Seb Rogers: mountain bike photography: Cover: MBUK May '08

Cover: MBUK May '08

Nikon D300, 14-24mm f/2.8, 1/400sec f/5.6 @ ISO200, two radio slaves

For MBUK's May 2008 issue I shot team GT rider Dave Wardell looking slightly disconcerted as he jumped into a downslope over some particularly gnarly (no, really) roots to illustrate the mag's 'getting the best from your all-mountain rig' feature. Dave's a great rider and wasn't nearly as fazed by this move as he appears.

(Side note: this isn't, actually, my favourite shot from the shoot. Not even close, as it happens - which probably goes to show that photographers should never be allowed to make important layout decisions on their own images. This is one of the earlier shots from the day, and I was still struggling with light placement. That's why the back of the bike isn't as well lit as I'd like (I managed to sort it in the end) and why this shot is in my 'must try harder' bracket. But it clearly works as a cover, and that's all that matters.)

Nikon D300, 14-24mm f/2.8, 1/250sec f/7.1 @ ISO200, two radio slaves

One of my favourite shots did make the feature opener. I was trying to lie under the roots to emphasise their, er, gnarliness. Worked well for the feature but not so well for the cover.

Shooting the feature itself was particularly fun. Dave had to keep changing kit and ride his GT Sanction in all kinds of different scenarios from cross-country to dirt jumps and freeride. I don't think his hangover helped much, but he's a total professional and pulled some great moves out of the bag. Here are two of my favourite shots from the day that didn't make the final cut:

Moto double:

Nikon D300, 85mm f/1.4, 1/320sec f/3.5 @ ISO200, two radio slaves