Godfrey
somewhat colored
At Hanchett Park - San Jose 2019
MiNT Polaroid SLR670m (Polaroid SX-70)
Polaroid Originals 600 B&W
Manual exposure
I was definitely in a "just want to ride and ride" kind of mood. I carried one of my Polaroid cameras but didn't stop to make any photos. It was a "do the usual loop" kind of day, and I did it fast and hard ... it felt great to be breathing hard and working myself. I stopped finally at one of my local cafe hangouts, said hi to a few of the regulars there that I know, and had fun joking with the barista for a bit.
The Polaroid camera I had with me is one of those that was custom modified by a company in Hong Kong for manual exposure control. I'd loaded some faster than normal film in it, used my iPhone as a light meter, and made a quick snap of FCC through the cafe window while I was sipping my coffee and before the sun went down.
By the time I left the cafe, the sun had been past the horizon by a half hour, so I fitted my brighter headlight and set off towards home. I took the slightly longer leg of the usual loop back, still enjoying pushing hard and all the endorphins that pumped up. I've come to like riding in the twilight hour a lot as long as the temperatures are comfortable, and it stayed dry all the way back although I could smell the rain coming.
It was a fine ride, all of it, and allowed me to get lost in the riding and meditate freely. Perhaps today there'll be a window of opportunity again.
Onwards!
G
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
Nice. It has a cool period feel.
Steve M.
Veteran
I like the bike and the photo. Very nice ride. I'm with you on the bike riding and getting the endorphins going, which works better for me if I get an early start.
Right after breakfast I head out to my usual coffee place for some caffeine and cking my to do list, people watch a bit, read the university paper, and back on the bike to run errands or go to my pottery class before heading back home for a breather.
If I do that, the endorphins kick in for the whole day and set my mood. The girlfriend is always saying "you just want to get away from me" and it's true, although not in the way she means it. I just need to do this to get focused for the day. It's wonderful therapy, both physical and mental.
Riding the bike is sorta enforced mindfulness, because one second of inattention can be disastrous. You have to always be focused or bad things happen.
Right after breakfast I head out to my usual coffee place for some caffeine and cking my to do list, people watch a bit, read the university paper, and back on the bike to run errands or go to my pottery class before heading back home for a breather.
If I do that, the endorphins kick in for the whole day and set my mood. The girlfriend is always saying "you just want to get away from me" and it's true, although not in the way she means it. I just need to do this to get focused for the day. It's wonderful therapy, both physical and mental.
Riding the bike is sorta enforced mindfulness, because one second of inattention can be disastrous. You have to always be focused or bad things happen.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
I agree: It takes a lot of focus and attention to be safe on a bicycle or motorcycle, and particularly in the urban environment that I prefer to ride in. I like these vehicles for that, actually; they keep your mind and eyes sharp.
I ride every day that I can. I don't normally go out when it's raining (although that doesn't stop me riding if it starts while I'm out), and once temps are much below the mid-40s °F I get too chilled to be safe, but otherwise I'm out for a 10-20 mile ride six out of seven days a week, with a few rides up in the 30-50 mile range every month. Love doing it.
The challenge has been to incorporate some photography into the riding, because I see so many interesting things as I ride. But I dislike stopping so often, it breaks up my rhythm. Still working at it...
I ride every day that I can. I don't normally go out when it's raining (although that doesn't stop me riding if it starts while I'm out), and once temps are much below the mid-40s °F I get too chilled to be safe, but otherwise I'm out for a 10-20 mile ride six out of seven days a week, with a few rides up in the 30-50 mile range every month. Love doing it.
The challenge has been to incorporate some photography into the riding, because I see so many interesting things as I ride. But I dislike stopping so often, it breaks up my rhythm. Still working at it...