Michael Brown – Oakland

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Last November 25th, like a lot of frustrated Americans, I headed to my downtown to show support for Michael Brown and other young black men that have recently lost their lives at the hands of the police. In the weeks to come, protests escalated and of course there were looters just looking to get into a crowd, but the overall environment that I witnessed was extremely peaceful. I was very proud to walk with the city of Oakland that night and am glad that many people showed up to demonstrate rather than to sit silent. – Tim

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photos by Tim Gatto

Yosemite backpacking Part 1

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Early this summer, I trekked out to North Yosemite with friends and backpacked the many small lakes of Tuolumne meadows. It was my first time back to Yosemite in a decade, and it was just as amazing as I remember it. A flash thunderstorm had us rushing to the destination on the first day, but the next day the weather cleared and we had a lake to swim and fish all weekend. Another set of photos soon. – Tim Gatto Yosemite June 2014

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photos by Tim Gatto

Eastern Sierra motorbike trip

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The middle of August 2014, some friends and I took a few days off of work and took the bikes out to the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada range. We met up on Friday morning the 15th in Dublin, being that all of us were from all over the Bay area. We crossed the Sierras that afternoon via hwy 88 and Carson pass. Descending the east side we set our sights on making it to the ghost town of Bodie by mid afternoon, then a supply run in Mammoth Lakes and settle that evening at the campground on Convict Lake. After a fairly cold night sleeping on the black top next to my bike (I almost always refuse to bring any kind of shelter to save weight, hassle of repacking and for a little shit talking rights) we crossed hwy 395 and headed a bit east to one of the regions hot spring fed tubs. Locals have built make shift hot tubs around the valley and rigged piping and mixing valves to regulate temperature and levels. Pretty amazing experience, I can't wait to get back out there in the winter with clear crisp air and some snow on the ground. After the bath, we pulled the triggers and shot south to the Alabama Hills outside of Lone Pine, CA. We toured the hills on foot with a clear view of Mt. Whitney looming above us, and the heat of 100 degrees in direct sunlight searing our skin. As we left the hills we headed back north with a destination of the Ancient Bristle Cone Pine Forest and camping in the White Mountains that night. Problems arose for me and my rear tire on the ascent of hwy 168 when had a tire puncture and became stranded with no cell service and tourists un willing to stop or even offer help. The other 4 in the group continued on to the camp as I dealt with the tire. A nice local man with a rock crawler jeep stopped and had air onboard which I used to inflate my tire with a half ass repair I had performed with tire plugs. I returned to Big Pine below and performed a more permanent 3/4 ass repair then with much consideration and hesitation, I decided to head back up the mountains and attempt to join the group. I made it and after well earned beers, and a nice fire we packed it in for the night. The next morning scoped out the oldest trees in the world for a few minutes and then started the trek down the mountain and back north to the 395 / 89 junction. A quick ride by view of Mono Lake and we were at the junction by 2pm. Scaling the Sierra with Silver Lake as the next stop on our journey, we made excellent time while I finally regained some confidence in the ability of my rear tire to retain air pressure. A 2 hour stop over at one of the guys' bosses USFS cabin and he gave a speedy boat ride. After saying good bye we then quickly found ourselves on the mormon emigrant trail descending upon Placerville and the final night's place of reprieve from the road. Monday morning was bitter sweet, after spending a month of my life on a motorcycle in 2011, these "smaller" trips never seem near long enough. We had a final breakfast meal together and split, 3 of us down 5o to the east bay and the other two toward the south bay. - George

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Bodie, CA.

Convict Lake, CA.

Pukley's Pool, near Convict Lake, CA.

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA.

The original way to navigate.

Camping in the White Mountains.

Sunrise on the White Mountains.

395 and 89 junction. Topaz, CA.

100 degrees in the Alabama Hills.

Tire repair, Mammoth Lakes, CA.

Looking east to the Sierras from the White Mountains.

"Got that Bodie lean" Bodie, CA.

Bodie, CA.

Boardwalk to Pukley's pool.

Group photo via timer and a well placed fence post. Diamond Springs, CA.

Photos by George Baker

Abalone

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Made it up to the coast this month to do some Abalone Diving in Mendocino. Possibly my favorite thing to do in the world. We drove the highway until we found the perfect spot, and got some abalone, urchin and some perch with the spears after about 3 hours of diving. I brought along an underwater film camera I bought. The visibility was too poor for any actual underwater shots, but got some pics none the less. —Tim

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photos by Tim Gatto

Yosemite / Update

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Tomorrow morning at 500 I'm headed out to Yosemite for the first time in 10 years. The last time I was there was right when I started college and it was such an incredible trip. Really felt like yesterday. On that note, it's time for a brief, but long overdue update about BIT BY ZEUS.This past year had some major life changes (for the good) and as a result, I was not able to post as much as I'd want, which doesn't mean I'm not shooting a ton. I've been shooting a ton. Basically, long story short. BIT BY ZEUS is not dead. I plan to keep featuring and collaborating with the photographers that I keep meeting, and am working on a couple of "zines". But, one thing I am planning on changing is my approach to photo. The photos on this site, that Brian Z and I created, have basically been about 1/ Life in the city 2/ Escaping the city 3/ The strange balance between the two. I want to dial in these themes and really want to start challenging myself to make more interesting photography. Anyways, here's some photos that I made on my last trip to Yosemite in 2004. Here's to coming back from this trip with way, way better photos. Thanks to all the of the talented people that I've met since creating this site. Meeting and working with so many great photographers is the reason I want to keep sharing and collaborating on BBZ. –Tim

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Oakland Sun — 4/14

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Some photos from the last couple of months; Tahoe, Oakland, Art Murmur, and SF. On a technical note, I picked up a Ricoh GR for everyday stuff and have been totally loving it. I needed a digital camera, and chose the GR for some of its quickness and because it could fit in my pocket. It's been pretty great, and have been bringing out my medium format camera with it as a result. That's all — Tim R0000214_b

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made it away to the "snow"

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Saying goodbye to my Grandmothers house in St. Helena. It was a fantastic place to grow up.

A postcard written to my Grandfather

smudge pots

R0000861_bRIP GOLD DUST

made it to Pallet Space

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Owner, Purdy, in front of pallet space's rotating wall

definitely worth a trip, lots of interesting stuff inside

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Johnny Manente selling shirts at Art Murmur

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had to stop and support bar Dogwood after a car crashed through their front window just days before

RIP Kim's backyard

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