Blending Passions

While recently attending the Overland Expo in Arizona, I reconnected with some of my favorite people in the industry, that I typically only see once a year at these events. One of those was the motorcycle journalist and photographer Alfonse Palaima.

I was excited to chat with him about his recent endeavor Expedition 65 – Exploring South America from Colombia to the “End of the World.”  It was a group journey and one that pushed the limits of all those who participated, from the tight schedule to cataloging the experience.

I was thrilled to see the coffee table book filled with stunning works from Fonzie across many borders and many challenges.  Although this is his first book, this was not his first experience capturing the world of motorcycling.
 
When you look at the magazine racks in bookstores and aisles in the grocery, you may see photos that jump out at you with inspiring action shots of motorcycling.

I want to introduce you to an incredible adventure motorcyclist who not only rides the world but captures it for many of the top names in the industry.

“Considered ‘one of the best in the industry’ by a leading motorcycle manufacturer’s head of PR, shooting for whole industry – press introductions to catalogs – … He has amassed a client list that includes Bell Helmets, Buell, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, Yamaha, and Victory Motorcycles as well as bylines in nearly every print and online motorcycle (and ATV) publication out there.”
 
As Fonzie will say with humble pride, “Look for the name and you’ll find it.” He earned these clients and fantastic lifestyle not through luck, but through good old fashion hard work.

“Working in the motorcycle industry since 2003, he began as a programmer-slash-photographer for Motorcycle.com, eventually climbing the ranks to become Executive Editor for the same magazine. In 2010, he stepped away from the shackles of one publication to work for many.”
 
Fonzie beautifully blends both his passions as a photographer and journalist into the motorcycle industry. His love of the sport and travel has led to our enjoyment of high energy moments/crashes caught with precision on camera.
 
He is a true renaissance man with many talents and directions in the industry. I own a couple of his Horizon Ridewear Neck Buffs that are world maps that I can stitch my travels on as I make my way around the world by motorcycle. They are fun, practical and always lead to great conversation.
 
Be inspired by those that blaze the trails before us, and by the visual they provide to make sure we keep - keeping on in the ever changing horizon of motorcycling.
 
Be inspired by those that blaze the trails before us, and by the visual they provide to make sure we keep -keepin on in the ever changing horizon of motorcycling. For more visit: www.motoinsider.com He also makes an appearance in my newest book, a raw version of my blogs from the Guinness World Record ride available here: http://a.co/78M2coC
 
Written by Danell Lynn, Guinness World Record Rider – www.danelllynn.com, @danelllynn
Photography copyrights & Images by Alfonse Palaima