Picture of the Month - May 2012

Jun 6, 2012
by Ian Hylands
 
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Picture of the Month is an article showcasing the best Pictures of the Day from the month before. We take the most viewed photos from the previous month, and pick our favorites out of the top 10.

This is the first month that I'm aware of that a self portrait has made Picture of the Month. And this month there are not one but two self portraits in the top 5. Is it that hard to find a great rider to shoot with, or is it sometimes just easier to take the time to set up and tweak a shot without having to deal with the constraints of another person. I think that definitely has something to do with it, but I think it's also noticeably more dfficult, or if not more difficult then at least more complicated, to take a good photo of yourself. How many people would be excited to see a Self Portrait contest on Pinkbike, let's hear about it in the comments.

This is a photo I ve wanted for a few years but it just came together the day before the North Fork riding area was closed to mountain bikes. self-portrait
  1. Brad Walton at Mechanical Tragedy by Brad Walton - 31783 views


Aiken scrubbing out of the fog on the North Shore. Toby Cowley facebook.com tobycowleyphoto
  2. Aiken Dan Collinge in North Vancouver by tobe25 - 29367 views


a few minutes before we left winterberg I lend a 4x bicycle from somebody for half an hour. I think he still doesnt know what I did with the bike. If you see this thanks and I didnt hurt your baby too much. And jes this is a real selfcounterpicture too. more at www.facebook.com hoelperl
  3. Erik Holperl by Erik Holperl - 28357 views


The Notch
  4. Todd at the Notch by thepyt - 25656 views


sick tabletop on full suspension bike
  5. Szymon Godziek table at Mosquito Trails by wolisphoto - 24416 views


<b>Honorable Mentions include:</b>
  Honorable Mentions include:

"Simon Johansson sending a sick SSG to space!" by andrenordblom. This is our first runner up with 24376 views.

"Jaws & Pope at Mosquito Trails" by tommysuperstar with 24066 views is another great shot.

66 Comments

  • + 23
flag hoolydooly (Jun 6, 2012 at 0:06)
 #2 is my favorite. But i wish i had all the gear and knowledge to do sick self portraits like people can.
  • - 1
flag reillykintzele (Jun 6, 2012 at 0:10)
 # is mine! I'm a big fan of Brad's pictures though, and he's local to the PNW which makes it that much cooler!
  • + 1
flag matt-simmons (Jun 6, 2012 at 4:49)
 *#1
  • + 2
flag BIGD11 (Jun 6, 2012 at 6:35)
 #4
  • - 13
flag makripper (Jun 6, 2012 at 7:42) (Below Threshold) show comment
 #2 isn't up to par. it's too fake looking. just because the thumbnail is cool enough that it gets a view shouldn't make it photo of the month..
  • + 4
flag Pkamp17 (Jun 6, 2012 at 8:41)
 Today's photo of the day is the coolest one
  • + 2
flag dh-andy (Jun 6, 2012 at 12:18)
 Love how on .4 he still has the time to put in a cheeky smile for the camera haha!
[Reply]
  • + 10
flag takamine206 (Jun 6, 2012 at 0:26)
 To be Honest i dont really like number one sorry! neg props welcome
  • + 6
flag kianesmailiproductions (Jun 6, 2012 at 3:29)
 doesn't matter. it got more views... which i dont think should determine POM
  • - 6
flag gavlaa (Jun 6, 2012 at 4:38) (Below Threshold) show comment
 I'm not a fan of any of them- worst POM selection since 1972. I also don't get the obsession of taking self portraits either- can't you just get some friends?
  • + 0
flag Angryham (Jun 6, 2012 at 9:23)
 That's a bit hatefull
  • + 4
flag gavlaa (Jun 6, 2012 at 14:08)
 I was kidding about the friends bit- but I was still underwhelmed by all of em if honest. Todays POD blows up my skirt- these don't.
  • + 2
flag Angryham (Jun 6, 2012 at 14:10)
 Hm yes the first one is a little... Unimpressive
[Reply]
  • + 7
flag seanbailey (Jun 6, 2012 at 5:09)
 www.pinkbike.com/photo/7845188 what people think of this i did ......
  • + 0
flag tanner-greiner (Jun 6, 2012 at 6:56)
 That is sooo rad sean! ^
  • + 2
flag andyd2506 (Jun 6, 2012 at 9:34)
 pretty cool dude still could do with a bit more work to get the realistic effect but still very good man Smile
  • + 1
flag seanbailey (Jun 6, 2012 at 18:30)
 haha cheers i put reflections in as well see if u spot it and im gonna get some more done soon , thought it was pretty creative idea Razz which ive never seen no one else do Smile
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag trimakas (Jun 6, 2012 at 7:16)
 Heck yes B-Rad! All of then are amazing. #2 is stunning, and in #5 that guy is throwin' down a sick inverted table, but #1 was a sel-portrait with amazing composition including the run-in, the rock lip, and mossy green obstacles. How can you beat that?
[Reply]
  • + 4
flag leecozens (Jun 6, 2012 at 4:33)
 Cant understand the appeal with #4 - if its viewed at the correct angle (trees horizontal) isn't just a fairly flt rocky decent no? :/
  • + 4
flag Varaxis (Jun 6, 2012 at 6:07)
 Yea. It's definitely overexaggerated with the tilt. The Notch isn't that steep, but it's chunky, low speed, and has a crazy right turn at the bottom that is really hard to make when you don't really have a fit core section and "stuck" holding the behind the saddle stance, barely able to keep it stable going straight. It's still a difficult section that makes people reconsider their equipment and skills, in order to help clear it.

