New IMBA trail book

After choosing three of my images for its 2007 calendar, Colorado-based IMBA has put another of my shots on the cover of its latest book. Building on the books covering trail building and maintenance that it already offers, 'Managing Mountain Biking' looks at the bigger picture of planning, designing and managing successful trail networks.

Nikon D200, 12-24mm f/4, 1/200 sec f/9 @ ISO100, single radio slave

As for the picture, it's one of my personal favourites from 2006 and is currently gracing my office wall. Shot on a hot and sunny August day in Chamonix, Jez's perma-grin was spontaneous (but may well have had something to do with the conversation he'd been having with Ian before setting off). Harsh overhead light is normally the worst time of day to shoot, but the clear mountain air meant we got away with it - and a hit of fill-in flash from a remote unit a few feet to Jez's left opened up the worst of the deep shadows. And yes, that's Mont Blanc in the background.