Behind the Lens - Mattias Fredriksson

BEHIND THE LENS

MATTIAS
FREDRIKSSON

I'm a photographer based in Åre, Sweden. I probably mostly known for my ski photography, but I have actually been shooting mountain biking longer. I started riding when I was 17 (now 37) and shortly after I got into photography. Basically I did my trial and error with friends riding bikes and figured out how the camera worked. Now-a-days I chase deep powder snow all over the world in the winter, and epic trails in the summer. Could not ask for anything else, I love it!

I travel a lot, but love to shred with my friends back home in Åre. In the winters I don't see them so often - I have to travel a lot to find that deep snow - but in the summers I'm here a lot. It's a great place to ride bikes and I shoot a lot here.

I'm a senior photographer at Bike and Powder Magazines, but my mountain bike work is also seen in Dirt Magazine (England), Spoke Magazine (NZ), FREERIDE (Germany), Bike Magazin (Germany), Big Bike (France) and some more.


I took my very first photos when I was doing a heavy metal and punk fanzine at age 11-12, but they were crap. I took my first photos that got published in 1994. That was ski photos.


I started shooting biking around 1993, but it took a while before I figured it out and got anything good.


I ride a lot, both cross country and downhill. I have been riding for a long time and it's my main summer activity. As soon as the snow is gone and the winter season comes to an end I get on the mountain bike program and ride until the snow comes late in the fall. I ride almost 100 days every season. In the same way as with skiing and ski photography, I'm sure it effects my images in a good way. I can put myself in the same position as the rider (well, as long as it´s not Martin Söderström or Matt Hunter...) and have an understanding for what's gonna happen in front of the lens. I hope this shows in the shots.


As I already been into a lot, I shoot skiing. Also a bit of snowboarding, ski touring and a lot of travel stories. In the summers some running and hiking once in a while. I love to shoot portraits too. I think it's important to have a broad range in my photography - that way you always challenge yourself and don't get bored.


Just photography. I used to work as an editor and photo editor, but for more than 10 years it's only been photography for me.


Epic singletrack and powder skiing in great light. With motivated riders.


Nikon D3s. Best camera I ever had. I try to bring a pretty light kit - mostly just one body and five lenses.


Nope.


I still take out the flashes once in a while, but I love natural light. And with the cameras of today, I actually have more chances to work with natural light. They are so good in the highes and the lows, I can shoot with my Nikon D3s on ISO 1000 in the trees and it still looks great. And for another reason; I prefer to be able to get the locations, both on skis and bikes, rather than walking or driving to the spot. That puts me in more unique locations and I rather take a shot in natural light in a sick location than standing with flashes on a less interesting location just so I can get that strobe light. I hope that make sense.


As far as mountain biking goes I do a lot of assignment work for Dirt Magazine, Magasin Åre and Pedal Magazine in Sweden. Commercial work for Red Bull, Hestra Gloves, Continental, Peak Performance and Salomon.


I just got the selected to be one of five main exhibitors at the biggest photo trade show in Sweden. In mid November my photos will be shown over 60 meters total during a full weekend. Super stoked on this because the whole industry will be there. This show also travels to Copenhagen, Denmark and Oslo, Norway. I'm the first one in skiing and/or biking that got selected for this so it's a huge deal for me.






Work hard, ride you bike a lot and shoot all kinds of biking. In all weathers. Anybody - well, almost - can take a decent shot in great weather with perfect conditions. Not as many can produce great shots in bad weather and if you can capture that great ride in the mud and the feeling, well then you are getting shots that stands out. Sort of. What I mean is; be diversed and capture unique moments. Few bike magazines are interested in your shots from Crankworx Slopestyle finals even if you have a great shot. There are 30 more photographers that has that same shot. But a photograph from a epic ride, in a special moment and maybee not even the action shot itself, that could be a banger. That´s one step, to take unique shots. Then you gotta sell the photos too. Spread them around, be active on social media sites and get your name out there. Travel. Find a niche and if you have passion and patient it will happen for you. But don´t be too much - don´t call photo editors everyday and ask if they are gonna run your shots. That will not help you.




Earlier this year Mattias competed in the Scandanavian Photo Challenge, and while he didn't win he did put together a pretty amazing slideshow...



You can find more of Mattias' work on his website - www.mattiasfredriksson.com