The Official 2018 Calendar Contest Thread

[Hppants]

I learned a little bit about photography in this experience. My dad is the shutter bug. He knows more in his pinky finger than I will ever know about taking pictures. My submittal was toast. I set the camera on a resolution too low. I was done - pissed and done. But my dad came to the rescue. Apparently, Nikon's raw data format allows for some digital interpolation. I learned about that and a lot of photoshop tricks from my dad. To tell the truth, he was kind of flattered that I asked.

Among many lessons learned, ALWAYS set the camera on the highest resolution. Gotcha, dad - message heard.

[Redfish]

Wow!

I agree. I am not telling anyone what to do but that right there should have been the photo submitted. That's cover material.

The only reason I din;t submit it was the lgihting was not too good. I can run it through photoshop and see if I can correct the lighting to get rid of the shawdows. They are welcome to use it if they choose to.

I am not telling you what to do here, I am just complimenting this picture. I am no expert on photography and I am not getting into any "existential bullshit" but this is what I see:

While that pic leaves the riders as silhouettes and the lighting could be better for a "personal" photograph, it works beautifully for our calendar. The bikes are obviously what they are, my eye is drawn to the bikes and then to the incredible location. The riders are left unidentified, which takes the pic from being a pic of specific people with specific identities to anonymous fellow riders. It could be any of us and makes it easier to imagine that it was me that had the courage to take that ride to that place.

I have to say that is one of the finest FJR pics I have ever seen. And that is saying something because EVERY pic that has been submitted this year is a winner.

[wheatonFJR]

Wow!

I agree. I am not telling anyone what to do but that right there should have been the photo submitted. That's cover material.

The only reason I din;t submit it was the lgihting was not too good. I can run it through photoshop and see if I can correct the lighting to get rid of the shawdows. They are welcome to use it if they choose to.

Even if they don't, I'm glad you shared it. It's outstanding! Wow. Even better, there's an awesome trip behind that picture.

[Auburn]

I agree. I am not telling anyone what to do but that right there should have been the photo submitted. That's cover material.

The only reason I din;t submit it was the lgihting was not too good. I can run it through photoshop and see if I can correct the lighting to get rid of the shawdows. They are welcome to use it if they choose to.

I am not telling you what to do here, I am just complimenting this picture. I am no expert on photography and I am not getting into any "existential bullshit" but this is what I see:

While that pic leaves the riders as silhouettes and the lighting could be better for a "personal" photograph, it works beautifully for our calendar. The bikes are obviously what they are, my eye is drawn to the bikes and then to the incredible location. The riders are left unidentified, which takes the pic from being a pic of specific people with specific identities to anonymous fellow riders. It could be any of us and makes it easier to imagine that it was me that had the courage to take that ride to that place.

I have to say that is one of the finest FJR pics I have ever seen. And that is saying something because EVERY pic that has been submitted this year is a winner.

I appreciate the thoughts. I did photoshop it and it does clean up, but not to the level of resolution that will print well on a large format that I would like. Here are the best two options I could get. I like the second the best.



But I will stay with my original. I got a chance to run it through photoshop to clean up the color spectrum. It came out much better. I sent this one in to have is swapped in for the other because it has better resolution.

[DesignFlaw06]

But I will stay with my original. I got a chance to run it through photoshop to clean up the color spectrum. It came out much better. I sent this one in to have is swapped in for the other because it has better resolution.

The image has been updated, but since it is a different image without the filter, the votes for Aubrun's image have all been reset.

Anyone else is welcome to change their image as well, but it requires a reset of your existing votes.

[LKLD]

Question for DF, can we email you a photo in .raw format?

[DesignFlaw06]

Question for DF, can we email you a photo in .raw format?

RAW format is fine.

[Auburn]

I agree. I am not telling anyone what to do but that right there should have been the photo submitted. That's cover material.

The only reason I din;t submit it was the lgihting was not too good. I can run it through photoshop and see if I can correct the lighting to get rid of the shawdows. They are welcome to use it if they choose to.

