LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

How to take great riding shots of your mates – expert advice from pro photographer Steve

Pick the right trail

The trails that feel great to ride don’t always make the best photos, so pick one that looks good as well as feels good, keeping the background and any views there might be in mind. Then, find a specific feature that you want to shoot – a bermed corner, a jump or perhaps a drop-off. Conversely, a trail that doesn’t feel all that good to ride may have a single great feature for a photo, with a perfect background.

Identify the best angle

Pick the angle that works for the type of trail feature you’ve chosen. Don’t always stick to eye height – try getting down low or climbing up higher. Consider using a widerangle lens from a lower or higher position, or a longer lens from further away. Use the angle of view and the lens type to maximise the impact of the action and to include or exclude background details.

Get your camera settings dialled

Generally you need to use the correct combination of ISO setting (light sensitivity), shutter speed (exposure time) and aperture (light quantity) to get the correct exposure (how light or dark the image is) and effect you’re after. Unless you’re panning with the rider to blur the background, you’ll need to use a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action. Depending on the angle, this should be at least 1/500th of a second. If you’re panning, experiment with slower shutter speeds, from 1/60th of a second downwards. Use a wider aperture with a longer lens if you want to isolate the rider from the background.

Make the most of your mobile

As the old adage goes, the best camera to use is the one you have with you – and that’s most often going to be your phone. A mobile isn’t ideal for taking action shots, but it is possible, with a bit of perseverance and luck. Some phones have a burst mode, where you can take a sequence of shots, and with some you can control the exposure, too. Having the rider smaller in the frame and including more background can help with mobile pics, and if you’re just going to be viewing the shots on a phone, the results can often be acceptable.