finding balance????

[yellow blur]

I could write a book just on this subject so please bear with me if you can handle it.!!!!

I’ve been into photography for many years, (about 38) but just not at the level recently achieved in the last 5 or so years….. Film was and is great, nothing compares, but digital is getting close. However, as much as I tried to avoid it because of the “Don‘t know if it‘s real“ Photoshop end of it, I did cross the line and go Digital.

Funny thing about this.. I’ve been a mechanic as long as I can remember, but professionally since ‘77. Always been a “GEARHEAD”!! For many years always striving to do my best at it, know as much as possible, work hard and be the best. (always someone better) Self satisfaction of doing your best and helping others is a great reward but doesn’t always pay the bills. I burned out. Came back for awhile and burned out again.

Decided it was time to work on MY stuff!!!!!!! NO more side jobs…….

I have a Cougar (among others), long story (if you’ve read any of my post’s you’ll know there are no short answers) but this was a car “I WAS GOING TO FINISH”!!!!!! I have many projects, always get the mechanicals fine tuned but the fit and finish were never accomplished because I’d have to depend on others or take forever to do it myself -- that perfectionist thing!!… and my luck when left in someone else’s hands has been all bad so it‘s something I avoid whenever possible. This car was NO exception!! Unreal!!!!!!

I completed the drive train but the chassis /suspension was lacking. Steering box was worn, and if you’ve ever driven a ‘69 Cougar or Mustang of that era, you know how poorly they handle. I decided to purchase a suspension package for it-- (I believe it was on 9-11 since I had finally made up my mind to do so, no backing away now!!). Nothing fit -- but it was always my car so they wanted me to believe…Just hog out the holes, etc…. Not buying it!!!!!! Long story but in the end (for the suspension end of it) what should have taken 3-4 weekends (that’s right - 6-8 DAYS) took over 1-½ years to complete with nothing but a fight to get what I paid for.

Next- I purchased a Steering rack -- bottom line the brackets didn’t fit. The company was of NO help. I determined the rack was for another car and I had to fabricate custom brackets to accommodate my car. They were more then willing to look at it AFTER I fixed it to determine what went wrong. So much time had passed they changed hands 3 times so that never happened -- I could go on but another year or more went by!!

Last but not least was the carburetion.. Another long story. DON”T ever buy a Demon carb. Anyway, long story, they are crap!!!!!! After long fights with them to make good (all I wanted was my money back to begin with after attempting to find answers they would not or could not provide) but they’ll fix it … months gone by and much aggravation the final carburetor arrived -- did a cursory look, packed it back up in the box, threw it in the corner where it still sits today.. I FLAT WAS OVER IT ALL -- BURNED OUT-- DONE WITH THE LIES, THE FRUSTRATION AND SO ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You may ask what all this has to do with photography… ? Well, the carb was the straw that broke the camels back so to speak. I purchased a small camera to start selling my stuff off on eBay. I got back into photography (still haven’t sold a thing on ebay) with the results I was getting with this small camera (even with it’s limitations) and encouragement from family and friends. Broke down and purchased a Nikon SLR digital and walked away from mechanics. Went 3-½ to 4 years without opening the garage door, only to change my oil which I would neglect like never before because I didn’t care.. Even though in the back (front) of my mind I knew better. But when you don’t care -- it just doesn’t matter .. But you still know better and the consequences of neglect. But no one’s touching my vehicles, soooooooooooooooooo!!

Really got into photography -- so peaceful, full control, mostly nature but always up to a challenge of something new - and so…I was doing great.. Then my good buddy who had been telling me over the years about this amazing “Ducati” he has…(he’s had 2) . Blah blah blah… I was over the bike thing but still had my 1978 Honda 750F, just bored with it and only road it occasionally. I went to visit him last Christmas (2007) and he insisted I needed to ride this 996 just once… Now he is VERY meticulous about this bike -- I mean fanatical…The bike is “PERFECT” so I’m thinking I’ll pass -- if anything happened, I’m rather rusty at my riding skills.. Thanks but no thanks.. I’ll pass, even though I wanted to!!! You just don’t understand…. He kept insisting… It was a perfect day so I caved because it really is an amazing looking and sounding machine. How can you say no to that so many times????? (I just happened to bring my helmet because of the possibility from earlier conversations, but with the full intention to say no!!).

