Archives: RIDE x CREATE

RIDE x CREATE

I’ve been shooting film photography for less than 12 months. The idea of using film with a low end mechanical camera really intrigued me. I saw it as a challenge I wanted to dominate. Understand light and the technique behind capturing the vibe with film was/is my goal. Let me preface that it does NOT matter what you’re shooting with to capture quality images. Some would say the equipment you use is going to define the quality of photography you provide. I disagree. I believe the quality of photography you provide will be dictated by the understanding of quality photography.

What does quality photography mean? This is a question you will have to answer for yourself. What do you see as unique in an image you’ve captured? In my many iPhone/VSCO edited shots I’ve posted to Instagram and blogged about I’ve come across some I love that have received no significant public response where as other photos I’ve shared that I think will gain minimal response the viewers have gone crazy over.

I’ve become more confident in what I shoot and how I present it. At the end of the day you should be developing photography skills for you… not the approval of the internet. With that said… if you are shooting professionally this rule may not apply. Some of the ideology will remain but you’re under the gun to provide the client with what they hold valuable.

The image above (iPhone / VSCO edit) shows my newest addition to finding that line between low end camera bodies and high end lens’. The Carl Zeiss Planar T* 1.4 / 50mm is by far one killer lens!! I feel very confident shooting with it and that transfers into how/what I shoot. I’ve only gone through 2 rolls using this lens so far. This will increase as soon as the weather warms a bit and BMX/Skateboarders get out a bit more.

I hope your weekend will be killer. Find the unfound and capture the uncaptured.

RIDE x CREATE

Dallas City Mural Created by Kyle Steed from Doug Klembara on Vimeo.

When I visit Kyle in Texas we always joke about how everything is “Texas Sized”… “that’s a Texas sized burger/truck/traffic/beer…” and the list goes on. In order to keep Texas “Texas Sized” he had no other choice than to paint this BIG ASS Texas Sized mural for the city of Dallas.

Here’s some info about it/him:

“Kyle Steed, a local dallas multi-disciplinary artis, has just completed his biggest work to date. Along wthe new Trinity Strand Mural, set back off Manufacturing and Farrington, stands the 16 ft. tall by 92 ft. (Editors Note: TEXAS SIZED) long mural. The mural is a play on words of the famous quote by John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your CITY can do for you, but what you can do for your CITY.”

The Dallas CITY Mural explores the line we walk between individual consumers and community creators. It’s about building something bigger than ourselves.

Like the Trinity Strand Trail, this new mural seeks to help bring new life to the Design District and the city of Dallas at large. The large hand-drawn letters are a stark contrast to the cold commercial buildings and affluent boutiques that line the streets. But that’s the focus in all of Kyle’s work; to embrace the imperfections and bring a bit of whimsy to all his hand touches.

Artist Kyle Steed, “I was humbled at the opportunity to make a statement to my city on such a large scale. It needed to be relevant not only to Texas, but Dallas in particular. So whenever I sat down to sketch out some concepts, I played with the quote by JFK and changed ‘country’ to ‘city’ – it fit perfectly. My hope is that it will inspire people to think about ways they can do something to help make Dallas a better place to live, not just a simple consumer.”

Yup… radness acquired. If you are super amped on this and would like to get in touch with good ol’ SteedZ… feel free to contact him with questions (aka interview purposes) or to ask about working in your city.

RIDE x CREATE

Not everyone can ride everyday (and that’s a shame) due to (type reason here), but when you do break free from your responsibilities (hopefully riding is your responsibility) you can hit it up (Note: I’ve been neglecting skateboarding lately [wrist slap])!!

I LOVE finding construction zones! They’re always gnarly with big ass machines hanging out to be put back to work that night or the next day. It’s exciting to break past their “road closed” signs and feel the freedom that I’m the only one on the beaten path.

I highly encourage you to search for these spots and go have a blast! Whether it’s road or building construction, you will always be able to make a fun loop out of it. Cheers!

RIDE x CREATE

Yeah… that Ride x Create thing… we live it.

Go to Kyle Steed’s personal shop and check out his illustration brought to wood. I haven’t done a #whatisonmywood project in a while. This is definitely motivating.

This year will be a good one for sure. We’ve got sweet plans in the works to bring you some goodies you’re going to enjoy. I hope you all have solid plans put in place to dominate this year.

Yesterdays ride was absolutely stunning!  I ended the ride in a lot of pain and exhaustion. Being sick and eating like a fatty couch slave takes its toll, but tis the season. Back to hitting the miles and picking up the skateboard again. Fun times to come. I hope all the best! And big THANK YOU for your support! Cheers

RIDE x CREATE

Posts are a funny thing. I can put up something that seems like an ordinary post (only taking 10 minutes) or I can spend days on one (photo taking/editing/verbiage adding), and get better results out of the 10 minute one vs. the 48’ish hours one. It’s pretty fascinating to watch which posts makes the cut each year.