I am not telling you what to do here, I am just complimenting this picture. I am no expert on photography and I am not getting into any "existential bullshit" but this is what I see:

While that pic leaves the riders as silhouettes and the lighting could be better for a "personal" photograph, it works beautifully for our calendar. The bikes are obviously what they are, my eye is drawn to the bikes and then to the incredible location. The riders are left unidentified, which takes the pic from being a pic of specific people with specific identities to anonymous fellow riders. It could be any of us and makes it easier to imagine that it was me that had the courage to take that ride to that place.

I have to say that is one of the finest FJR pics I have ever seen. And that is saying something because EVERY pic that has been submitted this year is a winner.

Redfish,
I'll have a chance next summer to take the picture again. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I'll do a better job of getting the lighting right for the 2019 calendar.

[wheatonFJR]

Yes, try to do better next time, will ya! Geez!

[yamafitter]

I'm probably going to land in last place, I'm well aware of the biased and old fashioned peeps here (like my ole/old buddy Billy-fitter ) baahhhaahaa...

Had I’d known I was supposed to slag you I would not have given you four stars. Mine you I was blind drunk on Forty Creek and didn’t notice it was a POS BMW.

[gixxerjasen]

I'm probably going to land in last place, I'm well aware of the biased and old fashioned peeps here (like my ole/old buddy Billy-fitter ) baahhhaahaa...

Mine you I was blind drunk on Forty Creek and didn’t notice it was a POS BMW.

Good Lord, exactly how drunk WERE you?

[raYzerman]

I'm probably going to land in last place, I'm well aware of the biased and old fashioned peeps here (like my ole/old buddy Billy-fitter ) baahhhaahaa...

Mine you I was blind drunk on Forty Creek and didn’t notice it was a POS BMW.

Good Lord, exactly how drunk WERE you?

Some of us would say that even when we're sober, but Billy is shy and needs a little propping up with the Forty Creek.

[Top_Speed1]

Hey!, I'm supporting your local distillery, they now stock it at our local liquid drug store.

[fontanaman]

This morning it is raining hard in Seattle so I spent sometime looking for a calendar photo. The photo I submitted is of Mt. Rainier near Chinook Pass with my helmet in the foreground - just something a little different.

Searching brought back a lot of memories. Since 2000 I have put 50k on a BMW R100RT, 80k on a 2005 Vstrom and 86k on my 09 FJR, covering Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alberta Canada and British Columbia Canada. It has been a been a nice run. I plan on tacking South Dakota to the list this year.

This photo from June 2005 is west of North Rim Grand Canyon Arizona in the Kaibob National Forest. Great forest service roads abound and it is a excellent way to experience Grand Canyon without the crush of humanity. Just a little different.



The next two photos from September 2007 in Copper Canyon Mexico on my way to Batopilas. At the time the road to Batopilas was on the world's most dangerous roads list and was considered by some more technical than the Road of Death in Bolivia as it is more narrow while the the Road of Death has more traffic. Having lots of dirt bike experience on single track in the Cascade Mountains came in handy.

Today the road is paved - damn pitty.



One wrong move and yer toast.



Enough rummaging around the images of my past.

[Redfish]

Please keep rummaging around the images of your past. That was Good Stuff.

I am experiencing a little VStrom Envy after those pics.

[fontanaman]

Please keep rummaging around the images of your past. That was Good Stuff.

I am experiencing a little VStrom Envy after those pics.

Thanks Redfish. Ok I will bite by starting a thread on the images of my past. I don't want to jack this thread.

[extrememarine]

I realized that I have almost no pictures of the FJR out on the road this year - too busy riding it I guess. But I did get a few while out in Colorado on the DRZ. I need to pick one of these.

Pikes Peak


After Tin Cup Pass.


Tin Cup Pass


1st drop of the trip - summit of Tin Cup Pass


No idea...


Phantom Canyon Road


Imogene Pass approach.

[El Toro Joe]

The last one (Imogene Pass), Wayne

[wheatonFJR]

2nd one Wayne.

Killer.

[Redfish]

2nd one Wayne.

Killer.

The last one (Imogene Pass), Wayne

Y'all must have more artistic knowledge than I do because I could not pick a winner out of those. I liked them all.

Of course if Wayne had really wanted to show us how tough he was he would have ridden the FJR up there in that dirt and rock world.