Wednesday, April 10, 2019

A Little Bit of Red

I think it was SonjaM, who told me before I acquired Scarlett, my red 2014 Ural Patrol Sidecar Rig, that National Geographic photographers liked to have a dash of red somewhere in their pictures.

Over the years, people remarked how well Scarlett's red color showed up in pictures.

Yagi, the newest motorcycle in the stable (or harem as Martha calls them) is a mix of black/blue and silver colors, but mostly black.

This color scheme makes it really hard for Yagi to be seen clearly in some of my pictures.  Of course, over the years, my focus has been to minimize the presence of the motorcycle and emphasize the scenery I see in my rides; but I do want folks to notice Yagi when she's present.

So, here's a thought that's been rattling around my brain of late.

A rattle can paint job, with the brightest red I can find that is good for plastics and paint the presently black plastics (most of them) on Yagi:

Yagi as she is now

 Minimalist Red

Redhead Minimalist

 A bit more red, would involve a red seat cover too so
now we're talking more money than a can of spray paint.

 Over the top Red

Your feedback, my few faithful readers, is requested.  I may end up not doing any painting but your thoughts would be appreciated.

20 comments:

RichardM said...

“Minimalist Red”. Anything more is too much in my opinion. (Since you asked…)

redlegsrides said...

Thanks for the feedback RichardM

Andrew Thomson said...

It's a Yamaha! Blue and maybe some white...






Then it'll look like a fatter, shorter WR....

redlegsrides said...

Fatter and shorter.....you’re not in Sales are you? :)

Canajun said...

I'm with Richard on this one - minimalist red. That is if you must paint it at all.

redlegsrides said...

Thanks Canajun for your feedback

Coop a.k.a. Coopdway said...

I've got to go with Redhead Minimalist. As long as you're doing it, put some red up top. They've been most every color; yours should be unique....if you do anything and I see nothing wrong with that.

redlegsrides said...

Thanks Coop for your feedback....

SonjaM said...

Dom, I'd prefer the Redhead Minimalist. Yagi will be faster that way ;-)

Bluekat said...

Minimal red. The perfect amount of high light!

redlegsrides said...

Thanks SonjaM for the feedback

redlegsrides said...

Thanks Bluekat.

Diamond Dave said...

Yellow!! an official Yamaha color!

redlegsrides said...

No Yellow Dave, and now leaning towards leaving things alone. Thanks.

Steve Williams said...

Well, I suppose I'll first question your supposition about the color Red. I doubt National Geographic photographers are driven to place red in every photograph they make. I looked up images by an old college classmate, Steve McCurry, and while he has lots of pictures utilizing the color red he has lots that don't. Red is the secret to better photographs. I would posit that consist work with the camera, honest appraisals of what you're doing on a regular basis, and a willingness to experiment and try new things will take you further.

That said, I prefer the blue/black/silver machine to any of those using red. Each incarnation just feels like a sort of "Look at me, look at me, look at me" sort of thing. Looking through your past photos I don't have any problems seeing the motorcycle. Save the rattle can time and experiment with the camera. If you must have some red from time to time buy yourself a red jacket and drape it on the bike when it makes sense.

Anyways, I suppose I'm really reacting to formulas to make better photos. They're seductive but lead quickly to nothing special. One caveat though -- there are photographers who obsessively do things over and over and there is power in that repetition. Like the guy who carried a red couch all over the country and placed it in every photograph. And you and I sort of do the same thing with our machines. The secret is the context of the placement. Otherwise they get boring fast. Like those videos of endless GoPro shots of the passing roads. Ugh. After 15 seconds you've seen it all unless something happens.

Make something happen in your photos. That's the challenge. Not the color.

My nine cents...

Trobairitz said...

I agree with the rest, if you paint it any bit of red I'd go the minimalist route. Otherwise I think it would be too much. You don't want it looking cartoonish.

redlegsrides said...

Thank you all who commented, this project is on hold.

CCjon said...

Have you considered the plastic spray colors, that can be peeled off if you don't like it? Easy to try and change as the mood changes. No permanent commitment.

If you don't paint the tank too, it looks like amateur. The attention becomes not the red but the mix-match colors.

Troubadour said...

I believe the 89 was a red and black model year. You can check ebay for a red seat and bodywork.
https://www.tw200forum.com/forum/general-discussion/4432-tw-graphics.html#post43937

redlegsrides said...

Thanks for the tip re the '89 colors Troubadour....