Cycling Photography

Photography for cyclists raises several points. Now we are talking about taking pictures when you’re out riding a bike. I'm talking about shooting from the side of a road during a race, or even shooting a picture while on a bike. There are specific shooting techniques that you should use. But don't forget you also have to think about the best way to carry a camera when you’re riding. But first there’s something even more basic to think about first.

The basic issue is this: you have to stop to take a picture. Well, yeh, you can be shoot from your bike seat, but most of the time it isn’t a good idea - certainly not on roads shared with other traffic, nor on tricky mountain bike trails. Most of the time, both for safety and to get the best pictures, stopping is a very good idea. The thing is to make your stops count.

This is definitely a huge issue in cycling, more so than in many other activities. For example, when walking you might just stop a sec to click a pic.However, while cycling you need to jam on the brakes, pull to the side of the road, getting off the bike and find somewhere to put it. That's irksome, at best. So make every stop count by thinking ahead about what pics you want to grab.

This bring to view ye two holy writs of shooting pics:

*

You need to be at the right place at the right time.

* You need to have ye camera ready.

That means you must use forethought.

Taking a pic of a great view is one thing. But if you ride with friends, you’ll probably want pics of them. Of course, if you simply pull into the side, they’ll probably all have gone sailing by before you’re ready, leaving you with a distant view of rapidly diminishing rear ends. Wouldn't you rather see some smiling faces - or even grimacing from the effort on a climb?

This is where thinking ahead really counts. If you think there’s a good spot coming up, it’s time to sprint well ahead of the troop, then stop to take the pics as they come towards you. Then mount the bike and catch up.

This all underlines another central point: cycling photography is action photography.