*(Editors Note: I post stuff up that I personally dig and am only paid by the good time vibes you send with each positive response. Thank you for that!)

Researching and sharing my passion is what builds FOLLY.  That in conjunction with Kyle’s amazing design are the motors that drive our brand. We are FOLLY. We push are limits when we ride x create. That will never change. Thank you for your support and continuing to subscribe to our shenanigans year after year. Cheers!

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THE #1 POST OF 2013

Illustration by Kyle Steed

I’M IN LOVE!

“The thing I love most about working with my best friend is getting to create things just for the fun of it, and watching the progression over time. I feel like this little piece embodies so much of who we are and what we want to achieve. Next year will mark 3 years for Folly and I can’t wait to see how we push past our limits in all things awesome. – Kyle

Illustration by Kyle Steed

And then he drops this on me! I’ve had a couple folks ask me what this means. Essentially, people love excuses, so much so that they give up before they’ve started. They “argue” with them self and debate with others how they will never be good at said desired skill.

List of Preceived Limitations and Solutions:

PL: “I don’t have the money.”  Sol: Time to sell your game system or whatever junk you have lying around or buy less beer or both.

PL: “I’m not good at BMX or Skateboarding.” Sol: How often do you ride? Never… ok.

PL: “I can’t be a photographer. All I have is a phone.” Sol: Go look at Kyle Steed and get inspired.

Although this is on the verge of “motivational speaker” status. My goal is to bring awareness of excuses vs. real limitations. If you want to dominate bad enough… you’ll do it.

With that said… ONTO 2014!! It’s just around the corner and we have a bunch of good things in the works. We’ve held back from producing simple products (t-shirts, sticker, etc.) to really nail something in ’14. Keep your eyes peeled for that. Cheers!

BY THE POWER OF INSTAGRAM!!!

Yup, so I was just chilling, playing with my son and I saw David Cortez post this spot. “I know this spot” said I, and away I zoomed to meet up and take a couple snaps (Editors Note: Don’t worry, Isaac was in good hands with his mom.)

I love impromptu meet ups of the radest kind. Chris and David always have such good perspective on creating lines in spots like this. It definitely meshes with the Ride x Create vibe. To view something that most see as nothing is the goal. These guys dominated that goal.

I thought… get in dem bushes… and I did.

David was a hard dude to capture.  This was the beginning of his line so he was flying.  Chris was a bit easier to capture since he already had a couple feet grinded. Slowed him a bit, and I could snap away.  

There you go! Riders be Ridin.  Make sure to give Chris Rost (@rostafelly) x David Cortez (@bmxstreetninja) a follow on Le Instagram.

RIDE x CREATE

Time for a little trip down memory lane.

Like any strapping young man growing up in the 80’s, bicycles and skateboards were the primary form of transportation. The first time you figure out balance via bike and board, it’s on! You immediately want to push past your abilities and explore surrounding areas you’ve yet to discover. In many ways I am exactly the same.

I moved from Tampa to North Alabama in the late 90’s and couldn’t care less about bicycles. I was a skater through and through. I met good ol’ Kyle steed and we would thrash every drainage ditch we could. Unfortunately he moved about a year after our lifelong friendship was established. This left me buddy-less. Low and behold… a fella down the street was an avid cyclist. I was intrigued. I convinced him to let me borrow his whip for a few days. He agreed. I was off and in exploration mode all over again!

At the time I lived a handful of miles from these dock’s. It was my first thought when I got on this freshly borrowed fredom machine. Packed a bag and headed out.  I remember thinking how bad ass the dock’s were! All run down and rusting. It was as if you could sense the history of the place. I imagined all the busy hard working shipping traffic it must have handled at one point. Facing out from the docking warehouse is the Tennessee river with nice green hills in the background. It’s beautiful and quiet.

That was about 15 years ago. I’ve moved all over the country since then and have found myself living right back in North Alabama. Yesterday I picked up my Surly CorssxCheck all cleaned up with new wheels from Blevins Bicycle Co. I’d been extremely busy travel8ing, planning FOLLYCROSS, and continuing to promote the Ride x Create message. So, when I nabbed my bike back, it was time to go for a simple cruise. This cruise was only about 20 miles but I got to rip through some construction zones (aka impromptu cyclocross course) and head to The Dock’s! It was so rad. The sun was setting, I got to spend time with my favorite two wheeled machine, and there were beers and bike convo back at Blevins waiting for me! Needless to say… my heart was full!

I’d be willing to bet you fine folks have a similar stories. The Ride x Create vibe has no boundaries and offers endless life long joyous experiences. Take hold of said vibe and dominate good people of Follyland!

 Cheers 

RIDE x CREATE