On the other hand, I would love to have a pic of me that looks this good of me doing the Notch or some other features. The difficulty of the section and the camera tricks aside, shadows look pretty cool. The angle, I have to admit, is good too. Never really seen a better shot of the Notch, honestly, but it's understandable that people are criticizing how fake it looks. Looking at the Notch in person after seeing this, you would really need to make some effort to notice that they're the same place. I guess its appeal is up to whether you like photos to be unreal and artistic or not. Regardless, it's hard to capture the beauty of Utah in photos. It definitely needs to be experienced in person.
  • + 3
flag gutkrencher (Jun 6, 2012 at 9:25)
 @Lee cozens yeah you're right. I like to call this the 'MBUK tilt', check out one of their mags if you don't believe me. Although it's still a nice detailed photo and still probably a very technical piece of terrain. I always find this technique a bit of a cheap trick intended to make less interesting riding shots more impressive .
  • + 2
flag andyd2506 (Jun 6, 2012 at 9:39)
 why can't you just shut up for Pete sake man, I was just starting to think dam that guy is awesome i need to give up that's insane and he is so old he is farting dust. then i see this comment adjust my screen to see the real picture Frown now i don't need to step my game up no more spoilt it for me .haha
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag courtneywylie (Jun 6, 2012 at 10:52)
 It's not that hard for Brad to find a great rider to shoot with, because Brad *is* a great rider. Pretty rare combo to have someone who shreds as hard and has crazy skills behind the camera. All he needs to rounds things out are lasers (which always reminds me of this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh7bYNAHXxw). Nice work Brad!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag BlackTape (Jun 6, 2012 at 11:27)
 No 2 Is the best in my opinion if I had to pick a fault Id say from pure Professional Photographers point of view I would of been a little more subtle with the exposure on the rider!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag niicii (Jun 7, 2012 at 22:29)
 I like 4 because of the good rider-background contrast and the sunlight in the trees. Could have a little bit more color in my opinion.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dirtbagluvin (Jun 6, 2012 at 8:04)
 Congrats Brad!! That shot is banger. One of my all-time favorite jumps captured to perfection.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag NoahColorado (Jun 6, 2012 at 11:21)
 Brad Walton consistently kills it! I love his photos and videos - well done!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag willybos (Jun 6, 2012 at 14:38)
 I call shenanigans on number 4, totally tilted sideways to add steepness to the drop.

