Indian

[Tony Finnerty]

... motorcycle, that is:

http://flipperty.smugmug.com/photos/285615200_Wv72D-O.jpg

This very beautiful piece of elegant machinery was parked at the annual car show and offered for sale in Grass Valley, California. My friend and I didn't make it around the block to the car show until 45 minutes later because we couldn't stop taking photos and admiring it, even though neither of us ride.

http://flipperty.smugmug.com/photos/285615159_ZwkBT-O.jpg

http://flipperty.smugmug.com/photos/285615477_8w7tb-O.jpg

My friend was testing my E-510 at the car show to see if it would be a good upgrade to his well-used Nikon D-40. He ordered the two lens kit after we got home. I used my venerable old E-1 and 14-54 for these photos. Five megapixels still look good to me.

[tb2]

I'm no petrol-head Tony, but I appreciate a piece of sculpted, gleaming metal as much as the next guy. Nicely photographed - the reflections, the blue, and the balance of contrast make these super shots.

Regards, Tony

[cstirlingbartholomew]

My father and his brother both rode Indians in the thirties. Uncle Willy had a four cylinder Indian which was an inline four, not a common configuration. I think this photo is probably a replica not the genuine article. Could be wrong.

Clay

[davsv1]

Disc brakes with what looks like Japan stamped on it, I think it's a modified or replica..Not the "Worlds Fastest Indian" anyway, if you happen to know the story of Bert Munro.

Dav

[llpoolej]

Very cool Tony. I love detail shots like this!

[bilzmale]

Lovely shots with spot on exposure in a difficult setting.

[Tony Finnerty]

Thanks for the comments, everyone! I'm not a gearhead either but I was struck by the beauty and craftsmanship of this motorcycle. I agree with Clay and Dav that this is probably a replica. The "Japan" stamp on the disc brake is a giveaway, although the disc is a long-term wear item that could be replaced in maintenance. The hand-written offer for sale referred to a recent year of manufacture.

With this motorcycle and the cars at the street show I discovered a new appreciation for chrome as art! Chrome is a fascinating photographic subject because of reflections with swoopy distortions. The subject will photograph very differently in different environments. In fact, it changes moment by moment as people walk by.

Exposures are a bit of a challenge too. In post-processing I found that autoexposure tends to underexpose chrome to minimize blown highlights. Chrome in sun without blown highlights just doesn't look right.

[AbeakerZ]

Nice shots Tony Indians are great motorcycles. I had a friend that rode one and sneered at my Harley. He said HD stood for hound dog as it liked to ride in the back of pick up trucks and left puddles where it wasn't supposed to.

That's no replica, Indian is alive and still making motorcycles.

http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/

[Luke]

Not an easy subject to get it right but you succeeded very well. Tony.
Luc

[Ravenwing]

Some beautiful plating there. Quite a machine, and well captured, Tony.

[davidh202]

I had friends that were to have an Indian franchise here in VA the old company had stopped production in 1953 and in 1998 a consortium attempted with many delays to obtain the rights to the brand name. After a battle with production delays, and other dominant makes to reenter the market, they again stopped production in 2003.I believe there is yet another attempt underway at revival.

BTW -very nice captures Tony!

David

[olyinaz]

it's one of the next-gen models produced from 1998-2003. The particular model shown is in some ways part of what killed Indian 2.0 because it features a Harley type motor from S&S rather than a bespoke Indian motor with a distictly Indian look (as the more expensive but troubled new Indian Chief had).

The rights have been purchased and production is set to begin once again in the fall of 2008 on a proper Indian Chief with a bespoke Indian motor. From the web site:

"In 2004, Stephen Julius and Steve Heese, after resurrecting the struggling Chris-Craft Boat Company, turn their attention to Indian. They acquire trademark rights and intellectual properties, and begin to gear up for a return to production by the second half of 2008."

If you know of Chris-Craft boats you might be pleased to know that the same people will be dedicated to doing Indian right this time around and I, for one, am very hopeful.

Here's a photo of the proposed new Chief: http://www.indianmotorcycle.com/TheMotorcycles/tabid/55/Default.aspx

Cheers,
Oly


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[windsprite]

Bikes are not my thing, but I love the details and the reflection of the blue sky. Nice job on the exposure.

[Tony Finnerty]

These beautiful bikes have generated a lot of interest here - thanks everyone. I followed AbeakerZ's link to the website of the reviving Indian Motorcycle company and really enjoyed reading some of the history. Thanks for the additional details, Oly. If I can sell another 200 fine art prints (I'm up to 3 now, so it'll take less than a century) I'll be able to afford a 2009 Chief with the proper motor.

And thanks, Julie. The reflections in the posted shots are of blue sky, of course, contrasting with reddish reflections of brick walls of historic buildings in Grass Valley. I think these shots, and ones taken of shiny street rods on the same day, are the start of a new interest in photographing chrome. :camera:

[blunts]

I have to echo the other posts Tony, lovely reflection shots on the chrome work

Steve