than Friday midday. 

If you'll be there, say "hi" and smile, because I may be pointing a camera at you.  I'm also packing some GearJunkie swag, so ask me about that too.  

Look for some new Mtn biking images coming soon.  It is quite gorgeous out there!

Ragnarok105 : take 3.

Myself and Robbie, rolling through the countryside.

This last weekend I participated in the 4th annual Ragnarok 105 gravel race in southeast Minnesota.  It's become a tradition for me to kick off my cycling season with this bruiser of a race.  This year my pal Robbie drove 10hrs from Michigan to test his mettle with me. 

Snow hazard, and a typical view of the course. / Lots of farms and rolling hills.

We ended up having a very long day on the bike on account of some hefty cramps that set in on him early in the race.  But its hard not to enjoy an all-day, scenic bicycle ride with a good friend.  We dug deep to get him to the finish and over the many (massive) hills.  I was proud to watch this guy climb EVERY hill on his bike while other riders around us were getting off to walk the worst of them.  Well done, sir!  In the end, we rode 111 miles for the day, on gravel, up hills and through significant saddle pain. 

Robbie, still going. / The look of a man who just finished 111 miles of bikeracing!

I'm really racking up the miles this year and pumped to have an awesome cycling season.  I've even got some destination cycling trips coming, so stay tuned for images and stories from those. 

PS - I love warm weather - don't you?!