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I love gardening. I hate weeding. Thankfully, I have a fix for my garden grief: a stirrup hoe.

I started gardening just about three years ago. Before then, I was a garden mooch. I selfishly enjoyed lazy summer evenings on my parents’ back porch, surrounded by stunning native perennial garden beds lovingly established by my mother. The vibrant colors, alluring fragrance, and charming hustle and bustle of wildlife offered a much-needed reprieve from my otherwise technology-fueled existence. But the thought of exerting such effort to plant a garden of my own? Hard pass.

Held on Sunday, May 22, 2022, the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride broke all previous fundraising records. When fundraising ended, a new global record was set. There were 93,456 riders in 802 cities, spread across 104 countries. They dressed dapper and rode their classic motorcycles. And they raised nearly $6 million to support prostate cancer research and men’s mental health.

There was an incredible participation and fundraising effort from riders in North America. In the U.S. and Canada, 14,233 riders from 183 cities raised almost $2.5 million.

Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride Returns to Pre-Covid Format

Compared to the last pre-Covid DGR in 2019, the 2022 ride has raised 4% more. And compared to last year’s event with solo riding and social distancing, this year’s fundraising figure is 47% higher.

Since its first edition in 2012, DGR has gathered more than 400,000 riders of vintage and classic styled motorcycles from 114 countries around the world. Together, these events have raised more than $37 million for men’s health.

Triumph Returns as DGR’s Main Supporter

Triumph has proudly supported the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride for the last nine editions. And for 2022, Triumph and Gibson Guitars joined forces to provide incredible prizes. A one-off T120 Gibson edition will be assigned to the highest fundraiser. And there will also be a Triumph-customized 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue.

Next year’s edition will mark the 10th anniversary of Triumph supporting the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride as the main partner and sponsor. For the occasion, Triumph and DGR fans will have something stunning coming their way.

Paul Stroud – Triumph Chief Commercial Officer:

“It is such an honor to be supporting the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride and contribute towards this year’s incredible result, supporting prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. Next year will mark Triumph’s 10th anniversary as DGR main sponsor and we are working on something incredibly special to celebrate that milestone.”

Mark Hawwa – DGR Founder:

“What an incredible return to group riding! There really is nothing better than seeing tens-of-thousands of gentlefolk smiling and waving their way through city streets, in support of prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. It’s something we have missed dearly over the last two years. Our community returned with vigor this year with the top 3 global fundraisers raising more than any previous year, which we have been proud to reward with the support of our global partner, Triumph Motorcycles. The next year will be one to watch, as we celebrate 10 years together with Triumph Motorcycles in spectacularly sartorial style!”

About the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride (DGR) unites hundreds of thousands of classic and vintage style motorcycle riders all over the world to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 2012 by Mark Hawwa. After inspiration from a photograph featuring classic suits and vintage motorcycles, Mark decided a themed ride would be a great way to combat the often-negative stereotype of motorcyclists and connect the global motorcycling community, and to raise funds for a cause important to every rider.

DGR raises funds for its charity partner, Movember, and is dedicated to raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health programs. Together, DGR and Movember have funded key research and community programs to help men make better connections with mates and lead happier and healthier lives.

For more information and to join your local ride, visit GentlemansRide.com.

RELATED: 2022 Triumph Bonneville Gold Line Editions | First Look Review

The post Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride Raises $6M first appeared on Rider Magazine.

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The post 8 Tips for Stunning Black and White Travel Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

When we travel to new places, our soul is stirred. We have feelings that don’t normally arise – and black and white travel photography can be used to express these emotions.

However, creating compelling B&W travel images is about a lot more than reducing the Saturation slider. In this article, I share some tips on how to approach black and white shooting so you can make impactful photos that’ll stun your friends and family.

1. Think in black and white

Thanks to the power of digital photography, it’s easy to create a black and white image: Just open a file in your favorite post-processing program, then drop the Saturation slider to zero.

Unfortunately, while that method is simple, it’ll rarely give you great results. Instead, you must learn to imagine scenes in black and white before you ever push the shutter button; that way, when you finally take your image into post-processing software, the results look seamless and natural.

So spend time looking at scenes while ignoring the color. See the tonal values instead. The light and contrast in a scene affect how the image will render in monochrome.

Look at how light reflects off surfaces. See the contrast between two objects. Think about lines and shapes and how they fit into your compositions. 

If you can learn to think in black and white, you’ll start to notice great scenes for black and white travel photos. And as you begin to think in black and white more regularly, you’ll notice a huge improvement in your files!

2. Commit to making black and white travel photos in advance

When photographing a new destination, it’s easy to shoot constantly in color – after all, color is natural and obvious.

But if you want to become great at black and white travel images, you need to make the extra effort to work in black and white.

My recommendation? Before you take a single shot, have a plan in mind. Promise yourself that you’ll take a certain number of photos in black and white. Alternatively, aim for a certain percentage of B&W photos.

And when you take your black and white photos, don’t shoot halfheartedly. Practice thinking in black and white, and photograph people, landscapes, architecture, and anything else that lends itself to monochrome.

That way, when you return home, you’ll have at least a handful of B&W photos you’re proud of!

3. Use black and white to express yourself

Black and white is a highly emotive, expressive genre of photography.

So if you want to create stunning B&W shots, why not use your photos to express your feelings about each location?

Whenever you bring out your camera, ask yourself: How do I feel? And how can I communicate this feeling to anyone who might look at my photos? Share the emotions you experience when you are at a temple, in the airport, or see a child begging in the streets.

