Every year Mile High Harley-Davidson holds their annual Bug Run and Summer Kickoff Party in late May so that bikers from all around the city can get out on a nice day and break in their bikes for the summer months. I was fortunate enough to follow the hundreds of riders that showed up along the route and get some spectacular shots of them cruising out on the plains as they made their way back to the party. I left in a lot of the movement because I thought it added an exciting dimension to the piece and was stoked about the response I got as they rode by. I usually produced a 2-3 minute piece for their website, but this day I ended up producing two pieces for a combined 10 minutes.
This was shot before I had my HD package on BetaSP using the Sony DXC-D30 Widescreen camera with an 18x Canon Lens and extender to add more depth of field on the really long shots out on the highway. Most of the footage is shot between Bennett and Aurora, Colorado along Highway 40 more commonly known as Colfax Ave., once called “the longest, wickedest street in America.” by Playboy magazine.
The biggest challenge on a shoot like this is to stay ahead of the riders, find a place to shoot from and don’t endanger anyone from your position. Always stay visible on the side of the road for both the bikers and other motorists so that when they see you they’ll wave or holler out. One of my favorite shots of all time is the guy on the thumbnail and at 3:15 who stands up on his bike as he passes through the scene. He even looks back to make sure I’m getting him, probably with a big grin under his hat. Ride On Brother!
