How Mountain Biking and Landscape Photography Shape Each Other



Mountain biking and landscape photography might seem like two different worlds, but for me, they’ve become inseparable. Whether it be hiking into remote places or pedaling up a grueling climb, it has transformed how I capture the outdoors. Every climb, every descent, every early wakeup, and all those frozen fingers and toes have added a new perspective to my photography and riding alike.

If you’re curious about how mountain biking has changed the way I look at photographs, how my landscape photography experiences have shaped my approach to a mountain bike ride, and how these passions have blended, then read on!

Mountain Biking Creates A Unique Perspective

On a bike, your perspective is always changing. One moment you’re grinding up a switchback, huffing and puffing, and feeling the burn in your legs. The next thing you know, you’re flowing across an exposed ridgeline full of wildflowers during that perfect golden hour light feeling as if you are on top of the world.

Every mountain biker knows the fabled “flow state”. That rare moment when you’re perfectly in sync with your bike, the trail, and yourself. It feels like floating through a dream with an uncontrollable grin spreading across your face. Being in this state means you have found the balance between looking far enough down the trail to be prepared for the next feature, and being perfectly in tune with the here and now. Present in the moment but prepared for the future.

Landscape photography, I have found, is just like this. Taking in the unfolding scene around you and focusing on the immediate task at hand. However, as is the nature of landscape photography, those perfect light conditions are constantly changing. What might be the photo of a lifetime as sun rays burst through a thick cloud cover to paint the mountains may last but just a few short seconds. Being prepared to make sudden decisions and learning to anticipate the change will help position you for that shot you came all that way to get.

Perhaps another way to say this is constant motion on a bike trains you to notice fleeting details. To mountain bike means to take in loads of information at a rapid rate and make split-second decisions to react. Choosing your shots as the light is constantly changing on a scene is exactly like this. It is because of this fleeting detail that mountain bikers develop a strong appreciation for a trail and ultimately the experience.

Where most people see a collection of rocks or roots or a small mound of dirt, mountain bikers see an opportunity for adrenaline, thrill, and a sick new trail feature. Upon conquering this rock or feature, they see progress, pride, courage, and possibly a new life long memory.

A small, unnoticeable detail that a trained eye can pick up and appreciate, turned into a monumental experience. It is this skill to notice the small details and appreciation for the unnoticed that makes mountain biking a perfect training regime for landscape photography.

 

The fog of the PNW forest with just a little sunlight peaking through at the right time. A perfect example of what it means to anticipate the change while staying focused on the here and now.

 

Landscape Photography Creates Wisdom Through Endurance

Similar to where mountain biking has taught me lessons about the art of noticing, photography has granted me perspective.

Anyone that has strapped on a backpack, grabbed a headlamp, and willingly entered the wilderness under the cover of darkness despite freezing cold temperatures understands that discomfort is the key to everlasting memories.

When you have endured a 12-mile hike with 5,000 feet of vertical gain at 2 a.m. with gale-force winds and freezing temperatures, just to stand at your tripod not moving for the next 2 or 3 hours, you obtain a unique appreciation for the experience. Even if the photo that you get isn’t going to win any awards, you walk away with something far more valuable. You walk away with an amazing story that you are excited to talk about. An amazing memory that you can smile back on when you are old and sharing stories with grandchildren. You walk away with a sense of accomplishment because you willingly endured an incredible expiernce few are willing or capable of doing. You have set yourself apart. You have learned that the ultimate goal isn’t the photo. It is the expiernce leading up to the photo. It is the expiernce of exploring and adventuring. And perhaps most of all, it is having someone alongside you to share it with. Landscape Photography, if you stop and listen, teaches you that it is the journey that makes a photo truly remarkable, not the image itself. A metaphor for life perhaps…

From these photography experiences, I have been able to develop a deeper appreciation while riding. That sense of accomplishment after conquering a hard climb or even just getting out and moving a bit if I wasn’t feeling all that motivated for a ride. Instead of going for a ride with the intent of hitting a huge gap jump, crushing through a challenging rock garden the fastest I have done it, or setting a new PR on a downhill track, it has taught me to just simply enjoy the ride and be present. Not every ride needs to have a goal in mind and not every ride needs to be the most epic ride of your life. Just simply enjoying the ability to go out and ride your bike, take in the scenery, smile, and maybe even laugh with some friends on the trail is all that is required. Because once again, the experience itself is what it’s all about anyway.

 

This required a 3am wakeup, a hike through VERY deep snow, and standing in the middle of a frozen lake in severely cold conditions with winds that were nearly knocking our tripods and cameras over. One of the fondest memories I have despite being in miserable conditions.

 

So What?

What I am NOT saying is you shouldn’t set goals or challenge yourself. In fact, I very strongly believe you need to be doing that on a regular basis. Oftentimes, developing a goal or challenge is required to initiate the process. I am saying that learning to enjoy the process and not tunneling in on the destination is a vital step in leveling up your approach to a mountain bike ride or photo shoot. Learning to appreciate the small details on your mountain bike ride can lead to a massive change in your photos and experiences.

For me, a mountain bike ride or landscape photography centered hike isn’t solely about the destination or end goal. Where of course it is always amazing to reach that epic summit or insane view point, there is still something far more valuable. It is about the freedom to discover and connect. It is about the experience and memories alongside the people I get to share the moments with.

If you want to see more of my adventures and photography, follow along on Instagram @martins_migration or subscribe to the newsletter below, and subscribe to my YouTube Channel!





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