Modern Vespa

For any of you who like to look at pictures of a Vespa (it's a sickness) I pulled together a sort of greatest hits post where you can see a lot of the pictures I make in one place. If I were more technically inclined I could have figured out a way to make a gallery....

They appear in the post titled Vespa Photographs and show the LX150 that I so handily destroyed while changing the drivebelt and the current GTS250ie.

As I get new images I'll probably continue to add them until I figure out a better mode of presentation. If anyone has any ideas let me know. The only requirement is that it be mindless, easy, and free. If it involves chocolate all the better.

Radical.

Great pics. Thanks for sharing.

BEAUTIFULL!

Thanks for your kind words about the pictures. I enjoy photographing the scooter. Photographer friends tell me I need to expand my view to include more of what I am seeing. And I do see more than just the Vespa.

I think.....

Excellent stuff Steve, as always.
I was checking your blog last night, as I do each week and saw the big batch of photo's. I then spent the next 15 minutes or so saying to my wife "you have to come and look at this one too". I don't think she understands yet.
Thanks for sharing your art.

Steve

Those are some absolutely beautiful pics...

I do the same thing. I'll ask my wife to look at some scooter or motorcycle picture or video to see how cool it is and she gives me a look that says "enough already". But she has warmed to the idea of riding herself and one day I hope to be riding with her.

Two words, LOVE IT!!!!!!

those are some really gorgeous photos! enjoyed them immensely! what kind of camera are you using?

All (or almost all---I might have used a Nikon D70s somewhere in there late in 2006) the LX150 photos were taken with a small point and shoot camera---a Canon S50. The early shots of the GTS through the winter and into the spring were taken with the same camera.

Around the end of April I started also shooting with a Nikon D200 SLR, mainly to have access to a longer telephoto lens. You can see the compression resulting from those long focal lengths in some of the pictures.

I still use the little camera though. Used it today in the rain. It's nice to have something you can just shove in a pocket.

Steve,

Your blog was instrumental in my first scooter purchase - my LX150 that I currently own. I'm an amateur photographer, as well, and seeing your fantastic pictures paired with amazing accounts of your travels convinced me that scootering was something I should NOT be missing out on! I've been hooked ever since...

Thanks for putting together this "greatest hits" collection of photos. If you don't mind me asking, would you care to share a bit more about this photo:



It is different from the rest, clearly, and I'd love to know the inspiration behind it.

Thanks for all you've contributed to my scootering hobby, and for creating such a great blog!

Yours very truly and sincerely,

well done steve, you take wonderful pics mate.

Man those pictures are Awesome!!!! You do a great Job!!!

Very nice! Thanks for sharing. I'd love to see some of those framed and on my walls!

-Dan

I used that picture on a promotional postcard for my MFA Exhibition at the end of my tenure as a graduate student. By that time I was already infected by the Vespa virus and it was appearing in more and more of the things I was doing.

I shot it mainly to have something a little more eye catching with some color since all my work was black and white. The two pictures were both in the show which consisted of two large projects. One involved a long documentation of my wife and our marriage. The other focused on landscapes. You can see them HERE Click the links to Kim Project or Landscape Project.

i'd love to be able to take photos like that. beautiful.

Hi Steve, I have read your blog a number of times, and identify with you a bit. I also live in the sticks, 5 miles from the nearest town(masquerading as an intersection and a gas station/general store:) I also like to go slow and enjoy the ride, and love your descriptions of your rides and fantastic pics! I wish I took photos that well, you really are pro...keep up the great work/blog and best of luck in the future with your photographs:) Sally (near but not in Marengo Ohio:)

Inspirational !

Thanks for sharing.

_r

Hey Steve- what a beautiful collection. I love the one with the person jumping through the air in the background. Congrats on the MBI Rider's Choice 2007!

My friend Paul is the jumper. He's always up for acrobatics. I'll have to see what else he can do.

A quick note-my wife & I love your photos-just fantastic. I would gladly purchase a book if it was in print. Your photos inspire me to ride more often-thank you!

