Benz World Blog » Bike

Slow Travel

Jason Benz — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 04:15:29 +0000

The start of 2020 has been very relaxing. For the first time since I can remember, I have no deadlines. Last year I set myself so many targets I often had to drive past photographic opportunities like Uluru because there was no time. This year I have been free to thoroughly explore each location and experiment with subjects under a range of lighting conditions.

My electric mountain bike has been invaluable this year. I finally got an inverter so it can be recharged off grid. Each sunny day I pick a direction and cycle about 10km stopping frequently to shoot. Even if it is rough dirt tracks and steep hills the 10 year old bike battery still has enough juice for a 20km round trip anywhere. By the time I get back to the van its 150watt solar panel has collected just enough sunshine to recharge the bike.

On rainy days I planned to process images but at the moment I am having so much fun flying up and down hills there is almost no power left for the laptop. The upside is in 2020 I have travelled more miles using renewables than with fossil fuels. In 2019 I drove so much the van battery could be topped up with the alternator. Now I am travelling slowly I need the power from the sun more than ever. I plan to add a 350watt solar panel to the van so I will no longer have to ration laptop time to a few hrs per month. Hopefully increasing the output of fossil free photos from photons.

I realised the reason I am getting so much enjoyment from this bike is because it is the first time I have ridden a mountain bike on a real mountain. The tough design is great for going downhill on any terrain and because it is electric it is happy going uphill too.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Lifeguard Hut

Jason Benz — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 01:45:40 +0000

This lifeguard hut was taken at Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia.

This weekend we hosted a flat warming with the few people we know in Southport. It was a lovely day and we were left with a small mountain of food to see us through the spring.

Festival Cycle

Jason Benz — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:12:29 +0000

I had a phone call today telling me this image has won the Cambridge Folk Festivals Reward My Ride photo competition. The brief was to submit an image of green transport to the festival. I did not think the image was good enough for the photoblog but as its won me £300 to spend at my local cycle shop I think it has earned its place.

Ian’s Bike

Jason Benz — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 05:39:00 +0000

I took this while taking my slightly smaller bike round Rutland Water yesterday. If anyone can identify the model of the bike please feel free to comment. In the original image all the colour was in the bright green trees of the background. To put the emphasis back on this impressive machine I used Split Toning on the bike and desaturation and Gaussian Blur on the background.