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How to take the perfect mountain bike picture
Swedish photographer Niklas Wallner gives us an exclusive insight into his world of photography and his top tips on how to step up your photography game.
Niklas Wallner has been around the photography world for quite some time now and he has been around the mountain bike world for even longer. The 27-year old currently works part time for the Swedish Cycling Federation and isn’t far off his bachelor degree in Photojournalism. He works with both photos and videos and has, by now, a huge, top class portfolio with some of the world’s best riders in it. How and when did he start taking photos, which are his favourite ones, what is it like to work in the mountain bike media world and how would he like photography to develop in the future? Read about his life and thoughts as a mountain bike photographer and scroll down to get his top tips for taking good action shots.
Unknown, Fort William, Scotland, World Cup 2014.
© Niklas Wallner
"I had a scaphoid fracture in my hand and couldn’t race, so I was just walking the track the whole weekend, taking pictures and helping my brother with line choices. This is maybe not the best action shot, but I like the way the bridge creates a line down the track and out of the picture."
How did you get into photography?
A camera has always been around in our family, dad use to bring one on family trips and I think that got me curious. It all took off when I got a little DV camera for my 14th birthday.
In the beginning it was all about making videos, recording all the fun and stupid stuff my brother (professional enduro athlete Robin Wallner) and I got up to - it sort of became like a diary for us.
However, as my injuries from downhill racing started stacking up, photography became more and more of a proper interest. The turning point was when I had a bad accident during the World Cup in Leogang 2010 and ruptured my spleen. I was hospitalised for two weeks. Lying there in hospital I decided that photography was going to be my profession when I was done racing downhill.
What is it like working in the mountain bike media world?
I’ve been in the MTB world for the bigger part of my life, but I haven’t really seen myself as a ”media guy” or being a part of the ”media crew”. I guess I’ve just seen myself as a rider that loves shooting photos. In recent years however, I have been more involved and all I can say is that everyone is very helpful and look out for each other.
Martyn Brookes, Finale Ligure, Italy 2016.
© Niklas Wallner
"I love the way the lines leads you down the trail. This photo is taken an afternoon a couple of days before the EWS."
What is your favourite type of picture?
When I was younger it was all about the tight action shoots, but now I think pictures that put the rider in perspective to nature are my favourite ones.
Brandon Semenuk, Whistler, Canada 2016.
© Niklas Wallner
"This my first year with a media pass at Crankworx, which was cool as you could get a bit closer to the action. It's was also interesting to be able to watch the other riders when big names like Brandon was dropping in; everyone seemed to stop and study what he did."
What is your favourite setting to shoot in?
I always shoot in manual mode, trying to leave as little as possible to chance.
Which is your all-time favourite riding picture that you’ve taken?
Hmm, I don't think I’ve taken my best riding picture yet... But one of my favourites right now is one of Richie Rude on the final stage of EWS in Finale Ligure. It’s a funny picture that pretty much sums up how people look at the world nowadays: it’s more important to capture the moment rather than be in the moment.
It’s a funny picture that pretty much sums up how people look at the world nowadays: it’s more important to capture the moment rather than be in the moment.
Richie Rude, Finale Ligure, Italy EWS 2016.
© Niklas Wallner
"I didn't realise that I had taken it until I loaded all pictures onto the computer back at the apartment. I was working for Ibis that day, but wanted to get a shot for personal use and managed to get this one.”
As a photographer do you feel like you have a certain style?
I love black and white photography and I more than often choose that way of shooting, but I also feel that my ”style” is constantly changing and evolving. I would love to be a better colour photographer.
Who inspires you?
I usually try to find inspiration in the small things and the people I have around me. My brother has always been a big source of inspiration. When it comes to photographers, and since I am from Sweden, Mattias Fredriksson has always been the man. However, I tend to look outside of the bike world for inspiration - the work of Sebastiao Salgado is really something that has inspired me.
Tracy Mosley, Dolceaqua, Italy 2017.
© Niklas Wallner
"It's not often you get to race on the streets of historic landmarks. Just imagine racing through Gamla Stan (Old Town) in Stockholm."
What is the hardest thing about taking a good riding picture?
Keeping the rider exited and happy - an exited and happy rider usually means a good photo. Also finding creative angles can be difficult at times.
How do you feel about the whole photo revolution of iPhone pictures and how every one in a way is a “hobby photographer”?
This is really tricky. I think that the constant flow of photos definitely have made it a lot more difficult to break through the noise. And social media makes it really hard to control your pictures - as soon as you upload to Facebook or Instagram companies seems to think that the photos are ”free to use” to promote their company.
But with that said, I firmly believe that good photography will always find it’s way through. I think people understand good photography when they see it; it is just found on different platforms than before.
Zakarias Blom Johansen, Falun, Sweden 2017.
© Niklas Wallner
"This facility is pretty cool. It's an old abandoned truck hallway which has been converted to a BMX track and is now being used by the mountain bike high school in Falun.”
I think that it would be interesting to bring 360 degrees reportage into mountain bike photography.
Where would you like action sport photography, and mountain bike photography in specific, to go in the future?
I would love to see more exhibitions and photo books from big names in the sport. I would also love for it to get more recognition in mainstream media. I think that it would be interesting to bring 360 degrees reportage into mountain bike photography. Some of the big newspapers in Sweden have done it and it looks pretty cool - a new interactive way to experience a story.
The mountain bike scene in general is on the rise in Sweden and I think photographers in the sport will benefit from that. Hopefully in a couple of years the sport will be as big as xc skiing is right now and, if so, it will be a win-win situation for all.
Robin Wallner, Ålesund, Norway 2016
© Niklas Wallner
"It is really good to have a rider you can work together with on repeated occasions, and well, since Robin is my brother, I have worked with him since I got my first camera. He doesn’t really have the choice to say no to my photos, haha.”
NIKLAS WALLNER’S TOP TIPS ON HOW TO TAKE GOOD MTB PHOTOS
1. What do you want portray?
Decide what you want to convey with the picture: action, close-up, landscape, rider vs nature, etc.
2. Know your rider
It is good to have a rider you can work with on repeated occasions. Get to know his/her strengths and weaknesses to be able to get the most out of the photo session.
3. Camera settings
Try to keep your shutter speed around 1/1000 of a second and adjust the rest after that - don't be afraid of the high ISO.
4. Angles and light
If you, for example, want to capture the intensity of the rider, try to get a bit lower so you can catch the rider’s eyes. Pay attention to the sun and the shadows and try to shoot in the morning or in the afternoon when the light is softer.
5. Ride the trail
If you have time, try and ride the trail before shooting. Knowing how the trail flows and which sections could work well for photos makes it a lot easier to shoot.
6. For a quick on-the-ride iPhone photo
If you just want to grab a quick iPhone photo when you are out riding, make sure to look for the light and check out the scenery. It is really hard to get a good close-up action shoot with an iPhone, so you are better of putting the rider into perspective of nature.
Robin Wallner, Järvsö, Sweden 2016.
© Niklas Wallner
"Another photo of Robin; on a rainy day like this it's a perfect time to try something different."
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