Accidental Discoveries

Apr 28, 2014
by Simon Nieborak  
Discoveries are happening all the time... Some things, which we take for granted, have been discovered by a total accident. Some of those are serious, some are silly and useless, when others sneak into our daily lives in order to benefit us without our appreciation or acknowledgement.

From the Big Bang theory, radioactivity and penicillin, through to microwaves, Teflon and vulcanized rubber, Coca-Cola, the Slinky, corn flakes and potato chips - all these things are creations of an accidental event in somebody's life.

I had a chance to experience this kind of situation when I went to Vienna for the Air King event a couple weeks ago... So, what is my own, accidental discovery?

Events are quite stressful times for anyone in the media crew and every second, jump and trick counts and can turn out to be gold, so no opportunity is worth missing. Taking photos with a 70-200mm lens, naturally you’d expect shots to be taken further away... And that's what I was always doing, until that cloudy, Saturday morning in Vienna. I was standing right next to the last jump where many riders did their best tricks. I began getting frustrated that I was missing so many opportunities to get a good shot... Then, unconsciously, I followed with the camera one of the riders flying over my head and I took a snap-shot.

At first, when I looked at the preview screen on my camera, I immediately thought to myself how stupid it was to shoot this way. However, I didn't give up that quickly, I kept trying. Then, exactly on the fourth attempt, Thomas Genon glided over me and I managed to get a clear shot. It was all of a sudden evident that these shots were actually really exciting!

Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Matt Jones is equally comfortable with old-school and new-school trickery. Also it feels really good to get out of woods from time to time... Despite the very old building in the background this kind of view never gets old.
  Matt Jones is equally comfortable with old-school and new-school trickery. Also, it feels really good to get out of woods from time to time... Despite the very old building in the background, this kind of view never gets old.

Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
All eyes on Louis Reboul. Thanks to his flawless style he immediately jumped on the list of my favourite riders.
  All eyes on Louis Reboul. Thanks to his flawless style, he immediately jumped on the list of my favourite riders.

Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Accidentally perfect... timing Because Szymon s 360s are mastered to perfection.
  Accidentally perfect... timing! Because Szymon's 360s are mastered to perfection.

Vienna Air King 2014 shots
God made dirt so it should t hurt...
  God made dirt so it shouldn't hurt...

Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots
Vienna Air King 2014 shots

Of course, I can't and don't want to compare myself to such a big discoveries as mentioned above. But on personal level, it felt incredible to go accidentally stumble upon this!

Anyways, it is definitely nothing ground-breaking in photography in general, as similar photos have already been taken in MTB, but yet again, I am pretty happy with the outcome and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Posted In:
Stories


Author Info:
lunatyk avatar

Member since May 4, 2008
92 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

65 Comments
  • 115 2
 Those would make great wall decals.
  • 6 1
 yes!
  • 19 3
 Yea a way better Fathead than a Football player
  • 92 10
 how the hell do you guys move with your gf's pants on ??? it boggles my mind !
  • 5 12
flag CurvedLine (Apr 28, 2014 at 17:52) (Below Threshold)
 As long as your wall is white...
  • 11 1
 LoL. Great shots but a few too many panty shots IMO.
  • 3 1
 Hope they do this on Rampage too.
  • 8 21
flag rbrtkaai (Apr 28, 2014 at 21:09) (Below Threshold)
 @viatch who are you to talk.. they can ride good enough to do whatever they please..
  • 12 1
 it was still funny i mean.. looks like my little sisters jeans lol
  • 10 7
 gf's pants? maybe because getting shitty 90's baggy jeans caught in your chain during a backflip isn't too convenient.
  • 5 3
 Err, plastic trouser clips from all good bicycle outlets.
I'd rather wear shorts that have by boxers or 6" of arse crack hanging out.
  • 1 0
 nah bro its all about the pants with spandex
  • 5 0
 I wouldn't be surprised if MTB specific yoga pants come out in the coming years...
  • 33 0
 For me, what makes these pictures so good is the weather, that perfect light grey background makes it look like a studio shot.
  • 5 1
 Yeah, the clouds made it all!
  • 16 0
 This is awesome! In one of the pictures it looks like the guy is just standing on nothing! So sick!
  • 21 6
 Nice pics, but I have to laugh at guys trying to wear skinny jeans with their pads. You would think it would be one or the other...
  • 15 4
 I don't wear skinny jeans when riding, but what else out there provides a decent amount of protections and isn't baggy/get's caught on things? There isn't anything. Skinny jeans are cheap, easy to get, and don't get caught when you're throwing your bike/yourself in a million different directions.
  • 8 1
 I laugh at the skinny jeans, then remember that they're upside down throwing a tailwhip in, so I guess they can rock that stuff.
  • 12 11
 It's the underwear sticking out that bothers me most. Low class.
  • 13 0
 lmao low class
  • 4 1
 good for the guys who can wear them. my quads get so thick (genetics) from riding i have to buy 38 sized jeans for the wider legs even though i have a 34 waist.
  • 30 0
 Wait, theres a sick gallery of a sick freestyle event, and all you can talk about what outfits they are wearing?

