THE LOCAL TIME VESPA TOUR took place during the Summer of 2009 before working on Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch. I spent a glorious, rain-free, two months traveling on a Vespa GTS 300 Super between New York and Vancouver, BC.

making pictures and exploring.

The idea was to rarely go more than 150 miles on any given day, eat and support organic, locally produced and harvested foods, pop into Apple stores and Vespa dealerships to give photography presentations, and make new pictures and portraits that will be blogged and geo-tagged along the way. The emphasis was on moving slowly and engaging the country that exists away from the freeways. The framework was simple, spontaneous and privileged local authenticity and uniqueness rather than the constructed and clichˇ.

In a culture awash in homogenized experiences that can't seem to happen fast enough, this trip aspired to have a quieter, more considered tone. I couldn't predict what I'd see or who I'd meet along the way but the hope was I'd be able to engage folks whose voices are as distinct and original as the landscape. With my skills as a professional photographer, I hoped to honor them through portraiture.

The companies I engaged to be part of this trip were folks I couldn't imagine doing so without. Apple made my computer and phone, Nikon made my camera and lenses, Vespa made my scooter. While I'm indebted to many, those were my essentials. Everything else was at the mercy of the muses.

I've made a select portfolio for those who want a glimpse of my efforts and the Flickr Archive has hundreds of images made along almost every stop en route.

Enjoy!

Clay