AMERICAN CHOPPER CHRISTMAS BIKE

He was standing on the corner of Powell and O'Farrell with the biggest cardboard sign I've seen yet. I chuckled when I read it and we made eye contact and started talking. I told him about the $2 Portrait project and he was happy to have his picture taken and tell his story. Ryan is 28 years old and from Green Bay, Wisconsin. He's been in San Francisco for a year and came out with some fellow band members to try and make it in the punk rock scene. He plays drums and ukelele. After a short while, his friends got homesick and returned home, but Ryan decided to stick it out and try to hook up with another band. He said he's played on and off with a few musicians but "it just hasn't clicked with any of them." I suggested he might set-up & play on the street since I've met several professionals who play in clubs and on the street.

I asked Ryan about family and he said he talks to his mother every single day. "She can't be happy that you're out here like this", I said. "I have not been living at home since I was 17, so she's used to me not being around." Before coming out to San Francisco, Ryan used to race BMX bikes on some semi-professional circuit and traveled all over the country. He said it is tough out on the street; there is a lot of "competition". He laughed though when describing the marketing technique of a competitor…a sign that said "I won't lie. I need money for crack." "Are you f'..in kidding me - who would give that guy money?" Ryan said he was headed down to LA for a few weeks with a friend to see if he could pick up a music stint there.

We talked a little longer, I gave him $2, wished him luck and told him I want an autographed CD when he hits it big. He laughed and said thanks.

Taken 7/21/11
Posted 7/28/11

Met up with Rob down the local bmx track in Crewe for a bit of a session last night. Always a busy place with lots of kids putting you to same because they can ride so much better. So decided to get the camera out and thats when they started styling it up a bit.

This taken over the third jump in the main straight, a triple (A take off hump, middle hump and then a landing hump) and you jump all the way over and land on the last. I would say it must be a good 20ft at least. You can only see the last and 2nd hump here. Easily jumping someone stood up, they were even jumping over me with my camera in hand. Luckily i had the 10-20mm to get them all in.

On-camera flash used.