Field Notes
July 27
Photography
• This was a quiet week for shooting. I spent a lot of time editing, sending photos to people I've met at rides, posting to Instagram, texting with potential subjects, and working on scheduling shoots. Record breaking heat continued and just eased up last night so I'm hoping that will help.
• A lot of the riders I've met have wanted to have their photos taken, more posed than I would like, but I'm sending these to them and asking to take more. I'm a little surprised since they all have cell phones but I'm happy to do it.
• I'm posting a few more photos that show the diversity of the community and I'd like to work on photographing that.
• Might have to report for jury duty tomorrow. Will see how that affects the coming week.
Research
• I spent more time on the research side this week. I had my first interview with a photographer, which went well.
• The response rate to my inquiries to possible participants has been low. I have sent reminder emails out, but I've also gone back to my search method and re-run the searches to add additional photographers. This has been very time consuming, since it involves looking up every potential participant to see if their work and experience matches the criteria in addition to being an award winner from one of the contests.
• Have sent out additional participant requests now and will continue to send more until I have all the participants spots filled.
July 20
Photography
• It was a busy week with the Mega Ride happening, the first one ever in Denver. The first ride was on Wednesday in Colorado Springs followed by 3 on consecutive days in Denver. We also have been in the middle of a heat wave, so the conditions were challenging. I photographed the pre-ride for the first three, and the full ride on the last day.
• Have been posting to instagram and sending photos to anyone who asks for them and gives me contact info, which has been very time consuming.
• The Mega Ride was very helpful in making contacts with riders to photograph at a later date.
• It was interesting to see the diversity of the population at the Mega Ride events, more so than any other activity I've seen in Colorado.
• There was some tension between the older and younger riders, with the older riders feeling that the kid sometimes act in a way that reflects poorly on the riding community.
• There was a young rider hit by a car last week and injured. I don't know his name but will try to make contact if I can get it from someone. I'd like to photograph him as an example of the dangers of riding.
• I will start making contact with people I met last week and setting up individual shoots with an eye towards taking more intimate photos than I could at the group rides.
Research
• Have sent introduction emails with requests for interviews out to eight photographers and waiting for replies.
July 13
Photography
• Photographed at 3 public Ride Outs in Denver, one private dirt track that is open to the public and one private appt with some kids in town.
• Posting to Instagram and sending photos by text or email to anyone who gives me contact info.
• Need to start getting more appointments for private shoots. People say yes in person but do not answer texts. The regular riders are getting used to me showing up and I'm learning their names. Am close to getting an appt with one of the kids’ moms I met at a ride out. They live in the county. However, there is a heat dome sitting over the state so not a lot going on right now.
• Preparing for the Denver Mega Ride, a major e-riding event that starts Wednesday night in Colorado Springs and progresses with rides in Denver on Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun. Saturday afternoon is the main ride. My goal for the rides will be to cover the rides themselves and to make solid connections with people I meet there for future photography appointments. All of the ride locations and even the Vendor's Row location are announced at the last minute. It will still be very hot for the rides.
• Many counties in Colorado are tightening restrictions so there's some places that people aren't riding any more. I've heard of riders being issued citations.
Research
• Have sent introduction emails with requests for interviews out to eight photographers and waiting for replies.
