Obviously I am taking a break from politics with this. Click here to enlarge above photo.
Pulling up behind this motorcyclist yesterday in Milwaukie, Oregon* on a lovely warm sunny day I saw lots of people on motorcycles out and about taking advantage of the weather. They were all wearing typical bike outfits from leathers to just jeans and t-shirts. It struck me that this man cared more about being literally cool than looking cool.
At some point he’d taken his shirt off and wrapped it around his arm.
He’s riding a Honda and not a Harley so this may say something about his personality. I rather doubt I’d see a Harley biker exposing his Calvin Briefs for all to see.
Even if he wasn’t shirtless, I might have noticed that his footgear wasn’t what I usually expect motorcycle riders to be wearing, not only that they were old-fashioned high top sneakers (not really safe on a bike) but they were pink.
You can even see that he has what looks like it might be a case of psoriasis on his elbow:
I wish I could have talked to the man to learn more about him. My hunch is that he is a typical Portland, Oregon free thinker. I expect he is politically progressive. I’d have been surprised if he was a Trumper.
He is obviously not quite in-your-face like the man pictured below who I photographed at Milwaukie Farmers Market.
* Taken on McLoughin between Gladstone and Milwaukie approaching the Tonkin auto store (upper right in photo) for those familiar with the area.
The Poll:
Street photography, as it is called, is well known aspect of photography with many websites (like this and this) devoted to it. Some people consider it controversial and are against it saying that ordinary people have a right to their images being private no matter where they go and what they do, while others say it is an art form and a kind of photojournalism which can convey much from cultural to political commentary in one photo.
