The downhill is steeper than it looks?

[berrywise]

For the biking photographes in the mix what's the best way to avoid having to say that to people when they see your photos? Here in Minnesota we don't have a lot of long downhills more just little tiny ones. I've always thought you should try and shoot directly into the downhill (not looking up it) but that doesn't work so well either.

anyone want to shed some light on this? I'm most definatley all ears!

[brianc]

try using a long lense so that the telephoto effect will squash the hill. this can help make it look a little steeper. getting at the same level as the action helps this effect too.

A more reliable trick is to not shoot straight on at the hill. make sure that you get off to the side so that there is a good angle the lets the drop work across the frame instead of be contained by the frame. does that make any sense?

Another thing to try is to get a realy wide angle lense and then get really close. as you stated be sure not to point the camera up or down the hill.