Inside Argonaut
The Making of a Custom Bicycle Frame Photography by Amy Sakurai 1
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Inside Argonaut
The Making of a Custom Bicycle Frame Photography by Amy Sakurai
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All photographs and text copyright Š 2010 by Amy Sakurai All rights reserved. Book design by Amy Sakurai Release 1.0, July 2010
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This book is for my crazy cycling friends: Trisha, Jan-ReneĂŠ, Bernice, and Jenny Because I know you each really wants a custom frame
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About This Book Ben Farver, founder and bicycle framebuilder of Argonaut Cycles, graciously allowed me to photograph him working at his shop in SW Portland. I did this as my 2010 project for Solo Photo Book Month (http://sofobomo. org) – not as part of any Argonaut promotional or educational material – so complete documentation of Ben’s processes was not part of the mission. The photos are merely a few intimate moments in the day of a fine craftsman. Please accept this collection on that simple basis.
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Argonaut... and Strawberry Ben opened his framebuilding shop in 2007 – the same year I decided to start taking photography seriously. Intense immersion into a craft brings about rapid growth and improvement. Three years seems like an eternity ago in terms of knowledge and experience. In 2009 Ben and his tools moved into the Strawberry Cyclesport / Terra Nova Cycles workshop, owned by Portland framebuilding pioneer Andy Newlands. The photos in this book are in this shared facility, so many are of Andy’s tools and workspaces. However, this is the environment in which Argonaut bicycles are built.
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“I like working with Andy... he really helps me get a good perspective on what I do... I can ask him about stuff because he’s done things hundreds of times... he’ll give me good insight and help me talk through problems.” “But mostly it’s just fun to have somebody else around to shoot the breeze with.” Ben Farver, July 28, 2010
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Building a Frame It’s amazing to see a row of cut tubing become a very special bicycle frame. Ben works quietly and intently, paying serious attention to detail. So focused on his work, Ben did not seem to notice the photographer fluttering about.
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“(for the customer) overall the sense they get from the bike is that somebody took a lot of time and care and expertise in making it... they got this one-of-a-kind piece of craftsmanship that they’re proud of – and makes them happy – and makes them excited to ride a bike.” Ben Farver, July 28, 2010
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“I’d like the Argonaut brand to be known as being a quality product – and known as being a representation of the craft that is framebuilding.” Ben Farver, July 28, 2010
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Argonaut Bicycle The timeframe of this photo book project did not allow for me to follow construction from tubes to a fully-finished bicycle. To illustrate some of Ben’s attention to detail, I took a few photographs of his personal bicycle.
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Notes 69
Cover Photo: Fork Detail Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1.5s, f/16, ISO 200
Andy Newlands in the Shop Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 28mm, 1/8s, f/8, ISO 200
Pedrazzoli Cold Saw Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1.5s, f/16, ISO 200
Argonaut / Strawberry Shop Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 17mm, 1/10s, f/5.6, ISO 200
Andy Newlands Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D @ 85mm, 1/125s, f/2, ISO 400
Pedrazzoli Cold Saw Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/8s, f/5.6, ISO 200
Argonaut / Strawberry Shop Portland, Oregon Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 17mm, 1/500s, f/5.6, ISO 200
Emco Lathe Controls Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1.5s, f/16, ISO 200
Emco Lathe Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 19mm, 0.7s, f/8, ISO 200
Argonaut / Strawberry Shop Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 38mm, 1/3s, f/8, ISO 200
Collets for the Lathe Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 26mm, 1/6s, f/5.6, ISO 200
Emco Lathe Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/8s, f/5.6, ISO 200
Argonaut / Strawberry Shop Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 32mm, 1/4s, f/11, ISO 200
Controls for Emco Combination Milling Machine Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 38mm, 1/6s, f/5.6, ISO 200
Acetylene Gas Regulators Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 40mm, 2s, f/16, ISO 200
Strawberry Sign in the Shop Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 32mm, 1/4s, f/11, ISO 200
Bridgeport Vertical Mill Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D @ 85mm, 1/125s, f/2.8, ISO 400
Brazing Rods Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 3s, f/16, ISO 200
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Hand Tools Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D @ 85mm, 1/90s, f/2, ISO 800
Operating the Lathe Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D @ 85mm, 1/90s, f/2, ISO 400
Head Tube with Badge Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/6s, f/5.6, ISO 200
Hand Tools Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 20mm, 1/4s, f/8, ISO 200
Working at the Belt Grinder Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/10s, f/4.8, ISO 800
Ben Farver at Work Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D @ 85mm, 1/90s, f/2, ISO 400
Brazing the Frame Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 28mm, 1/180s, f/2.8, ISO 400
Working in the Shop Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 32mm, 1/10s, f/8, ISO 200
Ben Working at the Lathe Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 22mm, 1/60s, f/4, ISO 800
