epic. just outstanding.

I would like to sign myself up as being one of the only guys in this picture. I think I could handle that.

I've ridden in the parade the past few years and it really is an amazing event! It's the highlight of my summer. In Gasworks Park I was sitting with the girl painted purple and the harlequin painted girl (btw, they were part of the Where's Waldo ensemble a couple of years ago); funny, Klondike, you didn't get me in any of your shots. :) However, I congratulate you on your great photography. The estimate this year was about 500 riders in total. Looking at all of these pictures brings home to me how big it was. Even though I was in the middle of it I swear that I actually saw less than half of the riders. One thing I do want to say is that as the parade has gotten bigger and more well-known, unfortunately there have been more and more complaints from the women about rude and aggressive photographers. The riders really, truly are just a bunch of normal people. They aren't performers and their attitude toward being photographed varies widely. Everyone knows that they'll be photographed during the ride but many people are uncomfortable with it at the painting party and at Gasworks Park. I'm not accusing anyone of anything -- I love the parade photos, too -- but be polite, don't assume that people want to be photographed, and ask permission. Besides, wouldn't you rather have a photo with a happy, smiling face than one giving the camera a dirty look? Personally, I'm already looking forward to next year's ride!

Welcome Lonemeat, it is great to have an actual rider here.

Yes, some of us are big fans of this event, but most here fully understand that one has to 'allow a certain amount of personal space and politeness' if you want to capture things. Modern cameras seem to reveal a lot more nowadays too, but that, I guess' is progress.

As a 4 time WNBR rider, I am fully aware of intrusive photographers; there was a group of girls in the UK this year who only allowed shots from photographers who stripped naked too. Not something that you could easily entertain in Fremont.


Is there a club or group of you that organise and paint up the riders? or is it a case of just turning up on the morning of the ride and asking to join? Although the other side of the world from here, I cannot help think that to ride at Fremont is 'one of the things you MUST do, before you die!"

IN answer to your last question, the answer is most definately "yes". If the woman is not comforable, then i am not comfortable.

thanks for the info. Concerning the numbers - 500 sounds about right to me and I think, if you accept that number, that my final tally of female riders will show that quite possibly they outnumbered the men.

We've talked a lot about photographers rights and all quite a bit in this forum. It seems that the Fremont solution is to give women a choice. Notice that the bodypainting this year was an indoor/outdoor event. If you were not keen to be photographed, you could stay inside where only known photogs were permitted (there was a sign) But the doors were wide open allowing riders to go in and out freely, and many opted to be painted outside. Also, at Gasworks Park, the main group on top of the hill were in a sort of protected area that was out of sight if you were down below on the north side. Possibly this was a conscious decision too.

I have also been following some discussions in the WNBR London yahoo groups. As Pedro may know, the Brits are very keen (more than in the US) to discussing the issue and finding a solution that is acceptable to the most number of people. There have been some open confrontations between riders and photogs. And then you will find riders chiding other riders to "get over it"! meaning - just ignore the guys with the cameras. And at Fremont, the veteran riders have pretty much learned to do just that. To them, I just wasn't there :)

Anyway, thanks and its nice to here from a rider. I get this strange sense that Pedro may be on line right now checking airfares to Seattle......:)

Which is funny, because I had been thinking London might be kind of a nice place to visit in June....

KLondike

To answer Pedro's question about a club or organization, there isn't one but there are a handful of people who do a lot of work to make it all happen. The history of the naked riders is that it started about 10 years ago with a small group from the Seattle Burning Man community. Since then, as you can see, it has gotten bigger and bigger and it's become a general Seattle "event," with people from all sorts of backgrounds, all ages, shapes and sizes. I don't know if we've ever had someone from overseas but participants come from all over the country. Send me a PM and I can give you information about how you can join the group. I encourage everyone to do it -- it's incredibly fun, and for a first-time rider you'll never find a more friendly, welcoming group of people. As for photography, it's something that gets discussed a lot but I don't think the issue will ever be completely solved. It seems to me that the best solution -- like so many things in life -- is a combination of common sense and the golden rule. Realize that we're all human, be polite, have a sense of humor and don't let a few bad apples ruin your day. The main problem is really the painting party since that's when people are most exposed and identifiable. The group has gotten so big that it's tough to find a big enough indoor space for painting but the last couple of years with an indoor space that spills over into the street seems to be a reasonable compromise. btw, this year I was part of the "Fiscal Stimulus Package" group.

I completely agree with Klondike just a few posts above. There is a comfort zone factor. I'm a Television camera operator and have been sticking a camera in somebodys face for years. I started really doing Still Photography just a couple of years ago, I've drawn from my television background.

After the ride in the Gasworks I will ask or make a motion to a model if I can take her picture. those usually give the best results with smiles, and a wonderful pose. I also like the Candid Pose, where the they are doing something else besides looking at the camera. I only took one close up "bush" shot but I was entranced by it.

This past year as I was framing a group of couples, shot. I heard from the back about a photographer getting a little too close for comfort. The bicyclists can band together, so its always a good idea to get permission or sneak a voyeur shot from a distance. I think I only had a couple of riders who declined. But usually there are a few bad eggs in the dozen, that spoil it for the rest of us who are having just as much fun and excitement looking at the world through our viewfinders.

I have also noted several photographers handing out cards to the riders saying they can find their pictures on there gallery. A nice gesture as well.

look what i found - I didn't know I had these. The dreadlock blonde entering Gasworks Park.

My tally is up another 10 riders or so to about 260. Stay tuned...

KLondike

Be sure to check out this gallery. Lots of bright, clear, large pics. There's an entire series devoted to the beautiful walking/dancing girls who wore pasties. Plenty of other nude/painted girls as well. They're all watermarked, but here's an edited version as a sample.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6182550...7620316653608/

After going thru John Cornicello's photostream, my tally is now between 270 and 280 female riders and other female nudes. I don't epect too many more than this. As for how it breaks down topless vs nude, I'll just give you an example: Of the 41 blue painted riders, 18 were fully nude, 21 topless, and 3 undetermined. This means there were probably well over 100 fully nude female riders. Just a few short years ago, the total number of women, topless and nude, was under one hundred. Man, this ride is BIG now!

BTW - John Cornicello may have been the guy that climbed the ladder at the painting party to take the group pose. And he also makes mention of "other painting locations" (note the plural "locations"). Mmmm.......maybe one or two that were not advertized on the web? I knew some hung out at the front of Hales rather than the back, but as for totally different locations - I believe it judging by the numbers, but where were they?

Also - I have started uploading my pics to Flickr, so please be aware if you happen across them - DavinS06 is me.

KLondike