First attempt at Mountain Biking

Used to shooting cars and racing. Definitely more challenging than what I am used to. Harsh C&C preferred.

noise on the nearest is incredibly distracting

Agreed on the distracting tree. A tighter crop would make it better.

Subject is too far away and not enough detail can be seen of the rider and bike.

Nice low angle and great location, but as others said the foreground tree is distracting. Not being there it is hard to say a better spot, maybe the tree on the left would have put you closer for a tighter crop. To steal a line from The Bang Bang Club, "forget the long lens bru, this stuff only looks good close up", safety always first, but a wide angle lens up close makes a real dramatic shot. To get more detail in the face a little off camera fill flash works great. I've never had a rider complain or even say they saw the flash if it is mounted so they aren't looking at it.

Jack

All of the above noted and I agree. However, while this falls into the same trap of current MTB photography - jumps, jumping, and more jumping, which I find boring after 100 shots, it is thinking outside the box and makes the environment the main subject, with the MTBer the background. Aha!

Whether this was the intent of the photo, or not, I have no idea, but it is a refreshing change (although, a more scenic area would be nice).

Definitely a bit too much tree, but good start. You should always try and show a bit more of the environment for MTB stuff. Slightly tighter crop, maybe half the tree, and less overhead on the rider would be a bit more focused.

I think it's a good shot. It shows the element. A rider by itself is just a rider. This shows the terrain he is about to land on, and the speed/energy he had while entering the scene. If the rider is a tighter crop there is nothing to show environment. When the rider see's this, he will remember it. Sure the tree is a bit distracting but that can be cropped by the rider should he choose to do so.

I have done just a couple MTB races, and I'm pretty much motionless in the shot because it was a 'convenient' location for the photographer. There is a pretty good chance you are where you are so as not to be ran over. haha

How do others from this location look?

One reason I like to get close in a turn or a climb (cross country anyway) watching faces. The concentration and even the pain never fail to show on a riders face and eyes.

Jack

Biffbradford wrote in post #15597602
All of the above noted and I agree. However, while this falls into the same trap of current MTB photography - jumps, jumping, and more jumping, which I find boring after 100 shots, it is thinking outside the box and makes the environment the main subject, with the MTBer the background. Aha!

Whether this was the intent of the photo, or not, I have no idea, but it is a refreshing change (although, a more scenic area would be nice).

Biffbradford wrote in post #15597602
All of the above noted and I agree. However, while this falls into the same trap of current MTB photography - jumps, jumping, and more jumping, which I find boring after 100 shots, it is thinking outside the box and makes the environment the main subject, with the MTBer the background. Aha!

Whether this was the intent of the photo, or not, I have no idea, but it is a refreshing change (although, a more scenic area would be nice).

That's the current trend because people are just imitating the style that those of us who do this for a living tend to shoot. We shoot it because that's what sells product in this industry. Definitely not the most creative way to do things but it's a commercial job so you deliver what your client wants.

Most editorial stuff shows much more scenery. I think the OP's shot is good in that regard. Shots of people cruising along single track sitting down are extremely boring if there isn't epic scenery (and in this case, that's the case.)

You may have been able to use a white reflector on a tri-pod hitting light into the rider for some more pop and detail. I like the "rim light" the tree is catching the gold looks so warm. You may be able to square crop it and keep that at the farthest edge.

Too much tree, & buy some Cactus triggers from Gadget Infinity

I don't hate the tree, but it's too dominating. Use a light or two next time, or try to find a spot where natural light is breaking through the trees. Work on your timing a bit and wait for the rider to whip it out a bit.

I'd like to see more. I'm going to be photographing a MTB race in a few months. I photographed a marathon about a month ago. I went for unusual pictures when possible. Like a landmark is clear and in the frame of the runner. The runners are not all large because it distracts from the landmark. But the runner will remember that moment more than the 'oh man, I look like crap in this picture' (I have plenty of those of myself). I'm looking for ideas for the MTB race that should work out well. An organizer said he's got a few good places. I need to check them out though. Since it is my own personal gear (I'm not a pro), I want a less dusty environment but something that will make a good scene and memory.

generally in mountain biking one wants a sense of movement and action.
so, if someone is jumping try to go a bit more side on so the photo conveys the sense of movement and space between the wheels and ground