A Blur of Bikes

Over 800 kilometers of professional cycling and countless kilos of amateur mileage at the 25 Annual Redlands Bicycle Classic. Pro bikers from around the world converge on the premier U.S. cycling event in the Inland Empire. After shooting this event for the past 10 years it is still possible to occasionally see something new and find a new angel. It helps that the course changes a little each year. Another thing that made the Saturday of shooting more fun was having photography students hang with me to force me to look for and explain what I was shooting and why. I know I was no were near as beat as the riders on the course come the finish line Sunday but several of miles of walking with gear each day was enough for me to enjoy Monday off.

The Men's and Women's Criterium Races during the 25th Annual Redlands Bicycle Classic in Redlands. Saturday, March 28, 2009. Eric Reed/Photographer

Runnin on Fumes

Lets just say, for now, that it was a 20-hour 550 mile day.

1-Wildomar-Lake Elsinore

Ken Warta, Owner of Big Dog Plumbing, uses has used bartering as an alternative to cash for services. Warta with a Jaguar and mountain bike he traded for with plumbing service. Wednesday, March 25th, 2009. Eric Reed/Photographer/The Business Press


2-Harper Dry Lake - Barstow

March 25, 2009 - Barstow - Calif. USA --Emergency and United States Air Force personal at a command post set up at the site where a F-22 Rapter fighter jet crashed at Harper Dry Lake about 18 miles from Barstow, Calif. also near Edwards AFB in the Mojave Desert. ZUMA Press/Eric Reed

3-Palm Springs

Students from different California universities dance during a Spring Break party at the Holiday Inn in Palm Springs, Calif., Wednesday, March 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Eric Reed)

The End Game

I have photographed basketball games for the past 22 years and from my experience... they never end. I don't mean that they go on forever, I mean, I never see the end of them. Because of sports and newspaper deadlines, halftime is time to scoot. I got the rare opportunity to shoot a whole game because the client, California State University Monterey Bay wanted the whole game. Who am I to argue with that? So in this rare shoot I got to see that games do actually finish in victory or defeat.

Food Glorious Food

Citrus Salmon at Ciao Bella Restaurant in Riverside. Eric Reed/Photographer

A plethora of food shoots. I would never complain about good food especially when it comes to Italian restaurants. Four of them as a matter of fact. In the last few weeks each restaurant shot for magazine food reviews have been from the European boot. Spaghetti Eddies in Rancho Cucamonga, Isabellas in Redlands, Ciao Bella in Riverside and Spaggi's in Upland. Food shoots can be a challenge, the light needs to be right on the food and that does not change much,but the extras, like the atmosphere and chefs change with the mood of the establishment. It dose not work out often but a chance to taste the art is always a perk.

Chef Juan Solarzaino at Ciao Bella Restaurant in Riverside. Eric Reed/Photographer(left)Henry Gonzalez, Owner and Executive Chef checks in with his customers at Spaggi's Restaurant in Upland. Eric Reed/Photographer

The Bruschetta Pomodoro at Isabellas Restorante in Redlands. Eric Reed/Photographer