Huevos

[Photo-John]

Had to pay an EMT $100 to be onsite in order to get this photo. Timed it right for the light. I wish I'd had a pro to hit the drop, though. No knock on this guy for stepping up and sticking it. I wouldn't have done it. But it would have been good to get some style. For this type of photo, a great rider can make a huge difference.

Canon EOS 1D + 70-200 f/2.8L + EMT + big balls

[Sebastian]

Why did you have to pay for this?

[Photo-John]

Why did you have to pay for this?

I wanted the photo for an article on this trail system. And if I want to make it happen, I've got to do what it takes. They keep a chain across the top of the drop and have strict rules about what needs to happen for it to be opened. If I had planned better, maybe I wouldn't have had to pay. But in the end it's an investment. I'll probably lose money on this article. But that's alright. I had a good time and I'm psyched to know about a new place to ride. Maybe the cost will motivate to shop the photos and story around more, too.

[Sebastian]

Ah, I had no idea that this trail was closed off reqiuiring a permit. I was just wondering why you paid an Emergency Medical Technician $100 for a MTB shot. ;)

I dunno what makes a MTB shot better than another, but to me it looks like he's riding down the rocks, not jumping.

[Photo-John]

Ah, I had no idea that this trail was closed off reqiuiring a permit. I was just wondering why you paid an Emergency Medical Technician $100 for a MTB shot. ;)

I dunno what makes a MTB shot better than another, but to me it looks like he's riding down the rocks, not jumping.

Besides the rules, I actually felt a lot better having the EMT there. I didn't know any of the guys that were riding and I don't want to be responsible for any catastrophic injuries.

I know what you mean about the rider looking like he's on the rocks. He's actually about 8 feet out from them. I was fighting that when I was shooting and couldn't figure out a way to get the depth-of-field that I wanted and have him separated from the rocks. I could have shot wide open, but I was shooting sequences and some of th frames would have been too soft. The sequence might be better. Plus, there are serious time constraints for photos like this. You're somewhat at the rider's mercy. You don't know if he's going to crash and you don't know if he'll be willing to hit it more than once. So you work fast and try to be sort of conservative so you don't blow the whole thing. If I lived there I'd just try again, with different light or a different angle. But when you've got two hours to get what you can get, it changes the game. Working under pressure is interesting.

[Sebastian]

But when you've got two hours to get what you can get, it changes the game. Working under pressure is interesting.

I know exactly what you mean. I now understand the presence of the EMT. Initially I thought that you paid an EMT to ALLOW you to shoot there.

...

Yeah.

[SmartWombat]

It's a shot that needs to be printed poster size to appreciate it.
Maybe you can do some selective ehnahcement to bring out where he's come from.
Another rider up there waiting might be a way to show it also (he doesn't have to jump).

I really like the idea of a series, a multiple exposure image would be awesome for this !

I was wondeirng about using light to slow the separation of the rider from the cliff, but you'd need a cine style multi-megawatt setup to do that. Even with flash it's not going to be portable.
If the sun gets round so you can have his shadow on the rock, then that may make the separation more obvoius.

Otherwise, you're going to have to use a different angle. If it's a one-off thing then you may have to use multiple remote cameras and radio triggers (I'd do it that way 'coz I'm a geek). Or share the shoot with other photographers (gasp) have some assistants working under you. I'd do that, I'd even pay for my flight


I see why an EMT would be a very good idea for this one, if it goes wrong then all kinds of things could get broken. It's a near lethal drop and to hit that slope below requires commitment to go out fast enough to get to the down slope. Serious cojones.


I can imagine him on the way down meeting some motorbike equipped nutter on the way up, that looks almost like a jump ramp coming from our side towards the cliff

[JSPhoto]

I could tell the following as soon as I saw this:
1: MTB'ers are just plain NUTS!
2: He was "airborne"
3: Photo John is NUTS TOO!

I wonder if you can crop it a tad though, I think it would show that he really is "off the rocks" (and his rocker).

JS

[Photo-John]

I really like the idea of a series, a multiple exposure image would be awesome for this !

I think I'm going to need to set up the layered sequence now. I was going to wait for the magazine article. I wanted to keep it under wraps. But I guess I could set it up and show it to you guys. Just have to keep it away from the mountain bikers.

[brianc]

Just have to keep it away from the mountain bikers.

I thought we had a whole thread about MTBer on this site. =)

THis is a great shot. even if it could be better. couple it with where this is....neat! I can't wait for the article. (is it going in the usual place or something I would need to look special for?


out side of the suggestions to bring the depth of the rider away from the rocks would be to use a wider angle lense and get closer and slightly lower to bring the same field of view but a little more from underneath. just a thought. you should hop on a plane to the right coast and re shoot it.

next time you need an assitant you have my card, and I have frequent flier miles.;)

[Old Timer]

All I can say is WOW! The guy has to be nuts. I'll stick to my road bike, thank you very much. Great shot though, Hope the article is a big hit. Love to see the rest of the shots.

[drg]

Great shot, allowing for various comments about DOF etc. Saw a guy try something like this many years ago on 400 Maico, he survived just fine, the cycle was a write off.

Looking forward to see your other versions of this photo, let us know what publication its in and maybe we can swell the sales a bit!

[Photo-John]

Saw a guy try something like this many years ago on 400 Maico, he survived just fine, the cycle was a write off.

I would bet that the bike in the photo has more travel and way better suspension than the motorcycle in question. Bikes now are so ridiculously good. It's the riders that are the problem

Suspension technology has started to trickle up now - from bicycles to motorcycles.

[drg]

I would bet that the bike in the photo has more travel and way better suspension than the motorcycle in question. Bikes now are so ridiculously good. It's the riders that are the problem

Suspension technology has started to trickle up now - from bicycles to motorcycles.

The bike in question (20+years ago) had external springs and shocks. Not very sophisticated even by the standards of that era! I believe the frame suffered 'non-recoverable hystresis excursion of the primary engine mount', or the engine broke out of the frame.

On the question of suspension technology, my understanding of the current trials bikes is that they are all pretty much customized to the rider to a degree its hard to even compare them. I've got to go some races this year. I'll certainly take a camera or two!

[mtbbrian]

RIDE ON!
Brian