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A DOCUMENTARY ANDREPORTAGEPROJECT by Agust Atlason

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TABLE OF CONTENTS3456789101112131415

Intoduction

The test subject

My main subject

Contact and project conclusion

Wrenchmonkees article front page

Wrenchmonkees article

Wrenchmonkees article

Hanne

Dennis

Project blog

Project blog

Project blog

Gusti does Denmark

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INTRODUCTIONCustom and vintage

motorcycles scene in Denmark.

Project descriptionIn my photography study in Medieskolerne i Viborg we where asked to do a project on our own. This is done so we learn how to interact in the real world as a photographers and learn how to stand on our own feet. Learn new things that we are not so good at, with hands on. When I got the description of the project, I thought of what could I do that I was not too good at and what did I want to learn. I instantly thought of making a reportage/documentary on any sort. I drove my motorcycle here to Denmark from Iceland and maybe it would be cool to try something in that direction. So i did.

The approach and learningTo contact and approach people that I want to tell a story about. To grasp how it is done so that this represent a full and understandable story for others to chime in a culture and/or a life or a lifestyle. To write text with the story. Learn how to use smaller cameras so the photographer is “watching and documenting” and not the center of attention and use as less equipment as possible, leave the big camera at home and use a smaller compact one. Get in there and get the story how it is. To get the experience to contact big names in selected subject. Also to find out the right format for photos for an article in papers and websites.

Project genreReportage / Documentary for article for paper and/or web

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THE TEST SUBJECTSThe tryout was withthe Broombasserne

MC Randers

Picking my subjects After a talk with my teacher, I decided with him to do a little test subject to get response from him if I was doing something wrong or that I could do something better and/or different.

My selected test subjectsMotorcyclist Hanne and Dennis from the Broom-bassererne Randers MC Club.Contacted 2 members of the motorcycle club Brombasserne in Randers. Went to a big event with my friend Mark and he helped me find this lady that rides a 1965 Triumph Bonneville 650. When I went to visit her at the club house, I also met Duc Dennis, which has a nice 81’ Moto Guzzi custom café racer. They both decided to be in my project and we went for a ride together with other members of the club. That day we drove 140km together and that is how I earned my trust with them. I think this was not possible without being driving a bike on my own. I asked them about it and that was the case. I wanted to tell a simple story about them and the bikes they have, and try to include the passion they have for riding custom vintage bikes.

Conclusion and what did I learnAfter a talk with my teacher Bertel Stokholm about the test subjects I learned that my approach was not spot on. The photos where ok, but did not fit the project as a documentary/reportage. They where too direct on the person and I needed to learn a different approach to the subject and use different equipment for the job. I used my Canon EOS 5D Mark II and we agreed that smaller camera was needed for the job. With a smaller camera, I could be more invisible and do the “fly on the wall” approach. When you use such a big camera, it is very hard to be invisible in any way. With my approach to the subject and the environment there was a lot missing in the atmosphere. My photos where to direct to the subject and I should avoid eye contact. They also lacked the storytelling they should present.

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MY MAIN SUBJECTThe Wrenchmonkees

A garage buildmotorcycles

When, how and what equipment?The Wrenchmonkees in Copenhagen. The best of Denmark’s vintage custom motorcycle scene. An industry standard and very well known all over the world. For me this is exiting being a motorcycle enthusiast my self. I there for decided to send my favourite motorcycle builders email and check if I could visit them for a day and be a “fly on the wall”. They said yes! The owners of Wrenchmonkees are two, Per Nielsen and Nicholas Bech. I would like to mention that one of the owners of Wrenchmonkees is a very talented photographer, Nicho-las Bech. They are very passionate about there work and my feeling was that this was more of a society then a business. So I tried to get that in my photos. To be better prepared for this job, I bought my self a new camera, the Fuji X Pro. It is a mirrorless camera, small, compact and makes very low sound when working on it. The perfect tool for the job I would say. So I approach this with my new equipment and different vision, the experience from previous subject helped.

Conclusion and what did I learnWhen I went in there to do the job, I was missing my focus to the story and tried to tell it all. After a talk with my teachers and the class, I saw that I had 3 stories with my photos, the environment, the product Wrenchmonkees make and sell, and about the guys that work there. I had way to many photo-graphs, all in all 500. The focus of what I wanted to do was unclear and I tried to do it all. I decided with Bertel to do the story about the owners and theyr’s passion for the job they do and selected 90 photos that could fit that category. They where way to many and Bertel told me to get to 30 photos and then we would select the 10 photos from that I want-ed to use. Kill your darlings he said. I learned that it is hard to take photos out that you really like and just select others that tell and fit the story better. After my presentation for the teachers and the class I also got good comments about my selection of photos. They mentioned that the photos where a little to much cinema graphic and I lacked to have more close ups and also more overview, like shots from far away. Teachers also talked about that I should have more variety of formats, to be able to cut and crop to different layouts. So I selected a few more photos to show and hopefully improve the project.

