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Michael Lichter

Originally Published In The January 2014 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine

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Name: Mike Lichter

Age: 58 (YIKES!)

Business: Motorcycle Photographer

Michael Lichter began photographing custom bikes and the biker-lifestyle in the 1970s. Working with Easyriders magazine since 1980, he has produced over 1,500 stories for them. More recently, Michael contributes stories to more than 25 publications around the world and has been working on coffee table books, of which he has eleven complete books to his credit. Michael has operated out of the same commercial photography studio in beautiful Boulder, Colorado for more than 30 years. Since 2000, he has been exhibiting his photographic art in galleries and museums in the USA and abroad. His next showing of work will be in Verona, Italy in Jan 2014 and his next book to be released is Ton Up – Speed, Style and Cafe Racer Culture. (www.lichterphoto.com)

 

What’s your favorite song or band on your iPod/iPhone right now?CSM-JAN2014.pg28_Page_1_Image_0003

If it has to be one song, it would be from Hawaiian singer, Israel “Iz” Ka?ano?i Kamakawiwo?ole’s “Somewhere over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” medley. It plays more often than anything else.

If you could choose your last meal, what would it consist of?

I’d have to choose the place as well – looking out over water – and everything would be fresh! There would be Lagunitis IPA (India Pale Ale) with ceviche in the late afternoon before it cools off too much, watch the sun go down for a break and switch to white wine with a salad of extra fresh mixed greens and tomatoes (just picked minutes before) topped with blue cheese crumbles. Then it’s on to grilled fish that was just caught, with roasted potatoes and grilled vegetables (also just picked). For dessert, it would be fresh blueberries and raspberries with fresh clotted cream poured over them. I’d also have to switch to a big red wine somewhere in there just ‘cause I like it.

 

What do you consider your worst bad habit?

I am a perfectionist. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest, but is a bruiser for those around me!

 

What’s another hobby you have that is not motorcycle related?

Swimming.

 

If you were forced to get a new occupation for 1 year and only had the following choices, which would you pick and why: Walmart Greeter – Rodeo Clown – Politician

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I photographed rodeo clowns back in the ‘70s, so I know they get beat to crap, but then so do Walmart greeters and politicians. Being a rodeo clown would be pretty darn honest and get a lot more exciting!

 

What’s one materialistic thing you can’t live without?

I have a couple of very cool bikes that I love and of course there are my camera’s that I couldn’t work without, but I can’t say I couldn’t live without them. For that matter, I can’t really think of anything I couldn’t live without.

 

What would be your ideal vacation?

Riding a motorcycle through India, up into the Himalayas to Kathmandu, Nepal, and right on up to Lhasa in Tibet.

 

If you could hang out with someone famous for one day, who would it be?

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The French photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, would have been awesome to hang out with while he was out photographing people.

 

What’s one thing that you want to do before you die?

Ride a motorcycle through India, up into the Himalayas to Kathmandu, Nepal, and right on up to Lhasa in Tibet.

 

What’s something that most people don’t know about you?

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I’m a hidden musician having played drums in a Be-Bop jazz band when I was younger and now I play the Irish tin / penny whistle (poorly!)

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