Tubes for the Frame Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 31mm, 0.7s, f/16, ISO 200
Working in the Shop Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 17mm, 1/45s, f/5.6, ISO 800
Ben Working at the Lathe Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D @ 85mm, 1/45s, f/4, ISO 400
Working on a Lug Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 48mm, 1/90s, f/2.8, ISO 200
Working in the Shop Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 17mm, 1/45s, f/5.6, ISO 800
Ben’s Workspace Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 26mm, 1/45s, f/2.8, ISO 400
Working on a Lug Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D @ 85mm, 1/90s, f/2, ISO 400
Argonaut Badge Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 0.7s, f/8, ISO 200
Checking Fit Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 19mm, 1/90s, f/4, ISO 800
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Precision Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 44mm, 1/45s, f/4, ISO 800
Brazing the Frame Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 55mm, 1/125s, f/4, ISO 800
Seat Stay Detail Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/4s, f/8, ISO 200
Hand-shaping Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 40mm, 1/125s, f/2.8, ISO 800
Brazing the Frame Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 22mm, 1/250s, f/2.8, ISO 400
Working on the Rear Dropouts Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 30mm, 1/45s, f/2.8, ISO 200
Brazing the Frame Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 44mm, 1/350s, f/4, ISO 800
Taking Shape Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 24mm, 1/4s, f/8, ISO 200
The Custom Frame Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 30mm, 1/10s, f/4, ISO 200
Brazing the Frame Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 40mm, 1/180s, f/4, ISO 800
Frame Detail Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1.5s, f/16, ISO 200
Head Tube / Argonaut Badge Ben’s Argonaut Bicycle Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/3s, f/8, ISO 200
Brazing the Frame Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 45mm, 1/125s, f/4, ISO 800
Bottom Bracket Shell Detail Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1.5s, f/13, ISO 200
Down Tube Ben’s Argonaut Bicycle Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/3s, f/8, ISO 200
Brazing the Frame Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G @ 26mm, 1/125s, f/4, ISO 800
Rear Dropouts Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/10s, f/5.6, ISO 200
Ben’s Argonaut Bicycle Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/3s, f/11, ISO 200
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Saddle Ben’s Argonaut Bicycle Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/3s, f/11, ISO 200
Ben’s Argonaut Bicycle Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/6s, f/6.7, ISO 200
Saddle Detail Ben’s Argonaut Bicycle Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/3s, f/5.6, ISO 200
Self-portrait Amy at Argonaut / Strawberry Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/60s, f/2.8, ISO 200
All photos were captured using a Nikon D300 DSLR, saved in NEF (Raw) format, and processed using Adobe Lightroom v2.2 and Adobe Photoshop CS3 on an Apple Power Mac G5 with 23"
Rear Dropout Detail Ben’s Argonaut Bicycle Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/4s, f/5.6, ISO 200 Fork Detail Ben’s Argonaut Bicycle Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1.5s, f/16, ISO 200
Apple Cinema Display. Lenses used: Nikkor AF 85mm f/1.4D, Nikkor AF-S 17-55mm f/2.8G, Micro-Nikkor AF-S 60mm f/2.8G This book was created using Adobe InDesign CS3, Adobe Bridge CS3, and Microsoft Word 2008 under Mac OS 10.5 on
Top Tube Ben’s Argonaut Bicycle Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/10s, f/3.3, ISO 200
the Apple Power Mac G5.
Ben’s Argonaut Bicycle Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8G @ 60mm, 1/8s, f/4, ISO 200
The font Myriad Pro is used for all body text and book title text.
An interview with Ben was recorded using the Griffin Technology iTalk app on an iPhone 3GS.
The font Alexa is used for section name text and Ben’s quotes. 73
Postscript My schedule had been horrific in June and July – and there was the strong possibility that I would not complete a SoFoBoMo project in 2010. Ben Farver came to my rescue by granting my strange and sudden request to allow me to photograph his operation. I made visits to his shop for photo sessions on July 15, 19, 21, 22, and 30 – averaging two hours per visit. Separately I did a brief interview with him over lunch on July 28. Neither Ben nor I knew what to expect, but I’m happy with the photos that I came away with. This was a fun exercise. And I was able to get this book finished just in time to meet the SoFoBoMo deadline of July 31. Whew! I hope in some way that Argonaut benefits from this little photo essay, too.
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Credits I thank Ben Farver and Andy Newlands for their extensive hospitality and patience. They are both great guys with whom I enjoyed visiting and getting to know a bit. I wish them both great success in their endeavors. The Argonaut Cycles website is: http://www.argonautcycles.com The Strawberry Cyclesport website is : http://www.strawberrybicycles.com
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About Me I started exploring photography in 2007. I’m an artist in general – but also a technogeek, as I make my living as a software developer and IT analyst. I’m loving my excursion into photography. Perhaps it will be a big part of my retirement or second career. I’m also a writer, although I don’t get the chance to write much for myself. I write a lot of technical documentation at work, and I maintain a personal blog, so my keyboards get a decent workout every day. On the web, here’s how to find me: Blog: http://lovelyangel.livejournal.com Photo Gallery: http://lovelyangel.zenfolio.com Website: http://members.macconnect.com/~lovelyangel
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A book by Amy Sakurai / Kokoro Designworks 78