Coming Soon . . . ! (A New) Sturgis Photography Book

We recently published a photography book on the Sturgis Rally - "Sturgis - Nothing Like It."  The book received the "Book of the Week" pick from the publishing staff.  

Now, we are in the process of putting together a second book with more great photos from the rally plus we will be adding text and descriptions to the photos.  Keep an eye out on the blog and we will announce it when it's published.

If you haven't seen our first Sturgis book, click here for a preview.  You can purchase the book there or on our website.

End of Year Print Sale!

Hopefully, many of you received an email from us about our 20% off sale on any event print or Fine Art Gallery print from our website. The email contained a coupon code (SIM1402) which can be used during checkout on our website. Find a picture you want, choose the options, then you'll be asked for a coupon code during the rest of the checout process. The coupon is good through 12/25/08 and can be used as many times as you like.

We've wrapped up our event shooting for the year and decided not to attend the Lone Star Rally. We'll be turning our attention to some product shots for a great company with a great product. If you wear chaps or would like to wear chaps but want something a little lighter, check out HogGaiters. They've got lots of styles, look great, and provide some protection for your lower leg. They will also be set up again on Main Street in Sturgis next year.

Speaking of websites, check out the bike photo site of our friend and competitor (so he thinks) at Remember the Ride. Greg Zook, otherwise known as "Pussy Boy," made his photographic debut at Sturgis last year where we met up with him and did some shooting together. Greg (a.k.a. Pussy Boy) is a great guy as well as being a fine photographer (in his own mind) and was very supportive after Deb's accident. Keep your eyes open next year and you'll probably see him wandering aimlessly through the streets of Sturgis waving his new, bright white Canon 200mm f2.0 lens in your face. Just call him Pussy Boy and he'll leave you alone.

Top Website

MotorcycleBuzz.com has just named us one of the top motorcycle photo sites on the internet based on photo quality and content.  Check out their site, read their review of our site and our photography, and browse their other features.  MotorcycleBuzz.com is packed with all kinds of features, information, pictures, and links for all bikers.  We really appreciate the kind words.  

We were thinking about shooting the Lone Star Rally in Houston, TX at the end of the month but unfortunately they had to move it back to December due to the recent hurricane.  We may still try and make it but December conflicts with some other commitments.  We'll see. . . It would be nice to head south during that time of the year since the weather here in Illinois is pretty miserable around that time.

Shooting Again

As you can see, Deb was out last Sunday taking a few shots at the Rolling Thunder ride.  She manned the booth and did a few shots from her wheelchair but is still limited in what she can do.  Needless to say she's getting pretty frustrated trying to shoot from the chair.  She is now able to drive and hopefully soon will be taking a few steps without the aid of crutches.

Check out this months edition of American Cycle Magazine.  One of the bike spread

s features our photography from a shoot last spring.  Also, this months Easy Riders and In the Wind also features a few of our bike shots.  Look for an upcoming bike spread in v-Twin Magazine also.

Website Additions and Deb's Progress

I've finished posting the "Sturgis 08" picks (go to Fine Art Galleries > Sturgis 08). I added about 300 images to the gallery. We had lots of great photos so it was hard even to narrow it down to 300. Eventually, some will be replaced with new pics so check the gallery often.

NOTE: Our "Event Pics" gallery link takes you to a site where we post all of our event photos. They are unedited and uploaded just as they came out of our cameras. The "Fine Art Galleries" link take you to our favorite photos from various shoots. These photos have been edited individually, color corrected, and some have PS effects added. These are art quality photos. If you are looking for a photo of yourself at a rally, check the "Event Pics." If you are looking for some of our most interesting photos of print quality, go to "Fine Art Galleries."

On a different note, Deb continues to recover and is able to get around now with both a wheel chair and crutches. We're hoping she'll begin to walk again sometime in November. The docs say her leg will never be the same again and she will most likely have chronic pain. She most likely will have limited use of that leg. And yes, the a**hole who hit her has now filed a lawsuit against her. After nearly killing her, he has the balls to sue her for "damage" to his bike. I have a lot to say about this but unfortunately I have to be careful what I say now that there is a lawsuit in progress. Nonetheless, I hope this guy can sleep at night. As I said before, this guy is no biker. A cheap wanna be who can't handle his bike and who thinks all he has to do is ride a bike at Sturgis to become a biker. If he wants to know what it takes to be a biker, he should have a little concern for the person he almost killed rather than inflicting further injury on Deb with a lawsuit.

