A couple MTB shots

[jorgemonkey]

I finally got a chance to go ride my bike & bring out the pocketwizards for a little shooting after a ride we did. We did our normal route, packed up the car, drove back to a location, pulled the camera gear out, and had a little extra fun. I really haven't had a chance to do any off camera lighting outside of the studio, so it was a neat learning experience. I've had a vision of a photo I've wanted to take for a long time, and had the chance a week or so ago. Of course with my luck the photo I wanted turned out like crap (reshoot!) and a few that I didn't plan on came out great.

Here are a few of my favs from the day.

Sayin a little prayer before the shoot. Well, actually he's just really cold & I'm trying to pick the Fstop I'm gonna use


The boring part of shooting a downhill, ya gotta walk/ride back to the top! And yes, its about that steep


I don't know why, but I just like this photo


We started to get some great light from the sun, turning everything a nice golden color. No flash used on this one


The rest of the photos are here, but I posted (imho) the best ones

[desmo13]

Wow, those are really nice. I agree with you on your favorite.

[BLS439]

Nice shots buddy! I'm dying to know the shot you were trying to create.

[Photo-John]

:thumbsup: Gippity Gippity Gap!

I always take Saratoga Gap for granted. But then I'll ride it and remember how beautiful it is. I just wish it was about twice as long and the dingletrack was always open. It's certainly good for photos. I think I've seen Gap photos in the Bike photo issue at least twice. And the Specialized catalog from a couple of years ago had tons of photos taken up there. When I started with Consumer Review (PhotographyREVIEW's original parent company) we did a sweet Mtbr.com header up there at sunset, at the singltrack past where you took these.

The photos look pretty good. I have found that using radio slaves is tricky. They can become a stylistic crutch. And in my opinion, there are too many people relying on using them instead of trying to set up a good composition and exposure. That said, they do have their place and they certainly make photos possible that you couldn't get otherwise. Mine are still in my missing luggage and Deer Valley NORBA is this weekend. I am really hoping I get them back before the downhill, because it's in deep, dark trees and I don't think it's possible to shoot the best sections without flash.

Keep playing with them. Try the next singletrack section, where the bench is. It's not that much farther and the views are better.

[jorgemonkey]

If your's don't show up in time, do you want to borrow mine for the weekend? I'm gonna be in Modesto shooting some soccer, then off to Vegas sunday night for a few days for more soccer. I've got 3 of the Plus II's

I'll post a shot later tonite of a ride earlier this year that is sortof the effect that I want.

[Photo-John]

Thanks for the offer. But that would be tough since I live in Salt Lake City now

I'll be fine. If I don't have them, I'll just have to get creative and work within the limitations of what I do have. Sometimes that results in the best photos, too!

[jorgemonkey]

I didn't realize you moved!

My parents moved to last year, so I'll be making the trek out there quick often now

[jorgemonkey]

Ok, really bad version of it:



Here is my thinking: Camera in the same spot, flash on a lightstand above the biker off to the right, pointing down like its a spotlight. Possibly another light really low power on the ground pointing towards the face to get a little light on it.

I also want to get the sun right on top of that tree, so it looks like a tree topper, as well as one a few seconds later with the sun behind the tree.

And the fog rolling in always makes for a nice shot as well.