Local photojournalist to share stories of cycling around the world

After three years, across three continents, through 33 countries, award-winning photographer and journalist Rick Gunn will share his stories and images from a 25,000-mile bicycle journey around the world during the second annual Lake Tahoe Bicycle Film Festival.

A San Francisco Bay Area native, born in Castro Valley, Gunn combined his love for adventure and outdoors by moving to Lake Tahoe and pursuing a career as a photojournalist " writing and photographing his passions " cycling and nature. Quickly his skills became recognized by the leading press associations in the West and received numerous awards from the Nevada Press Association, California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Associated Press.

Gunn left his job as a photographer at the Nevada Appeal in 2005 and began his globe-trotting adventure, setting out from San Francisco. He went on to cycle across America, Europe, Central Asia, China, Nepal, India and Bangladesh, finishing his tour through Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

Ultimately transformed by the scenes of poverty, oppression and war he'd witnessed along the way, Gunn began volunteering, devoting his photographs and stories almost exclusively to those who were making sustainable differences on the planet.

From the soaring Alps of Western Europe, and dust-storms along the Central Tibetan Plateau, to bomb extraction in Southern Laos and AIDS Hospice work in Northeast Thailand, Gunn delivers an audio-visual recount of his journey.

Gunn is in the first stages of editing his journals and 50,000 photos from around the world into a book, then plans to launch a series of speaking engagements and multimedia shows that will discuss his journey, cycle touring and sustainable issues facing the planet.

Gunn will share his photos and experiences at the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Film Festival presented at two locations in Lake Tahoe.

The first presentation is 6-10 p.m. Friday at the Duke Theater on the Lake Tahoe Community College campus, One College Drive, South Lake Tahoe.

The second presentation is 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 16 Sawtooth Ridge Cafe, 877 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City. Call (530) 583-2880.