I've said this before, but I want to say thanks again to all the people who have expressed their concern and wished Deb well. We've gotten lots of help and offers of help. There is no way we could ever repay those who have helped us. We shoot lots of charity rides and donate to various charities and biker organizations throughout the year and will continue to do so. We never expected we would be on the receiving end of others help. Thanks to all.

We especially want to thank Bob Davis of Sturgis Bike Week. In addition to running his business (you are probably familiar with the Sturgis Bike Week t-shirts) he has driven from Sturgis to Bismarck every weekend to cover Deb's wedding photography for her. This usually involves 1 or 2 weddings per weekend and about 10 - 14 hours of shooting per wedding. Bob is not only a fine photographer but a GREAT guy and friend. We cannot thank him enough. Make sure you check out Sturgis Bike Week website.

Another Update

Deb continues to recover at home. Doesn't look like she'll be shooting any bike events for a while. Dr. says she won't be walking for another 3 months. I'll continue to pick up the slack until she's back on her feet again. We did, however, miss one one of our favorite events last weekend. We've been shooting the Minnesota ABATE Rally for a number of years but of course couldn't make it this year. We look forward to going back next year. Deb also missed a couple of days shooting the 105th in Milwaukee. Guess we'll have to wait five years to make up for that.

We continue to have shots published in magazines. Several published in next months's In the Wind and a bike spread in American Cycle Magazine. Those are always welcomed but in light of all the hospital bills and loss of income, it doesn't make up the difference. I have a much better understanding now about the need for health care reform in this country. One accident can completely wipe out a family's assests.

Recovering

Deb was released from the hospital in Bismarck and I returned from Chicago to pick her up and bring her back. She is now recovering at our home in Illinois. One thing I've learned is how wheelchair INaccessible the house is. But she is managing and each day getting a little better physically. Psychologically, she is having a hard time adjusting to remaining inactive. It's difficult for someone who was so active to now be confined to a bed and/or wheelchair all day and night.

On a different note, we are adjusting our schedule due to the accident and have had to cancel several shoots. We (I) will be shooting a small ride close to home on Saturday for the Aurora Chamber of Commerece. Deb may be out manning the booth and slideshow after the ride, but certainly not shooting the ride.

Again, I want thank everyone for all they have done and continue to do for us. The offers of help and support have been overwhelming and greatly appreciated. North Dakota ABATE, Greg Zook (who holds the record for the most phone calls asking how Deb is doing), Nancy and countless others were all there when we needed support. It's nice to know that good people still exist.

More Surgery

Deb came through her second surgery well. The surgery reconstructed her lower knee by putting in plates and screws to reattach the bones to a stable surface. She is going to be laid up for a long time so but at least she will be able to walk again as long and the recovery goes well.

We still have several events to shoot before the major riding season is over. I'll be doing those alone. If she is able, Deb may be sitting at our display but it's going to be a while before she can shoot.

Sturgis Pics

Spending so much time in the hospital has given me plenty of time to work on our pictures from the Sturgis Rally. The unedited files are now up on our proofing site (event pics). We'll now go through them and pic out the best for our Fine Art Gallery > Sturgis Picks. Make sure you come back and check them out. In the meantime, see them all by clicking on "event pics" and go to the Sturgis 2008 Gallery. The proofing site also contains a gallery dedicated to the Sturgis Police. Eventually, we'll take the best and put them into the "Sturgis' Finest" gallery in our Fine Art Gallery section of our main web site.

Progress

Deb is doing much better today and has had many visitors. When she's not talking to friends and family, she is working on her laptop, rearranging appointments, and yes, working on booking future weddings and portraits. She is already planning a trip back to Chicago to shoot a motorcycle ride with me in a few weeks. Of course, all this is dependent on the surgery she has tomorrow to try and reconstruct the bones connected to her lower knee. It appears the swelling has gone down enough for them to begin the procedure tomorrow morning. The doctors say it will be a long recovery, but knowing Deb, if the docs says 6 months then it will probably be 2 months for her. Hopefully, everything will go well tomorrow. . . .

Additional Info

First Deb's progress: She had her first surgery on her knee yesterday which was a prep for future surgery hopefully on Monday. A device was screwed into her upper and lower leg bones to stabilize the leg and hopefully reduce swelling. They will attempt to reconstruct the knee on Monday. She's doing OK but very upset about missing her work and other recent developments regarding the accident.

