Hey there!
My name is Crystal Howell. I am a Graphic Designer by day and a Photographer in my spare time.
I'm originally from the middle of no where, Ohio where my love for motorcycles and dirt bikes first began. Growing up with acreage and woods, twisting the throttle was bound to be in my life and my blood. Once my parents decided that my sister and I would kill ourselves on our ATV's they sold them, and my attention turned to something I could really hurt myself on.... motorcycles.
Shot down on the decision of a dirt bike I proceeded to go out and buy a brand new Yamaha R6 as soon as I could. She was my baby and the love of my life. That's where it all started.
I did the college thing, majored in Graphic Design and minored in Professional Photography. All the while, my attention was focused on my motorcycle. Traveling to different states always searching for the best twisty roads and the biggest rushes.
On a trip to the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee I noticed there were photographers all along the road, so after a few times of blasting by them trying to get that perfect lean angle on film I decided to stop and chat for a bit. I was told how they had moved here, some had been locals their whole lives but all had one thing in common: They all made there living shooting photos of what they loved. MOTORCYCLES!
Besides, who doesn't want a photo of themselves riding their prize possession?
I went out one warm fall day and shot my friends riding their dirt bikes at a friends private gravel pit... it was that day I realized I had a true talent; I just had to figure out what to do with it.
Photographing sport bikes was fun but it just didn't have the thrill, excitement and action that I got from shooting motocross. After 8 years of riding sport bikes and 28,000 hard miles on my R6, I felt dirt bikes trying to creep back into my blood.
It was decided in the spring of 2010... I would be moving to Utah and with me I would be bringing my first dirt bike. I sold my R6, feeling sad and clinically depressed about parting with it I went out and rescued a 2006 Yamaha YZ250F ... from the ghetto of Cleveland, Ohio.
So here I am, in Salt Lake City, Utah; trying to learn how to become one with my dirt bike like I had my sport bike. Determined to be just as good and fast as the guys... let me be the first to tell you riding in the dirt is nothing like screaming around a corner at 130 mph with your knee almost dragging the ground... no, it is much more chaotic and out of control.
I've started to get used to the fact the riding the dirt is just having faith that your bike will continue in the direction your trying to point it, and sometimes that just doesn't happen. Either way, I love my dirt bike and I have faith that we will have the same adventures together that my R6 and I did.
As for my photography, I love the shots I get with dirt bikes, I love the energy that I get from the people riding, and no matter what mood I'm in, the sound of a two-stroke always brings a smile to my face.