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Hello Per and NicholasI want to write to you about a small school project and I hope you have the time to read this email. I does not hurt to ask, that is how my mother raised me :) I study photography in Medieskolerne i Viborg ( http://medieskolerne.dk ) and now I am on my 3rd semester. We have a free project that is about working on our own. I chose to to a reportage/documentary about motor-cyclists and customised/vintage bikes since I love that scene. I mentioned you guys as a preferred subject to my teacher and he was happy about the idea and pushed me to at least write you an email about it. If this would be possible, I would need to visit maybe next week, and I would drive my bike to CPH, spend few hours in your workshop and photograph you guys working, like a fly on the wall. It would only be me and a camera, no flashes or other gear and I would not interrupt your work, except shooting one or two portraits on the go, of you or Nicholas or some of your co-workers and some bikes. All information I know from your website and videos, I have read and watched them all ;) So I would not have to interview you guys much. I also know that Nicholas is a talented photographer and you guys would not need any more photos, but, if something good turns out, you can have the photos to use. I would also send you photos to confirm if they are ok to use. I would of course apply all rules you make.A little about my self:I have been doing photography since 1996. Did a lot of work in the good old film and then went digital. I am 42 years old and come from Iceland (born in Danmark, Skælskör) and I have a family of 3 children and a wife. I am also a motorcycle enthusiastic and have own 13 bikes and customised 4 of them. Now I have a Honda CB750K 1977 and a BSA M20 1946, working on that project at the moment. My photos can be viewed here: http://gusti.is - There are few bikes/bikers shot there if you are interest-ed.I can speak icelandic, danish(not the best tho) and english.I want to thank you for taking the time to read this and I would gladly answer any questions you might have. My danish tele-phone number is 53 53 41 35 if you prefer to call. And, I totally understand if this is not possible. But this would be such an honour since Wrenchmonkees are my favourite builders and one has to hope :)

CONCLUSION

THE CONTACT

Hilsen,

Ágúst AtlasonPhotographer - WebdesignerTel: 53 53 41 35http://gusti.is https://www.facebook.com/gustiphotographyagustatla@gmail.com

The answer:Hi Agust.You are welcome to come by, and we will help you as much as possible. When do you think you want to came around?

Best, Nicholas BechWRENCHMONKEES® Aps

Project conclusion and what I learned over allDocumentary and reportage project is something I did not know how to do before. To do this in the real world and make it work is hard, find the right story to tell, make it interesting and story telling, to go in, and get the story is not at all easy. It is very hard to find the focus to the story and how to tell it with photographs and text. There is a lot to think about in all aspect of the matter. First is to find the story, convince your employer (teacher) that this is important story to tell and convince your audience that this is interesting and a full filling story to read and it leaves impression of the subject in that way you want to show it. To be able to tell the story right, you must be good in selecting the right photos and the format you want to present them in. To write a text that support the photos and lay it out in a nice way so the reader/viewer get the best experience. Tools wise you have to know your stuff and pick the right camera for the job even tho that tool is not the strongest in sense of files. To know the limit to retouch your photos and always get the best results possible in-camera. Get to learn how to use layout design pro-gram to get the understanding and fundamentals how photos and text work well together and then you get more understand-ing how to deliver your work. On next page comes a small demonstraiton on how I wanted to display my work, with a front page and a small article, I hope you enjoy!

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CUSTOM AND VINTAGEMOTORCYCLE SCENE

IN DENMARK

WRENCHMONKEES

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THE WRENCHMONKEES

So I came to Copenhagen yesterday evening and spent a night with my aunt, so I could be fresh the morning after. I was supposed to meet the Wrenchmonkees the day after. The stress was settling in! I did not sleep much this night, you know, you are your worst enemy sometimes, building up stress and overthink everything in your head. I woke up early and took a shower. Then I drove over to their’s workshop and met Nicholas Bech, one of the Wrenchmonkees. He was very nice, and told me just to relax and enjoy my time over there, so I just did that. You could instantly feel that the atmosphere was just that, relaxed.

The vintage custom motorcycle scene here in Denmark is rap-idly growing. At the top of the game are the Wrenchmonkees in Copenhagen. A company build on passion and knowledge for the subject, Per and Nicholas work as one person, with different skills. Per is more technical and Nicholas has the design skills coming from the photography and design industry. He also does most of the welding.