#5 gets my vote
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag mbisset (Jun 6, 2012 at 0:32)
 These are all awesome, #2 is my favorite, but having done a toboggan run @ 37mph, props to #3!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag danyul (Jun 7, 2012 at 16:43)
 2 & 5 are amazing!
The tilt on #4 is super annoying. I keep turning my head to try and see how it should really look.
  • + 1
flag IanHylands Mod Plus (Jun 7, 2012 at 16:56)
 It's a bit hard to grasp the tilt on #4, it's because it's not so much tilted to the side but a really wide angle looking up. The whole perspective is a little bit skewed by the lens.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag wavesowner (Jun 6, 2012 at 18:37)
 I like #4. Cool old school chute.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag selchinator (Jun 6, 2012 at 18:46)
 I like #3- who gets to ride a trail like that?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Rico7122914 (Jun 6, 2012 at 21:18)
 I don't like #1, it looks completely photo-shopped...
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag pgedmonds (Jun 6, 2012 at 5:23)
 #2
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag VonDH (Jun 7, 2012 at 2:28)
 All very good but #2 is the one for me
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag ScaryGerry (Jun 6, 2012 at 5:50)
 2,5,3,4,1...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Airik (Jun 6, 2012 at 13:08)
 Selfcounterpicture contest would be sooooo sick =)
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag RampageRules (Jun 6, 2012 at 6:06)
 personally, i would love to see any contest which gets us more great photos! and i do actually like #1.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dbarrett96 (Jun 6, 2012 at 11:42)
 #5 might as well ride his bike upside down
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag TheCOJayhawk (Jun 6, 2012 at 7:29)
 Is number 3 on a bobsled track...or just a really high banked velodrome?
  • + 1
flag nortonwhis (Jun 6, 2012 at 9:28)
 Its definitely a sliding center. im guessing its the whistler one...
We had an xc race last year that we climbed the inside of the track. was pretty rad.

Edit: after checking the photog and reading the signs its def not whistler...
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag JimmyWright (Jun 6, 2012 at 0:26)
 How are people doing self portraits? shutter in mouth? self timer?
  • + 1
flag Karpiel073 (Jun 6, 2012 at 4:37)
 The trigger is mounted on the handlebars I believe.
  • + 3
flag nhp890 (Jun 6, 2012 at 6:34)
 no, that would be extremely difficult to operate while in midair. There's a laser thingy, the camera takes a photo when you cut the beam.
  • + 2
flag brule Mod Plus (Jun 6, 2012 at 9:07)
 www.pinkbike.com/news/Self-Portrait-Imagery-reporting-back-from-the-solo-mission-2012.html

All the details are here.
  • + 1
flag Karpiel073 (Jun 6, 2012 at 16:02)
 I never knew it were that in depth.
  • + 1
flag danyul (Jun 8, 2012 at 9:56)
 You can also hold a remote in your hand and aim for the camera as you ride by - That's my ghetto version. haha
www.pinkbike.com/photo/8115352

Do it Brad's way if possible
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag davidstuartkelly (Jun 6, 2012 at 4:11)
 1 and 2 really do it for me, they just do I'm afraid..
  • + 1
flag robc10 (Jun 9, 2012 at 2:02)
 I do agree, 1 is purely amazing
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag reclaim-the-woods (Jun 6, 2012 at 7:41)
 The guy named todd with the groovy porn stash for the win
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag downhillscotty (Jun 6, 2012 at 8:11)
 Alll the pics are dopppe props
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag Togeone (Jun 6, 2012 at 7:35)
 The guy in photo #4 is mimicking the Santa Cruz 'S-Man' logo, on his Santa Cruz bike.
  • + 0
flag trimakas (Jun 6, 2012 at 8:22)
 Good point!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Id-rather-b-ridin (Jun 6, 2012 at 1:05)
 Would have to be #4 I reckon.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag treelinesnw (Jun 6, 2012 at 9:33)
 Congrats Brad! We know you work hard!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Twoplanker110 (Jun 6, 2012 at 12:39)
 Brad......Picture of the Month.......awesome! Many congrats
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Jett-Rose (Jun 6, 2012 at 12:15)
 #5
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag zorderperiklisdh (Jun 6, 2012 at 7:02)
 #1 very very good
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag your-phantasm (Jun 6, 2012 at 1:11)
 #5 is huge!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Joshuath (Jun 7, 2012 at 7:00)
 #1 is my vote
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag chozaa22 (Jun 6, 2012 at 18:49)
 #5 & #1
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag ccrider1 (Jun 6, 2012 at 21:43)
 #1 Walton is the mang..
[Reply]
  • - 2
flag Arin (Jun 6, 2012 at 0:28)
 #4 Look so bad!
[Reply]
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