By tradition, the motorcycle is a naked beast. Differing from other vehicles by the fact that its mechanical structure is also part of its esthetic appearance. In the The Fine Art of the Motorcycle Engine, photographer Daniel Peirce examines the graphic nature of historic engines with stunning and dramatic photography. Since the beginning of the motorbike, engine designers knew they had to design power plants that performed well and looked good doing it. Peirce presents 64 stunning pictures from his popular Up-N-Smoke Engine Project. In addition to his engine photography the book also tells the story of the project and the years it took to bring it from an inspired idea to a tangible reality. The story of the Up-N-Smoke Engine Project journals how what started as an artistic outlet became an obsession and eventually a business. This is the project that Cycle World magazine called ‘Pornography for Gearheads.’ A special chapter is included showing the process that each picture needed to go through in order to create the finished product.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"In addition to the immaculate panhead pictured on the cover, this book features nearly 100 rare, bizarre or otherwise interesting engine shots, and is well worth a look even if you aren’t as twisted as Dan." – V-Twin News
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"The motorcycle engine as art. Super gallery of photography." – Classic Bike
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"The images are stunning and have been cleverly retouched by using modern computer techniques, so the motor is viewed in its best light and from its most photogenic angle ... It is this totally different approach that for me makes this hardback coffee table book a must-have ... Highly recommended!" – inter-bike.co.uk
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"If ever there was a labor of love, this book is it. Containing more than 60 individual engine photos, the book is a visual treat that tells not only the story of the motorcycles and engines portrayed, but also the story of the project from start to finish." – motorcycleclassics.com
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"Aspiring photographers will want to turn to the last chapter first because it shows a step-by-step explanation of the process of turning raw photos into eye candy such as this. Actually, anyone should read this chapter for a greater appreciation of the results." – The Flying Lady
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"... a photographic tribute to the essence of what many of us find so attractive about motorcycles in the first place, a tribute to the heart of the machine, the mechanical motive force ... the engine. If you are one of those who would rather see functional metal than decal covered plastic, this is definitely worth a look." – thekneeslider.com
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"64 dramatic photographs of the sexiest motorcycle engines ever designed." – cyrilhuzeblog.com
Book Description
Daniel Peirce presents 64 stunning photographs from his popular Up-N-Smoke Engine Project. Peirce has crafted dramatic portraits of some of the sexiest motorcycle engines ever designed. Each picture illustrates that motorcycle engines were designed for their form, as much as function. Along with his photography he tells the personal and candid story of bringing an inspired idea to a tangible reality. In a special chapter Peirce explains the steps each picture went through during its creation.
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More About the Author
I was born to an Air Force family in Washington DC, in 1959. But I grew up in the small town of Universal City, Texas, near San Antonio. The most remarkable thing about me as I grew up was that I was most unremarkable. Sure, I was smarter than most other boys my age, but I hid that by pretending to be a below average student. It worked. I also had a small aptitude for drawing, but I managed to shed that by the time I was a teenager.
Unwilling to allow my genius to be discovered I cleverly avoided attending college. I met Pam and we married when I was 21. Pam was a college graduate so I felt comfortable in revealing my true intellect to her. She wasn't surprised, and I suspect I had slipped up somehow and she had caught a glimpse of my brilliance. We were happy and had two daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine. We've been married for 30 years and now live in beautiful Grapevine, Texas.
Before I met Pam I had set out to become a photographer. Not only would this be an ideal outlet for my creative spirit, I also figured it would be a good way for me to meet chicks. I pursued my photographic vocation with vigor and worked as a portrait, wedding, police, sports and commercial photographer for the next three decades.
In 1995, I went to work for Tucker Rocky Distributing as head of photography for their catalogs and magazine ads. Tucker Rocky is a US leader in distributing motorcycle parts and accessories to motorcycle dealers. Working in the motorcycle industry naturally led me to begin riding motorcycles. In 1999, I joined Peckerhead Motorcycle Racing. (Shoot, now you'll have to read the book to find out what that means.)