Whos girly now? lol
  • 14 1
 If you scroll up and down really fast it looks pretty cool Smile
  • 3 0
 Wow.... That is sick
  • 34 0
 nice accidental discovery
  • 1 0
 Pinkbike hack of the year Smile
  • 2 0
 Skinny jeans are whatever, fashions come and go. The riding is what continues to progress. The one honest question I have, is "how is it possible to ride in skinny jeans?" My thighs would not move and I think I would rip the crotch out. I am amazed. but it seems to work plus it provides protection, so whatever...
Awesome photos BTW!
  • 2 0
 Awesome stuff, nice way to show the riders when they are in their element, in the zone in mid-trick. Great idea to shoot this way. We're always told to avoid the "guy in the sky" shot - that you should show the takeoff, or the ground, or some other element that shows where the rider is, but rules were made to be broken, and these shots are great.
  • 3 0
 Such a trip against the white sky! Like other commenters said: these would be awesome wall decals. Thanks for the write-up, too... It's always cool to hear how you guys come up with rad shots.
  • 4 0
 You need to contact Bighead and see about making them into those giant wall sticker do dad thingys.
  • 3 0
 not dissing the images, I like them but not seeing the big deal here. why wouldn't you not have shot close ups of the riders with a telephoto lens?
  • 2 1
 What are you talking about?? Despite the old building in the background. You appreciate a lads skill on a bike but you dont seem to appreaciate the craftsmanshift that went into that building. Hundreds if not thousands of years of knowledge.
As much as i think we have great aspects of culture with bikes, skatebaording etc todays culture definately lacks real culture, knowledge and philosophy. On that note you could also say nothing is accidental, for that to happen it all ready had to be a quantified option that existed in our universe.
  • 3 0
 Good thing those guys are up on the buttcrack situation, otherwise these photos would just be awkward.
  • 2 0
 These are great!

One of the best ways to become a better photographer is to change your perspective (shot location). Shot #1 and #3 are great examples.
  • 2 0
 I didnt notice the skinny jeans but I did notice some rad looking shots in terrific detail
  • 2 0
 Awesome shots, moves and bikes and some of you guys are checking out jeans.....
  • 1 0
 These shots are awesome. I would definitely grab one or two if you guys made them into big ass wall posters like the Big Heads people have been talking about!
  • 3 0
 rheeders rotor is little.
  • 1 0
 that entire bike is sweet, such a stylish spec and scheme
  • 2 0
 looks like a 140 mm freeza rotor. It probably looks smaller because of the extra depth of the fins
  • 1 0
 Are you pre focusing at a set distance then following the rider or using auto focus the whole time? I agree the clouds make it look like a studio shoot. Very clean.
  • 3 0
 Looks like some new FatHeads to me
  • 1 0
 I'm not into the dj skinny jeans scene, but these are sweet shots. And those skinny frames, sans head tube gusset are just nutty.
  • 1 0
 Epic! Way to discover 'outside the box' and have the confidence to run with it. In the end, if it stokes you, it will stoke others.
  • 2 0
 Wow Simon those look amazing!
  • 2 0
 One of the best pictorials PB has ever had. Thanks.
  • 2 0
 Louis Reboul listening for a leak mid-air.
  • 2 0
 How f*ckin skinny are legs if you can get pads on under your skinny jeans?
  • 2 0
 awesome shots.
  • 1 0
 This pics make my head spin.
  • 2 0
 awesome pics!
  • 1 0
 Great shots, now shoot with a 600mm
  • 1 0
 yeah, so he could get a shot of what exactly that pedal pin is doing during a corked flip? Big Grin
  • 1 0
 You have a future as a getty photographer
  • 1 0
 Jonesy has the best super flips in the business.
  • 1 0
 awesome pictures
  • 1 0
 Dope!
  • 1 0
 Makes them easy to etch
  • 1 0
 Thanks for the idea Smile
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.056658
Mobile Version of Website