Planet Lets the Pictures Do the Talking in Gary Fisher Bicycles' 2009 Catalog

In its seventh season working on Gary Fisher bicycles' catalog, Planet Propaganda presents a series of panoramic photo essays where a light-streaked bike glows as the hero of each short story. Along with luminescent product shots, the 2009 Gary Fisher catalog shows the big, beautiful images of mountains and trees dwarfing blurred bikes on twisting paths; the peaceful, epic landscapes that capture the solitary rider amongst the curvature of the Earth; and the adrenaline-pumping, mid-air, action shots of bikes screaming down the trails.

Namesake and founder Gary Fisher provides the catalog's seasonal welcome. Under the headline, "You Know What I'm Talking About, Right?" he muses on the tactile sensations and memorable experiences of traveling on two wheels. He connects his origins to mountain biking with beat-up, street bikes, and brings history full-circle by introducing Gary Fisher bikes for roads and cities. Most anticipated of the 2009 product launches is the Roscoe -- engineered for tough, trail terrain and demanding, slow-speed handling.

Helping tell Roscoe's story, Planet graphically explodes the small details that set this bike's technology apart from its peers. Each feature is visually pinpointed and each benefit clearly described. Like the other bikes showcased in the 2009 catalog, Roscoe's story begins with an illuminated entrance. "We wanted to up the volume on these new bikes, but still wanted them to appear really tight and crisp," says Dave Taylor, associate creative director at Planet Propaganda.

Taylor continues, "Working with photographer Jeff Salzer, we came up with an illustrative retouching technique that creates these streaks of light. The light seems anchored to the frame or wheel or handlebars of the bike, and then streams out from this point as if the bike were in full motion, but without obscuring the product in any way."

"Gary Fisher bikes have always been about where a bike can take you," echoes Rob Sax, Planet Propaganda's president / brand director. "This season's catalog reminds us these places include your backyard, around town, or to crazy, moss-covered landscapes that look like you're on another planet."

Distributed in August, the annual Gary Fisher catalog reaches more than 1,000 independent bike retailers in the U.S. and hundreds more in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Japan and other countries.

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