We went out to an open stretch away from traffic, brought my camera, etc.. More nervous due to his obsession with his Baby (named Angelina - he‘s Italian). I started the bike, got familiar with the controls as best I could….. Pulled away……….. I hadn’t even shifted into second gear and I thought - OMG, what an bike.. I mean it was like stepping 3 light years ahead with technology… I knew bikes advanced but just the feel of this bike ----It just felt “RIGHT”. I was barely off idle… WOW!!! Getting more comfortable with every lap (so to speak) and not even getting “CLOSE” to the potential of this bike (never will) -- the smile (laughter) got me thinking “YOU BASTARD - WHY DID YOU LET ME RIDE THIS BIKE??” Now this would be fun and I want one… Better not.. I’ll kill myself on something like this…..!!

July -- I purchased my Yellow 2000, 996. It hasn’t been a smooth road up till now with the problems I’ve encountered and it shouldn’t have taken the road it has --- shades of the Cougar all over again, reliving the reasons I purchased the camera -- something I didn’t want, but it got me into the garage again, along with my latest purchase of a full size mill and lathe that just showed up without looking for them but one of those “Once in a Lifetime things”, but still something I wasn’t wanting to do really, finding/looking for another path in life. I just wanted to have some fun on it, not work on it.. Trying to kid myself that all I’d have to do is general maintenance until the infamous valve adjustment came…. The rest should be straight forward.. RIGHT?????

So this bike pulled me back into the mechanical “Gearhead” side of life, I put the camera down for 6 months to deal with all the problems encountered with this bike. I tend to dive in head first to get things done, but now I hope I have reached somewhat of a balance.. Picking the camera back up. again. I’ve seen SOOOO many awesome shots while riding this bike but just can’t bring myself to stop -- wouldn’t do any good anyway, didn’t bring the camera -- I’m out for the “RIDE”!!

Looking for answers to the problems I’ve encountered brought me to this site and I hope during all of it I’ve made a contribution to those that may have found themselves faced with similar problems I’ve had. I’ve learned lots from the input of other that have been into these bikes far longer then I and appreciate their help. I will continue to ask, and hopefully I’ll be able help others down the road.

I wanted to share a few shots of my new addiction ….. Yellow Fever??? Haha!! Now that it’s running like it should, it just can’t be described to those that haven’t ridden a Ducati!!!! A-F**king-mazing!!!!!

Thanks for reading my (none detailed) story -- if you actually got that far!!!!

Ron

[plato]

As you have shown, Ducatis are so photogenic. They're likes work so well in small depth of field phots, as shown bu yours of the tank and the tail section. They way they focus/blur in larger aperture shots is just beautiful.

[yellow blur]

Thank you plato, I couldn’t agree more.


I think maybe I should remove this thread, only because the more I think about it the less I feel it is appropriate to this site? Long winded story (who cares?) and didn’t really cover photography other then the photos and all I was really trying to relay is how ironic the fact of the matter is (to me) that this Ducati 996 caused me to put the camera BACK down to work on and fix the problems I’ve encountered so far since purchase, and the “Addiction” it caused in me to get back into bikes because of it’s nature. Thought about selling it numerous times but couldn’t bring myself to do it just knowing all it needed was to get dialed in. I couldn’t stay off of it……..!!

Also, I never really did put the camera down because all that time I was taking photos of the bike (not going out doing my peaceful nature photography – talk about two extremes) because it is such a work of art!! I can’t help but just stare at it thinking I missed an angle, or if I could just capture what I see in it. And this work of art IS such an amazing piece of machinery that was winning races at the top of its game, and still can today!!

Art & Function …. What a Beautiful combination!!!!!!