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Dear fellow motorcyclists,
My name is Arda Ozum and I am writing to you from Canada. I am a structural engineer but I also work part-time as a freelance photographer. I have been riding dirtbikes/motorcycles since I was 12 years old and I would definitely say that motorcycles are my greatest passion in life.
Last year while travelling in Europe, I came across a Ducati M900 parked on a street in Helsinki, Finland. I was admiring this motorcycle as I walked past and realized that I had an incredible photo opportunity on my hands. I took a photo of this bike and I have attached a scan of the photo to this email (copyright 2000, Arda Ozum). When I got the film developed, I was awestruck by how great the photo turned out! I hope the scan is good enough for you to truly appreciate how beautiful this photograph is. Please keep in mind that the colors and sharpness of the original photo are not representative in the scan. If you have trouble opening the attached file, please let me know and I can send it again or try sending it in a different format. If you have any questions about the photo, please feel free to contact me. My contact information is at the bottom of this email and you will have quickest response using my email address.
A little bit about the photograph: The photo was taken on Agfa 50 color print film. Agfa 50 is, in my opinion, an excellent quality film and enlarges quite nicely without losing too much detail. This film has outstanding color saturation as well. I have a 12\" x 18\" (30 cm x 45 cm) copy of the picture hanging in my home and it is very sharp. You may be wondering how this photo was achieved. The photo itself is simply a reflection of the street on the gas tank of a Ducati M900 motorcycle, after a summer rain storm. The photo has not been digitally manipulated in any way and was taken with a very good quality camera and lens.
I have been an enthusiastic motorcyclist for most of my life. When I saw this photo opportunity, I was very excited. For me, everything about the image seemed to embody Ducati and motorcycling as well. For example, you will notice that on one side of the street, the building is modern and new and on the other side of the street, the buildings are old and traditional. Old meets new. This to me is very much what Ducati is all about. Ducati is successfully competing in the modern world while still holding onto some of their characteristic and traditional traits (trellis frame, desmo valves). Also, the modern looking building on the left has the appearance of a motorcycle tire (this requires a bit of imagination, I know!). Finally, what was once a straight street now bends in the reflection and as we all know, motorcyclists love roads that are not straight! I can\'t help but think that this is how a motorcyclist might see his world!
I would like to present your club with a unique opportunity. This photo has been such a conversation piece since I hung it up in my living room that, at the insistence of some friends (motorcyclists and non-motorcyclist), I will print one production run of the photo if anyone would like to own a copy. I would like to keep the numbers small so as to increase the value of the photo in the years to come. I am aiming for around 250 copies (I hope that there will be enough interest to print that many). I was originally going to market the photo to motorcycle dealers but a friend suggested that it might be wiser to offer it directly to motorcycle clubs and their members. This way, the middle man is eliminated and the club members get a good deal (or the club can make a modest profit). Here is what I am planning to do...
I will take orders for the photo from now until June 16, 2001. On June 16th, I will approach the best professional photo developing lab here in Edmonton to have the photos printed on color matte photo paper. I will only print the number of requests that I get. The size of the prints will be 12\" x 18\" (30cm x 45cm). I suspect it will take about 2 weeks to print the photos and I will mail them out right after that. They will likely spend at most 2 weeks in the mail so expect a delivery date around July 15th. I am asking US $20 for the photo (including taxes) plus a packaging/shipping/handling fee of US $5 for North American orders and US $8 for overseas orders. This, I believe, is a very fair price for a photograph that is so unique and printed with the highest quality. Each print will be numbered and signed by the artist (myself). If your club would like more than one photo and if the prints will all be sent to one common address, please add the shipping charge only once to the order. For example, 10 photos sent to your club would be 10x$20 plus $5 for s/h giving a total of $205 for North American orders (and $208 for overseas orders). I will wait 6 weeks after sending the photos before I deposit the checks. In that period of time, if for some reason you are not satisfied with the photo (highly unlikely) please contact me through one of the means provided below. You may send the photo back to me and I will mail your check back to you. Since I am not a corporation, please make checks/money orders out to me: Mr. Arda Ozum, and send them to the address below. Include your contact information and mailing address. I hope that some day when I am a famous photographer, this photo, hanging on your wall, will be worth much more than what I am asking for it today. Oh, and if you know other clubs/bikers that might be interested, please forward this email to them.
At this point, I would like to apologize for the unsolicited email but there was no other way for me to contact so many motorcyclist from so many different places around the world. I thank you for your time and any inconvenience I may have caused. Have a safe summer of riding in 2001!
Sincerely,
Arda Ozum
P.S. All profits will be put towards more photography equipment so please order a copy of this unique and beautiful image!
Arda Ozum, E.I.T.
#603, 9725 106 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5K 1B5
Phone: (780) 425-3164 (Home)
Fax: (780) 481-0988
e-mail: arda.ozum@walterschambers.com