Thanks Mike. I've turned the idea of a book over in my head more than a few times. If I can just get it out of my head and into action I might be in good shape!

Great shots, Steve.

Before I saw which camera you were using, I sensed you were getting better and better as a photographer. The early ones truly look like snapshots, and most of the later ones are really awesome.

I'm sure some of that's due to the camera & lens selection, but don't discount your own growth as a photographer!

Thanks for sharing! Awesome (I like the snow one the best, I think)

I can definitely produce a wider range of looks with the Nikon D200 because of the wider range of focal lengths and apertures available to me. It is more of a hassle to carry that camera along though so I still defer a lot to the little point and shoot which can go into the pocket of my riding jacket.

I always worry about hauling the D200 under the seat or in the rear bag wondering what the vibration is doing to the camera...

Wow, Steve, wow. As I scrolled through them I kept thinking, that's my favorite, no, wait, this is my favorite. I thought that about ten times as I was looking at them.

I like the big trees along the road with the headlight piercing through the fog the best. No, wait...

You are an artist.

As already said on your site: superb pictures!!
But, tell me: You are never cold??????
I think I've put my Tucano Urbano since it's 12°C/53°F......

VESPAsfw3, you are my hero. I could only be so jealous for all that riding..

Please somebody here at MV give this man an award for his work.

... and we're so damn proud for going to work on our Vespas . Sad...

Very cool beans!

Hey Steve, have you ever thought of using Flickr for your photos?

http://www.flickr.com/

It's easy to upload them, tag them so they are easy to search, and make "sets" (which are like albums).

http://www.flickr.com/about/

My body stays warm but my hands just kill me sometimes. Taking off my gloves to take pictures get them cold really fast, especially with I drag along the Canon G9 which has a frozen metal body.

I got a pair of Gerbing Electric Gloves for Christmas and they help. Hands still get cold when I take them off for pictures but the gloves warm them back up.

I posted about them on 18 F and Gerbing Electric Gloves.

MacLoo: I have been looking at flickr, smugmug, pbase, and others but really haven't done anything because I've been busy, or lazy, or something like that...

Someday though....

Fantastic collection of photos! Makes me wish I lived somewhere with snow (then I remember snow is cold, wet and slippery )... And also makes me wish I wasn't at work and could go for a long, long ride.

Thanks for the pics. Keep them coming.

Every day's a great day with the old LX. Giddiup!!

Amazing photos. Don't stop posting.

After my all too short 9 mile scooter commute this morning, your beautiful photos helped me prolong the ride. Alas, now its to work. Thanks for sharing.

When my friend Luca Scassa(MV Agusta motorcycle racer/2006 Italian National champ/2007 AMA rookie of the year) when back to Italy this fall I emailed him a link to your photos with the instructions 'if any of your friends wonder what Pennsylvania looks like show them these photos'.
www.motoblog.it posted a out of focus/blurry photo of my wifes Vespa tattoo as the 'foto del giorno'; under the comments section most people felt a vespa tattoo was crazy-but Luca Scassa posted 'the passion for Vespa was great in the USA' and posted a link to your 'Scooter in the Sticks' page to prove his point.
I think your photos are fantastic & really capture the beauty of Pennsylvania.
Thanks & Scoot Free;
Mike

gtmike: Thanks for your kind words about my pictures. I have seen traffic coming from the Motoblog and saw the post in that forum. I had to use the Babelfish translator to get a sense of what they were saying.

Several times my pictures have appeared on Finnish, Swedish, and Russian sites, usually the ones of the scooter in the snow, and when I translate it usually goes something like this----"look at this idiot..."

Screw them !!
Their envy is so transparent....despite their disguises !!

Steve, 8000m.
If Piaggio had bike give away for some photos you would win hands down everytime . Your love of riding comes through on each and every shot . wow. Mp3 rider . Thanks for sharing the boonies, Dave

southern california may have perfect scooter weather,

but we have very little of the kind of beautiful scenery depicted on your picture list.

thanks for sharing