Per spends a lot of time at the office, answering emails is a big part of his job, and taking care of the store they run along the workshop. But preferably he wants to work on the bikes, and does so in the evening. I sometimes work 70-90 hours per week, but I enjoy it, says Per and you can feel that he loves his job. The same goes for Nicholas, I absolutely love what I do, here, I spent most of my free time doing what I love and usually surrounded by friends. To be able and visit and just chime in was a wonderful op-portunity for me. The Wrenchmonkees are one of the biggest name in the vintage motorcycle of the world. They take bikes for customers and make them in their’s own way. They don’t snob in any bike kind, they can mostly all be done in they way they want. And they are good at it! They also buy bikes them selves and customize them, and then sell them and they work like a new one. There is a lot of passion for this kind of work going on there.

“Our company today is a result of passion, not a business plan. We work alongside with good friends and likeminded souls who all love the freedom of creating something out of the ordinary.”

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THE WRENCHMONKEESAnd this is the feeling when you walk in there, it is more like a society or a life style culture, not a business or a regular work-shop. All day there was people, friends of them or likeminded visiting. In every wednesday, friend come in and work for free and then earn their’s right to use the garage and work on their’s own projects, which is usually bikes in the style Wrenchmokees do.

In the pursuit of clean mechanical aesthetics we seek to ex-plore the basic expression of life on a motorbike.

We do not necessarily focus on extreme performance or aero-dynamics, but seek to build motorcycles with individual styling and dynamic driving experiences that relates to the style of each motorcycle and the client’s needs.

“In the beginning we spent 200% more hours than we got paid for, and over the years we’ve figured out how to, you know, evolve with the technique that we’re using. And now it’s more like, it’s part of us. We can’t do this without each other. It’s like we’ve become one, Per and I, with the bikes.”

“You don’t have to be worried about scratching your bike. You don’t have to be worried about it if gets, you know, dirty. Actually ride it, that’s what it’s made for. We love to make it look differently, but you should also be able to ride it. That’s what it’s all about in the end.”

To describe the bikes and the way they think about it, this says it all:

They have been building customized motorcycles since 1998, - since 2008 as the Wrenchmonkees.

As Nicholas put it: “We don’t want to do the same bike twice. And that’s mainly just because we want to keep ourselves active with the design and aspects of doing these bikes, and trying to figure out what kinds of bikes people are riding in different styles”

They also sell many accessories for motorcycles and clothing. Wrenchmonkees have their’s own brand of clothing which is designed for the lifestyle of this kind of motorcyclist. Strong and made to last. Also very cool looking, which is a part of the lifestyle.

CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES COPENHAGEN

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HANNE

Hanne and her 65’ Bonneville

Hanne Froberg is a 52 years old lady that rides a 1965 Triumph Bonneville 650. She got the bike in 2001. The bike is completely original. She choses to ride motorcycles because of the freedom and fresh air and good company.

Hanne has no a car so in summers, the bike is her only transportation. And why does she ride an old vintage bike, well, I really like the sound and the looks of the old bikes, she said very proud. The Bonneville is her only bike. Hanne is in the motorcycle club Brommbasserne MC and she likes that very much. She has really good friends there and get a lot of help when the bike brakes down. Broombasserne has 70 members. The best thing having a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle, Hanne said:

“Powered joy, the sound and style. It is often admired when we’re on tour!”

MC BROOMBASSERNE

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DENNIS

Dennis on his 81’ Moto Guzzi café racer

Duc Dennis Madsen is 36 year old and lives in Randers. He got the name Duc Dennis because he used to own a Ducati, but not any more. Dennis now owns 2 Moto Guzzi’s, a 81’ and an 82’ models. I guess he loves italian bikes! One of them is totally original. The other one is a customized Café Racer. He did all the changes him self. Duc Dennis is know to be a good mechanic in the club Broombasserne and he helps others in the club very much. He is Hanne’s mechanic. He told me that having a bike, sometimes saves him from the real world, and he has picked vintage style bikes because of the caracter they have. Old bikes have a soul and the best thing about them he says, When they work, they are super to drive! I asked him about customizing:

“I made a Café Racer, no thanks to original, that’s my style!”

MC BROOMBASSERNE

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19.04.2014 - 08:33

A OPEN DAY IN MOSTENSInce I decided to to a motorcycle stories I needed a place to start. It is hard being a foregner and find the people with the right bikes that you want to photograph and tell storie about. So I contacted my fellow student Mark and he told me about this club that his wife was in once and the would have an open day on saturday. It is that kind of a day that everyone could bring their´s bike or car and race the quar-ter mile. A lot of noise and of course, great bikes and cars! Get things tested after the winter brake. So me and Mark drove up there on our bikes. Mark knew few people around there and we went for a beer and a chat and there I met Hanne, who owned a 65 model of Triumph Bonneville. I asked her if she would be a part of my project and she said “No problem” and laughted. She is a very happy 52 year old woman and I could see that she fitted very well for the project, and it is fun to have a lady in it too. So we decided to meet up on monday and she sended me SMS and asked if I would take a ride with her and her club to Silkeborg. I did.

