JASON BEACHAM

Sony A7r Mk3 Lens: Zeiss 16-35 f4 Shot 16mm 1/250th at f4 ISO2000 with 3 GODOX TT685 flashes fired remotely

“I was in the Crankworx Deep Summer shoot in Rotorua, and when I got invited I thought ‘Sweet, what can I do with natural features around there’. I had some inspiration for what I wanted to do from other shots and other ideas based on the environment. Having seen shots with smoke and artificial props I knew I wanted to do something like that, but I wanted to see if I could do something natural using the steam and thermal activity in Rotorua and using flashes.

This shot is at Te Puia, a Maori cultural experience area – and luckily enough one of the riders knew some people who knew some people and we could go out before Te Puia opened at dawn. Better yet, we could shoot right next to the geyser. Only a handful of people ever get to go past the barriers.

We had time to play with some set flashes as the geyser went off. I was impressed with how the flashes lit it up and the ground around it. I wanted to get creative. The light meant almost like a triangle formed, and I had the idea to get the two best people to wheelie and stoppie and make a pyramid image. So the riders frame the bottom, and steam frames top. I was pretty wrapped with the outcome.

Looking at other images that were entered I thought I was up against stiff competition. But I hoped the uniqueness of this shot for the Light category was enough to sway some people.

With my photography I want to be able to blend the tech and artsy things and make sure we are still having fun. The people I get to shoot are amazing, there are lots of talented people across the world especially in NZ. The bike community around the world are incredible and being part of it is awesome, some of my best friends come from biking, I consider them my extended family. I want to be able to catalogue my experiences by my photography.”