The state of South Dakota has charged her with disorderly conduct and she has to make a court appearance early in September (like she's going to able to do that). Additionally, according to the insurance company, the "honorable" ex-cop who hit her is planning on filing a law suit against Deb, apparently to recover the cost of a highway peg that was damaged when he hit her. . . Can this get anymore bizarre? What is wrong with people? I honestly don't know how this guy can sleep at night. I'm sure his mind is so clogged with thoughts about that damaged footpeg, that it's keeping him up at night. Poor guy. Maybe I should organize a benefit for him and collect highway pegs from other bikers and send them to him. Maybe it will give him some peace knowing that we too are concerned for the condition of his peg and hope for a speedy replacement. Maybe then he could have some concern for the person he almost killed.

First things first

I'm sorry I have to start our new blog with this, but considering the circumstances, it seems appropriate. (Thanks to Greg Zook of Zook Photo for the picture)

As some of you may know, Deb (my wife) had a terrible accident outside of Rapid City during the Sturgis rally.  I'll explain what I know, and speculate about the rest.  I'm obviously biased but I know my wife and I know how she works.

We were shooting a charity cancer ride for the Top 50 Rally Park and had parked our vehicle about 1/2 mile from the intersection of 385 and 44 waiting for the ride to come through.  Deb went to the intersection to wait while I stayed down the road (44)  about 1/2 mile.  Apparently (or so the guy who hit her says) she darted out into bike traffic to cross the road and was hit by a motorcycle.  The guy who hit her ( a retired cop) says he did everything he could do to avoid her, such as honking the horn and swerving off the road, but couldn't avoid hitting her.  When I got to the scene, she was lying on the shoulder of the road bleeding from the head, nose and mouth and was unable to move.  Apparently, she was hit in the knee by the guy's highway peg which pulverized her lower knee, spun her around and hit the pavement with her shoulder and head.  Her shoulder was separated and she sustained a large cut on her head, and consequently 2 subdural hematomas (bleeds into the brain).

She spent 5 days in the Rapid City hospital and was then transported to a hospital in Bismarck ND where she will undergo several surgeries to reconstruct her knee.  Luckily, the bleeds into the brain have, as of now, not caused any brain problems but she is still being observed.

The financial toll this will take on us will be astronomical.  But the most devastating effect of all this is that Deb's other photography business (Deborah Kates Fine Photography) and all the work she has put in to building that branch of the business will have to start over.  As far as we know now, most, if not all of the work she has booked for the next few months will have to be cancelled and deposits refunded.  I will attempt to do as much as I can to fill in for her, but many people who hired her, hired her because they love her work and want her shooting style - not necessarily mine.  I'm sure after all is said and done, many will cancel and of course we will honor that request.

Deb's will and work ethic are stronger than I have ever seen in anyone.  And, those of you who know her will agree with me.  Her abundant positive energetic attitude will pull her through this.  But in the meantime I have watched her struggle for survival and that struggle is testing her will.  And at times I wonder whether her will is strong enough to help her overcome this.  In rare moments, she has expressed hopelessness and devastation.  But it doesn't last long before she's back to her optimistic self.

I don't believe the story the guy who hit her (the ex-cop) gave to the highway patrol and I don't believe the same story (surprise) his friends also gave.  I know my wife as a person and as a professional.  She did not walk out into traffic as the "honorable" ex-cop says.  I know her.  We are professional motorcycle photographers who have been doing this for years.  We are always concerned about out safety and our fellow bikers' safety when we shoot.  We are also both bikers.  These things have instilled in us a healthy respect for motorcycles and we are constantly thinking safety.  My wife would never walk out into the path of oncoming bikes.  No matter what anyone ever tells me, I will go to my grave believing this.

At times my anger seems uncontrollable.  But it gives way to sorrow when I see my beautiful wife laying in a hospital bed with tubes and devices connected to her.  The out-pouring  of support from our biker brothers and sisters has been tremendous and for me has been the source of much needed support.  They know Deb too, and they know she would never do such a thing.  I'm sorry this is going to create a "biker vs biker" situation.  But then again, no self respecting biker would nearly kill someone then lie his ass off the protect himself.  My opinion is that Sturgis is full of many good honest bikers.  Unfortunately, it also has a lot of inexperienced "posers" who, for a week, get to pretend to be a real biker and eventually hurt someone when their motorcycle skills are challenged.  So, this is not a real biker who almost killed by wife, but an imitator.  And in that I take some comfort.

My sincerest thanks goes out to everyone who has shown their support.  I especially want to thank Janet and the entire North Dakota ABATE organization who stepped up to the plate and displayed what real bikers are like.  Without them I don't know what  would have done.

More to come . . .