In 2005, I began the Up-N-Smoke Engine Project as a personal creative pastime. The book I produced years later is the result of that project. The book features images of motorcycle engines rendered as pieces of fine art. And the words in the book tell the story of what I went through to create the project. In the end I produced a coffee table book that reads like a bathroom book.
Through the popularity of the book I am, and continue to be, famous. Except nobody else seems to know it.
Unwilling to allow my genius to be discovered I cleverly avoided attending college. I met Pam and we married when I was 21. Pam was a college graduate so I felt comfortable in revealing my true intellect to her. She wasn't surprised, and I suspect I had slipped up somehow and she had caught a glimpse of my brilliance. We were happy and had two daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine. We've been married for 30 years and now live in beautiful Grapevine, Texas.
Before I met Pam I had set out to become a photographer. Not only would this be an ideal outlet for my creative spirit, I also figured it would be a good way for me to meet chicks. I pursued my photographic vocation with vigor and worked as a portrait, wedding, police, sports and commercial photographer for the next three decades.
In 1995, I went to work for Tucker Rocky Distributing as head of photography for their catalogs and magazine ads. Tucker Rocky is a US leader in distributing motorcycle parts and accessories to motorcycle dealers. Working in the motorcycle industry naturally led me to begin riding motorcycles. In 1999, I joined Peckerhead Motorcycle Racing. (Shoot, now you'll have to read the book to find out what that means.)
In 2005, I began the Up-N-Smoke Engine Project as a personal creative pastime. The book I produced years later is the result of that project. The book features images of motorcycle engines rendered as pieces of fine art. And the words in the book tell the story of what I went through to create the project. In the end I produced a coffee table book that reads like a bathroom book.
Through the popularity of the book I am, and continue to be, famous. Except nobody else seems to know it.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Fine Art Of The Motorcycle Engine,
This review is from: The Fine Art of the Motorcycle Engine: The Story of the Up-N-Smoke Engine Project (Hardcover)
The Fine Art Of The Motorcycle Engine by Daniel Peirce is a unique motorbook. As a visitor to the Guggenheim exibit, The Art of the Motorcycle, I took many pictures and after reading Mr. Peirce's ... Motorcycle Engine, I reviewed my motorcycle photos. Mr. Peirce achieved what I had consciously elected to include in my photographs -- engine shots. I've read and perused many motorbooks during my forty year involvement as a motorcyclist and I've watched as style and aerodynamic considerations have concealed the essence of the machine. Mr. Peirce states in his introduction that an engine "... had to intrigue me ... by its shape, balance, complexity or simplicity." And he wanted "... the collection to represent the changing technologies and design trends through time." This end-product of his self-proclaimed "obsession" culminated in a photo book displaying the motorcycle inventiveness and complexity of human achievement woven with a project text of friendly simplicity that encourages a trip to Keller, Texas to meet the "Peckerheads." It is about time that a professional photographer has taken the time to produce what Cycle World magazine calls "Pornography for Gearheads." If you enjoy all aspects of motorcycling, you'll love this book.
Galen Farrington
4.0 out of 5 stars
the fine art of the motorcycle engine,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Fine Art of the Motorcycle Engine: The Story of the Up-N-Smoke Engine Project (Hardcover)
The book is beautiful!
My issue is with the lack of history about the bikes and their engines. Just like most pieces of art these engines have heritage and Mr. Peice doesn't take the time to explain it to his readers. I think most readers would like to know something about the development of these gems.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engine Art,
By Redcatcher 1968-69 (Alabama) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Fine Art of the Motorcycle Engine: The Story of the Up-N-Smoke Engine Project (Hardcover)
Great photos of beautiful motorcycle engines and interesting commentary on how the pictures were taken.
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Inside This Book
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Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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