Pro tip: Look for people who reflect the way you feel at the time, and include them in your compositions. You might find a busker belting out a happy song and another singing the blues. Which one fits with your emotions?

4. Include people in your travel photos

In the previous tip, I mentioned how you can enhance your black and white travel shots by capturing people who mirror your mood.

But don’t stop there! Whenever you see an interesting person, photograph them.

In fact, people look different when photographed in black and white. People also make a place. Including people, even if they’re other tourists, will offer a real-life perspective on the places you visit.

You can shoot wider landscapes that include people – but sometimes a travel portrait, in which you isolate your subject, makes for a great image. I love to look for brightly lit subjects and dark backgrounds; that way, I can create a dramatic effect:

5. Photograph iconic locations with a unique perspective

We’ve all seen the cliché travel photos – the shots that everyone takes at the most famous locations. Go ahead and take a snapshot, too. Make sure you include those photos in your collection. But don’t stop there.

Start by thinking in black and white. Shooting iconic travel locations in black and white will render them differently, and by planning to take B&W images, you’ll already be ahead of the curve.

Then, before you capture any photos, take time to look at the shapes, lines, light, and contrast in a scene. Consider how you can use the light, camera angle, and composition to create something new. You’ll be surprised by how often you can take one-of-a-kind photos at the most popular travel spots!

6. Confidently adjust your camera settings

Before you press the shutter button, imagine the image you want to create. Then adjust your settings accordingly.

In some places, you’ll want to isolate a subject with a shallow depth of field, so you’ll need to dial in a wide aperture setting. In other areas, you’ll want to keep the entire scene in focus, so a narrow aperture will be key.

If you’re after long-exposure blur effects, you’ll need to mount your camera on a tripod and slow your shutter way down. And if you’re interested in capturing fast action, you’ll need to boost your shutter speed to ensure you get plenty of detail.

I’d recommend switching your camera to Manual mode. Then simply experiment with different settings. After a bit of practice, you’ll start to get the hang of manual adjustments. Pretty soon, you’ll be taking well-exposed images like a pro.

7. Have fun with long-exposure travel shots

Long exposures are beautiful in black and white. Therefore, you should always be on the lookout for situations and scenes that feature moving elements!

For instance, you might notice interesting movement at the seaside, on a riverbank, or on a busy street. You can then place your camera on a tripod or a firm surface, determine your composition, and lower your shutter speed to 1/25s or beyond.

(To prevent camera shake, you’ll need to use your camera’s self-timer or a remote release. And make sure you turn off any camera or lens image stabilization.)

Experiment with a variety of shutter speeds. Sometimes you may want to use a faster shutter speed to keep the moving elements recognizable. Other times, you may want to use an extra-long exposure to completely blur your subject.

8. Shoot in RAW and do sufficient post-processing

Most cameras let you shoot in both RAW and JPEG – and if you shoot RAW files, you can apply far more powerful edits. (JPEGs contain less information and are therefore less adjustable.)

That’s why I highly recommend you photograph in RAW! Yes, it’ll take work to learn how to process your black and white shots, but at the end of the day, it’ll be worth it.

Then, when you come home after a photography adventure, make sure to spend plenty of time processing your RAW files. You’ll need to convert your shots to black and white, and you should also experiment with different exposure and color adjustments.

Over time, you’ll develop a distinctive editing style – and you’ll have plenty of fun along the way!

Black and white travel photography: final words

Now that you’ve finished this article, you’re ready to head out and capture some beautiful black and white travel photos!

So remember the tips I’ve shared. Practice thinking in black and white. And enjoy your travels!

What travel photography destination do you plan to photograph next? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The post 8 Tips for Stunning Black and White Travel Photography appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Kevin Landwer-Johan.

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You may be most familiar with tequila in a shot glass, accompanied by a salt rim and lime wedge (AKA training wheels).

But tequila and mezcal are in the midst of a rapid rise in popularity, vaulting agave-based spirits to the top of the liquor cabinet, per Bloomberg.

In 2022…

… American consumers will spend more on tequila and mezcal than whiskey. Per IWSR, they will likely also surpass vodka by 2023, making the combo the most purchased spirit category in the US by value.

Mezcal, known for its smoky flavor, saw US consumption jump 53% in 2021, compared to 27% for tequila.

Combined, the two are expected to fuel 81% growth in the agave category in the US by 2026.

What’s behind the rise?

A combination of factors, including:

• Versatility: Sippable high-end offerings have pushed tequila beyond shots and margaritas. While mezcal can substitute for tequila, it can also be used in drinks that would otherwise call for scotch or whiskey.
• Health factor: Though it’s hard to justify any spirit as healthy, 100% agave tequila is gluten free, low in calories, and has fewer congeners (fermentation products that lead to hangovers) than other spirits.
• Broad appeal: Tequila and mezcal consumption spans age, gender, culture, and occasion, giving it a wider market than other spirits.

There’s also the celebrity factor. George Clooney, Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria, and Justin Timberlake are just a few of the famous figures dipping their toes in the tequila pool.

What’s next?

The growth of tequila and mezcal isn’t exclusive to the US. The UK, Russia, Germany, and Japan are among the 10 largest markets for the agave category — which means global domination could be on the horizon.

If you’re looking for the next mezcal, look no further than sotol, a Mexican spirit made from dasylirion cactus that has (controversially) started popping up in bars across Texas.

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