Phoenix-area photographer Weston Henry wants to take you off the (car-)beaten path with his 20-postcard project Phoenix Bike.
Released June 15, Phoenix Bike is Henry's look at the city from the perspective of his white Schwinn, single-speed road bike.
"It was just my exploration and taking pictures and posting them to Twitter," Henry says. "I thought I found some really cool stuff, so I started being more deliberate with my rides and exploration."
This is the second piece in Henry's Phoenix series, following last year's Phoenix Canvas, an art book featuring local graffiti.
Henry says using postcards as the medium provides a snapshot of the city: "The feeling of Phoenix is sunny and gritty at the same time. The sun can just bring you happiness, and it can shine down on these wonderful, modeled, gritty views of the city."
While creating the series, he frequented his favorite routes, like Sunnyslope and Central Ave. through Downtown. He says his favorite photo reminds him of a cartoon. "The one from around Roosevelt Street, I just set it up and it looks like something from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with the trash and graffiti."
Henry plans to send Phoenix Bike to galleries and Mayor Stanton to promote more bike-friendly infrastructure. "The bike lane we have on Camelback and Missouri Ave on Central is a short distance, but a great start," he says. " I would love to see more bike lanes."
He has no plans to sell the postcard set now, but anyone can see the photos on the project's website.
Up next for Henry? Maybe upgrade his camera equipment and do a series on Sunnyslope.
"They have these amazing, weird apartments in Sunnyslope with the mountains and it's kind of an adventure," he says.
