Action + Landscape

[Photo-John]

One of the reasons I like mountain bike photography so much - besides the fact that I like riding - is that I get to combine sports and landscape in one photo. At least, when everything comes together. I ride because I like to be outdoors in dramatic landscapes. And one of the things I like to communicate with my photos is the feel feel of the wonderful places I get to go to. I took this one last night, south of San Francisco. It wasn't really planned and it's a wonderful, wonderful bonus. I think it's one of my best photos in a while.

Note: I also posted this in the gallery. You guys should post your good stuff there, too. It's a more organized way to save and share your photos. Plus, I'm hoping to build it up so that it becomes a resource for stock photo buyers and people shopping for photographers. The more good stuff there is in the gallery, the more useful it will be.

[JSPhoto]

Hmmmm, never thought about biking that way...but then again I don't think about bikes either. Haven't been able to ride one since my second knee injury in 1975, my knee doesn't work when trying to pedal, it gets "stuck" so I never got involved in biking of any kind after that. But I never thought about the landscape side of things


JS
Go Colts!!!

[livin4lax09]

great shot! you did that without any PS? it really looks photoshopped to me, but if you didn't use any, that makes it even cooler! makes me want to get out and bike now. Too bad the only bike I have is one I could sell for about 15 dollars now.

[Photo-John]

You'll never see a photo from me that hasn't had some PS done on it. This one has 4 or 5 adjustment layers and it's been sharpened. For me, the intial capture is just the starting point. The image that comes out of the camera usually doesn't look that good. That's because I'm shooting for the best possible raw material, knowing that I'll tune it up later. It was the same way when I worked in the darkroom. Accepting what comes out of the camera as the final product is selling yourself short - at least in my opinion.

And you know - you don't have to have a bike to go to dramatic and beautiful places. Just get out there and do it. Sometimes I hike so that I can take my whole camera bag.

[mtbbrian]

I would have to say this is one of the better ones I have seen from you too John!
I like how you pulled the landscape in so well!
You have a good eye for find great spots to show gret places to ride and show the surrounding area
Brian
Ride On!

[JSPhoto]

Well unfortunately I'm limited in my getting around. Most days I cannot climb steps, let alone a hill. I have severe arthritis and for years lived on pain killers. I finally gave them up because they don't help. I do go where I can get my truck and will hike a bit, but not up or down even moderate inclines. It bites because I like nature photography too and it really limits where I can go and what I can do. Probably a good thing I live in a fflat state....

JS

[SmartWombat]

You mean you didn't plan this?
Really?
You went to the right place, at the right time, and you made a great image.

I saw "the collective" on YOZMag (yeah, on satellite) and went wow.
http://www.thecollectivefilm.com/

[zachdank]

that shot is ill. Nice john

[Photo-John]

You mean you didn't plan this?
Really?
You went to the right place, at the right time, and you made a great image.

I saw "the collective" on YOZMag (yeah, on satellite) and went wow.
http://www.thecollectivefilm.com/

Well, I knew it was a good spot and I took my camera planning to take pictures. But I didn't expect to get anything like this.

The Collective is awesome. There's some really, really cool stuff happening with mountain bike videos right now.

[mjs1973]

This really is a great shot PJ. There are so many things in this image that are right on. To me, it almost looks too perfect. It almost looks like the biker was photoshopped in. I think it's because the right side is so sharp, and stands out so well against the BG.

Blow it up big and put it on the wall!!!

[jorgemonkey]

Great shot! I also love how its composed. I could see this shot being used in a magazine ad, or definatly hanging on a wall!

[SmartWombat]

The Collective is awesome.

I think your photo is right up there
I looked at the stills from the collective on the web site and wondered ...
... how would John do it?

[brianc]

holly sh!t john! I saw this and my jaw dropped and those words spewed out. You continue to find new ways to inspire me. Thank you.

I haven't read the replys yet, so I'm not sure of you've answered this yet....can you spill some tecnical details on how you made this? did you control the flash burst (external to the sutter release) or time the rider with the flash timing?

looking at it again, I think I understand how you did it. (details would still be useful) remote flash to the right. "normal flash sync rear or not". timing and great esposure.

I need to get a slave flash one of these days. but I need to grasp the use of my one 550 before I get a second flash.

[Old Timer]

I'm with the herd on this one John. One of the best things I've seen from you in sometime. This is one awesome capture, and your comments on PS are right on. I use to spend hours in the darkroom making several prints untill I had it right. It's so much easier today with PS.

[Photo-John]

Brian-
There was only one flash for this photo - a 550 fired with the PocketWizards. The rest of light is more or less natural, with a little help from Photoshop. But it was a good sunset with some really nice ocean haze to soften things up.

You don't need another flash. Just radio slaves. Don't trust IR slaves. They don't cut it. You can start by buying the off-camera cord and using that to get some shadows. That's what I usually do. But for this photo I wanted the flash too far away to handhold.

[fumehood]

It is great to see this image and the other one make it to Print. Keep up the great work!

[swmdrayfan]

Glorioski, Batman!!!! I think I'll clip this one to use as reference.........now to scrape up some cash for PS. Nice work P-J. I'm going to see how I can apply this to my baseball shooting.
John

[point*break]

i love this shot! did you set it up and ask the rider to go past or just sit and wait? i have waited for hours on well known trails and had nothing but a sparrow go by! :mad2:

[Photo-John]

If you really want a good photo, you pretty much have to take a rider and session the spot. My friend Jon hit that berm at least 10 times before the light went. The first couple times are warmups for the rider and the photographer. Both of us need to tune up - the rider needs to find the best line and the photographer needs to tune up the timing and exposure. Then they start to get good. For me, the last shot is almost always the best.

[JETA]

Oh my..... It's simply gorgeous.

I'm still exploring this site. I didn't even know there was a gallery.