21.04.2014 - 06:51

OUT RIDING WITH HANNE AND HER FRIENDSAs I mentioned in the last post, Hanne invited me to go for a ride to Silkeborg with her friends, Skalle og Polle, those are nicknames :) So this morning I drove to their´s club house, wich happens to be very close where I live. There I also met Dennis, and he got 2 Moto Guzzi´s, and one of them he had turned into a Café racer. Very interesting bike and me and Dennis agreed that he would do a part of my project, and we would meet the day after. This day we went for a spectacular 140km ride around Den-marks countryside and ended up in Silkeborg. On the way back I photographed Hanne a bit and we also photographed at the clubhouse area. This was a nice way to get to know Broombasserne, wich is the name of the club. They invited me to come around on wednes-days and fridays. Wednesdays for fixing my bike and friday for a beer or a coffie!

PROJECT BLOGAlong with working on the project, I wrote a blog to help me remember what happend what day and also to start with the text I was going to use with each subject. To explain the process better, I wanted to include it in the report. This is layed out as a blog on a website and the first blog post is on top, so it is easier to follow.

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22.04.2014 - 07:35

DENNIS AND HIS CAFÉ RACERWhen I went to meet Hanne, I also met Dennis. He is called Duke Dennis because he ahd a Ducati. But not any more, now he has 2 Moto Guzzi’s. But he kept his name, Duke Dennis. Dennis is the go-to guy at the club Broombasserne. He is able to help with the bikes, he is clever around them and he is Hanne’s mechanic. You could easily see that he has a lot of trust amongst his clubmates and they told me that he is always at the clubhouse wrenching in bikes, his, or someone elses! Dennis is into the vintage café racer scene and he has a beautiful machine that he made him self. A lot of parts has changed on this bike and it is a real beauty. Me and Dennis went for a ride and made some photos of his café racer. I also shot some photos of him fixing the bike. I was in, and the project had been started.

23.04.2014 - 21:30

A DAY WITH THE WRENCHMONKEESThe big challenge of this project, and the backbone of it was done today. I drove from Randers yesterday on my bike and took the ferry from Arhus, since the bike has a bad back tire and is very badly tuned, but that is another story!

So I came to Copenhagen yesterday evening and spent a night with my aunt, so I could be fresh the morning after. I was supposed to meet the Wrenchmonkees the day after. The stress was settling in! I did not sleep much this night, you know, you are your worst enemy sometimes, building up stress and overthink everyhing in your head. I woke up early and took a shower. Then I drove over to their’s workshop and met Nicholas Bech, one of the Wrenchmonkees. He was very nice, and told me just to relax and enjoy my time over there, so I just did that.To be able and visit and just chime in was a wonderful opportunity for me. The Wrenchmonkees are one of the biggest name in the vintage motorcykle of the world. They take bikes for customers and make them in their’s own way. They dont snob in any bike kind, they can mostly all be done in they way they want. And they are good at it! They also buy bikes them selves and customise them, and then sell them and they work like a new one. There is a lot of passion for this kind of work going on there.

And this is the feeling when you walk in there, it is more like a society or a life style culture, not a business or a regular work-shop. All day there was people, friends of them or likeminded visiting Now off to work on the 160 photos that I have choose from the 500 that I shot! PS: Here is a great interview with Nicholas Bech, wich decribe their’s thinking very well. This was a great experience! Thanks Per and Nicholas!

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29.04.2014 - 08:14

WHERE IS MY MIND?This sometimes happen, after a project. You get doubts about it and are not sure how to present it.

For the learning, I ran into that it is very hard to select the right photos. For the Wrench-monkees part, I have many many photos to select from and I have to find out how to tell the story the best way possible. So I have a lot of darlings to kill.

For Hanne and Dennis, it is more straight for-ward, but also a little bit to choose from. Wrote a email to Hanne and Dennis, just to get the raw facts, so I can fill out the photo stories. Today, I will work after my guidlines wich can be seen here and have something ready to show Bertel tomorrow. Let’s do it!

ResourcesGear:

• Fuji X Pro 1

• Lens: 35mm

• Canon EOS 5D Mark II

• Lens: 35mm - 70-200mm

• Honda CB 750K 1977

• Gasoline

Sources:Webites:

• http://Wrenchmonkees.com

• http://mcbroombasserne.dk

• http://www.magnumphotos.com

Books:

• Photo journalism:

The Professional approach

Photo guidelines:

1. Introduction and overview - Start photo

2. A photo focused on activity or a group

3. A close up

4. A portrait

5. Interaction and activitiy

6. A snapshot of the story

7. A series of photos that hangs together to

tell a story

8. A “End photo”

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GUSTI DOES DENMARK

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Medieskolerne i Viborg - HF3