Editorial

With the advent of smart phones, digital cameras and action cameras, there has never been a better time to capture a moment in time. We have ready access to high quality cameras, with easy to use devices right at our finger tips.

But anyone who knows how easily you can get the timing wrong, the framing, the light or even the subject knows that it’s not just about the right equipment. It is about being able to capture the moment and have that single, still image pour out a story of emotion, inspiration, speed, adventure or bravery. The right photo can do all that, without ever uttering a word or playing a soundtrack. There is plenty of truth in the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Choosing photos for AMB magazine has never been an easy task. The critical eye of our recently departed Art Director (for Scotland, not the after life) Robert Conroy meant that having the right images wasn’t just about showing the right product or rider. They had to look good. Photos had to tell a story, and inspire mountain bikers.

This issue does more than just showcase the winners of the AMB Photo Awards presented by Shimano. We’ve also got more feature content devoted to photo stories, and insights from photographers. Even when in Lenzerheide for the World Championships, I was reminded first hand how hard mountain bike photographers work. Long days blend into long evenings of editing, with usually less than 4 hours of sleep per night for a week. It’s a profession driven by passion and fuelled by perfectionism.

So take a look through this issue and read the insights from AMB’s Photographer of the Year, and each photographer who won one of the categories. And next time you see a great photo in this magazine or others, on Instagram or somewhere else – pause for a minute and think about how it came to be. And if that photo has made you stoked on mountain biking, take note of the photographer’s name. They’ve just added to your love of the sport.