Better Bike Photos, part 1

I admit it, I love those “Post a picture of your bike” threads on the MTB message boards. I like checking out how other people set up their bikes. I also enjoy seeing how they are photographed. There is a huge range in the quality of the photos, from fuzzy camera phone images to beautifully sharp and well-composed shots.

I’m always trying to improve my bike photos. Looking at the photo threads gives me lots of ideas on things I’d like to try, and also what I want to avoid. Using images I’ve collected from various forums, I thought I’d pass on a few basic tips that might help you improve your bike photos.

The first thing I think about is the lighting. I’ve yet to experiment with off-camera flashes and other artificial light sources (hmm, sounds like a good topic for an upcoming entry), so I currently rely on ambient light.

ex. 1: Make sure there is enough light. This is a cool bike, I just wish I could see it better.

ex. 2 & 3: Watch out for harsh shadows falling across the bike, as in the following two photos. It’s easier to get a nice shot when the lighting is even. Keep in mind the eye is drawn to the brightest part of an image, so make sure your bike, not large areas of the background, is the focal point.

Here’s a nice shot using ambient light. The bike is evenly lit with no distracting shadows.

Here’s a shot I took of my girlfriend’s bike. This was shot on a cloudy, overcast morning.

The next thing you want to do is make sure the bike is in focus. It can sometimes be tricky in auto-focus mode to make sure the camera is focusing on the bike, and not through the middle of the frame to the background. Another tip is to gently squeeze the shutter in order to avoid moving the camera while the shutter is open. Sometimes, a tripod or beanbag can be useful. I like the GorillaPod. It’s small and light enough to throw in my hydration pack, and the flexible legs allow me to put the camera most anywhere. It’s also great for self-timer shots.

Here’s one of the many blurry photos I came across. Most often blurry shots were posted along with a few other shots of the same bike which were sharp. Why include a blurry one? This photo also leads into my last topic…

Background. When composing your shot, don’t just look at the bike, see at what else is in the photo. A busy background as in the photo below makes it hard to focus on the bike.

Another garage shot with a somewhat busy background, and yet thanks to the lighting and composition this one is much more successful. The weathered wood and “old” feel really complement the retro lines and colors of the bike.

Here’s a nice, sharp, well-lit shot, but the strong red and white traffic barriers in the background completely overwhelm the subtle black bike.

Another nice shot ruined by a busy background. The gray steel fence is so close in color to the frame that the two blend together and it’s hard to separate the lines of the bike from the lines of the fence.

Another photo of the bike in the garage shot above. The background is not plain or boring, and yet it’s not distracting. I love “on the trail” shots. Good ones make me want to grab the bike and ride.

So, to sum up: Lighting, focus, and background. Take a minute to consider these three things the next time you’re taking pictures of your shiny new rig or old trusty steed, if for no other reason than to make me glad I clicked on your thread.

If you have any tips of your own to share, please leave a comment. I hope to make this (Better Bike Photos) an ongoing series on this blog, and any suggestions are welcome.