Friday, January 7, 2011

Shadow Shot Sunday 86 - Bicycles around the World.
















Bicycle shots have featured strongly in Shadow Shot Sunday over the past year, and it is not hard to see why... I have always admired the satisfying symmetrical shadows they produce, so I have decided this week to present my selection from recent travels around the world....














The very first one is from my recent trip to Northern Mexico up in Durango - the film set city...whereas the one above is classic Oxford in England where it is absolutely de rigeur to cycle round the city......




















Above is a monochrome shot here in Colonia Roma, Mexico city, whereas below you have the blue skies and waving palm trees of Miami's South Beach - Ocean Drive, as a backdrop to the bike rack....















Next up is the bicycle cabs of Amecameca which is the base town not far from Mexico City where you get the best views of the volcanoes... Smokin Popo and Sleeping Woman......



You will notice that this is the only shot to feature a cyclist, albeit a taxi cab !! We are still not that used to cycling here in Mexico City despite Mayor Marcelo Ebrard's attempts to "green" the place with the cyclathon on Sundays down Reforma, the ecobici scheme with racks of bikes accessed by swipe card, the free bike rentals, and very exciting the new cycle lanes on the main city boulevard Paseo Reforma...







We still have to be shown what a cycle lane is used for with all these rather cute cardboard cutouts introducing us to the joys of cycling in the city.......



I rather like this shot where the cardboard cutout cyclist looks far more real than the actual phantom blur of the eco-bicyclist overtaking her in the new cycle lane. For more shadow shots this week, check out Shadow Shot Sunday by clicking here. Enjoy!!

23 comments:

Johnny Nutcase said...

so many fun bikes! speaking of bikes...I need to get my husband one soon! I owe him a bike!

Owen said...

Hope you get out to ride around town too sometimes, using the bicycling lanes of course... There are a lot more bikes in Paris than people tend to think. And lots of the Vel'lib bike rental stands. Hope your holidays were wonderful. No doubt warmer than here...

lotusleaf said...

We have bicycle cabs in India too. They are called Cycle- Rickshaws.

robin. said...

great shots!! also love the shadow created by what the bikes are attached to. thanks for sharing.

Ralph said...

The bicycles are so cool, the pedaling being universal. So much so, the pictures above as you show can be anywhere on earth, olde or new world. Each picture show is a lovely day with great shadows from the big bike frames to the tiny shadow of a wheel spoke, Wonderfully captured!

Chubskulit Rose said...

Oh wow, what fun shadows these are.. Lots of action.

My Shadows

Sylvia K said...

I love all of your bike shadow shots, Catherine! And bikes do make great shadows with all the fun detail! And it does look so delightfully warm and sunny! I'm yearning for some of that! Enjoy your weekend and have a lovely week ahead!

Sylvia

Martha Z said...

Bikes do make great subjects for shadow shots, but, of course, you need sun too. Sun has been lacking here of late and my bike rests in the garage. I did see some intrepid bikers out this morning, though.

Tom Hilton said...

You're right, bicycles do cast great shadows--and this is a great collection of them. And I love the cardboard cutout shot!

EG CameraGirl said...

I really like your collection of bicycle shadow shots. Bikes do make marvelous shadows!

Cassie said...

How cool is this post?? VERY!! The cardboard cut outs are a real hoot. I especially like the last ShadowShot. Static vs. motion. Excellent! Happy SSS to you.

Beverley Baird said...

What a great assortment of bikes with shadows! Never seen those cardboard cutouts anywhere!
Hope you've had a great weekend!

Hey Harriet said...

As cycling is my main mode of transportation these days I LOVE this series! And those cardboard cut-outs are very realistic. the last one totally had me fooled (although it doesn't take much to fool me). LOVE love love your bike shadows! Happy weekend to you!

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

Yowsas! You are off the charts with the wonderful bicycle shots! Global at that. Man, that is a hard act to follow. I'll never post a bicycle shot again (well, I probably won't remember that vow in the heat of the posting moment).

Laura said...

such wonderful bicycle shadows...they do have a lot to offer, don't they when the sun is shining through!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

What a collection. Bicycles and cameras were almost made for each other.

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

Wow...the cutout deal is a neat program. I would be interested to know how that promotion goes and if it is successful in encouraging cycling in MC.
All the shadow shots are neat...the first is my fav!

Catherine said...

Thanks for all the great comments this week..........very much appreciated!!

Kathe W. said...

cycle on! Great shots!

Clara said...

I love your bicycle shadows. But the cutouts have to be the best. Especially the one with the real cyclist zooming by. Thanks for visiting me today.

The Summer Kitchen Girls said...

ha! you had us really looking for the cardboard at first Catherine! What a fun post...love all of the bike shots :) Happy SSS!

RNSANE said...

I must say, these bicycles have made some of the most interesting and lovely shadow shots I have seen in a long time...they are quite fun and varied!

Unknown said...

Hi Catherine!
I work at AFAR travel magazine based out of San Francisco, and am interested in possibly using some of your images of Colonia Roma in an upcoming issue. I would love to give you more details on what we're looking for, so please email me at Dani@afar.com when you get a chance. Thanks and I hope to hear from you soon!
-Dani