Sterling Lorence at Sea Otter DS in Monterey, California, United States - photo by naturalhigh

The Man, The Myth, The Legend. Sterling is working his magic. Photo: Tony Tarumoto

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93 Comments

Score Time

+ 41

Rattsl (Apr 19, 2009 at 21:16)

"And he whips out the Hubble Telescope from his pocket!" Love those lens, they retail about 1.5k in the states.

+ 13

natephillips (Apr 19, 2009 at 21:23)

300mm f/2.8

Much more than that buddy

Rattsl (Apr 19, 2009 at 21:25)

Close enough, around 2 something grand I saw at wolf cameras one time...and..another camera retailer.

+ 11

natephillips (Apr 19, 2009 at 21:27)

$4100 at Amazon

+ 14

Rattsl (Apr 19, 2009 at 21:29)

F*CK me sideways and call me Susy...that's kinda what I expected...Cameras ain't cheap.

overdosekid (Apr 26, 2009 at 17:21)

cost that much?
and it looks beat up like that
ermmm

natephillips (Apr 26, 2009 at 17:44)

Dude, pros gotta make a living. The lens is just a tool.

+ 10

Katinas (May 14, 2009 at 13:12)

a tool you need a weapon license for that is.. dude!!

+ 19

ericpalmer (May 18, 2009 at 9:46)

haha & a donkey to carry it!

dm-orange (May 26, 2009 at 13:09)

someone say its massive! i have a witty comeback

+ 30

ericpalmer (May 27, 2009 at 0:47)

If we wanted comeback we'd scrape ours off your mothers teeth. Wink

+ 11

Joshwa93 (May 27, 2009 at 3:11)

hahaha, "dm-orange" just got owned.
Eric FTW! lol

ericpalmer (May 27, 2009 at 3:49)

haha, couldn't help myself.
No hard feelings dm-orange... only for ur mom Razz

haha jk

CalumGentles (May 27, 2009 at 4:57)

its massive!

private-ryan (May 27, 2009 at 5:04)

thats what she said!
haha dm-orange, beat you to it man!

+ 11

dm-orange (May 27, 2009 at 12:09)

ahh

i got screwed over twice. you cant have your comeback though. she brushed her teeth usmorning Frown

double bummer.
dont forget to bid on my airbike though Big Grin

- 14

charleyboy14 (Jun 10, 2009 at 15:16) (Below Threshold) show comment

sterling is over rated fact

natephillips (Jun 10, 2009 at 17:46)

No.

charleyboy14 (Jun 11, 2009 at 1:24) (Below Threshold) show comment

yeah he is

natephillips (Jun 11, 2009 at 9:04)

Um, how is that?

ru-the-ginger (Jun 11, 2009 at 12:21)

err, that aint a lens, it is a bazooka!!! lol

charleyboy14 (Jun 11, 2009 at 13:32)

there are way better photographers in the uk such as oliver coats les cartmell ian linton kieth valentine and so on who dont get half as much recognition

natephillips (Jun 11, 2009 at 13:43)

Well, thats no fault of Sterling's. He still is a kickass photog

naturalhigh (Jun 12, 2009 at 12:49)

I don't get why you're hatin' on Sterling. He's just better at getting his name out there, it doesn't mean he's better than those other guys. I say Bravo to Sterling for getting his name out there.

+ 10

dlowebiker (Jun 15, 2009 at 0:03)

my dad has a 600mm f/4 that cost him around 7400 i think and it was refurbished. personally i think its a little to big for biking but it works on some courses. and he has other lens also of course.

natephillips (Jun 15, 2009 at 7:58)

Ain't you special?

ericpalmer (Jun 15, 2009 at 8:19)

no, but I am! Just coz my mom told me so! Razz

hahaa

dlowebiker (Jun 15, 2009 at 9:49)

im just pointing out that photography isnt cheap

core559 (Jun 30, 2009 at 23:26)

600mm seems pretty much useless... i rarely use the full 250mm on my lens. btw... what was he shooting here? dual slalom?

naturalhigh (Jun 30, 2009 at 23:28)

If it was useless Canon wouldn't be making it.

core559 (Jun 30, 2009 at 23:32)

useless for shooting riding though. useful for wildlife, car racing, long field sports?

naturalhigh (Jun 30, 2009 at 23:36)

Well, if Sterling is using it I'm pretty damn sure it's not useless for riding shots. You just need to learn how to shoot with it.

dlowebiker (Jun 30, 2009 at 23:38)

600 is good for races that are wide open. for instance standing on the uphill after the log drop to take some really nice shot of the log drop and even the berms above it...

core559 (Jun 30, 2009 at 23:43)

he's shooting with a 300. not a 600. i can see it being use there. but not too many races are like that.

dlowebiker (Jun 30, 2009 at 23:45)

yeah. he uses it mainly for wildlife.

DirtRebel (Jul 15, 2009 at 12:09)

this is the facial expression of pure passion Big Grin

sterling is the man!

LBproductions (Jul 29, 2009 at 21:27)

Oh god thats HUGE!

bunkey (Dec 22, 2009 at 9:53)

Charleyboy14: Being a great photographer isn't just about taking a great picture, it's about getting your name out there and earning recognition & respect; the mere fact that everyone knows who Sterling is compared to the guys you listed is just an example of how he is a better photographer - He has the skills not only to take great pictures, but also to put himself out there in the world and make a living from it.

charleyboy14 (Dec 22, 2009 at 10:07)

I can see where your coming from, BUT your wrong. Being a good photographer is all about having the skills FACT. no matter if you have zero conections if your shit hot behind a camera then your name quickly gets spread throught out the industry. its all about skills and nothing else matters

bunkey (Dec 22, 2009 at 11:55)

Haha, you keep telling yourself that.

charleyboy14 (Dec 22, 2009 at 12:12)

why?

bunkey (Dec 22, 2009 at 13:28)

Because photography is a profession! Its not just about going outside and taking some nice pictures, thats the tip of the iceberg as it were. If you dont put in the legwork and the hours behind the scenes to actually get your shots out there and noticed then your never going to be discovered. You could have the best picture in the world, but if its just sitting in your HDD then nobody is ever going to see it. Thats what makes good photographers different from photography enthusiasts. Anyone can go out and get a good photo if they have decent kit and know how to set it up properly - Its the whole business side and how photographers project their work for public consumption which puts a few above the masses. Sterling would be nothing if he didnt know how business works; likewise, Oliver Coats and co would be so much bigger if they knew how to manipulate the industry to suit their own game. Surely thats an art in itself?

charleyboy14 (Dec 22, 2009 at 14:17)

yet again i see where your coming from and your sort of right but if you've got exceptional skill behind a camera it doesnt matter how thick you are you'll still be raking it in. your probably thinking well how would they get noticed well they'd have to attend races or shoots and they more than likely upload them to either Flickr or here and people will start to link names to photos and then if the photos are good enuf (which if your where mega skilled behind a camera they were) then you set your price and terms and your name will spread through the industry like wild fire

bunkey (Dec 22, 2009 at 14:49)

Uploading pics to sites like this is already a step into the business aspect. Its a medium in which to present yourself. I can almost 100% garentee (cant spell) that you wont make a career in photography just by uploading to pinkbike and waiting for people to click on your picture though.

charleyboy14 (Dec 22, 2009 at 14:52)

Maybe not to pinkbike (at the moment as there is alot more companies joining pinkbike every month and a hell of alot more view it) but certainly to flickr, you have no idea on how many companies browse flickr. i can't spell either so i wouldn't worry.

bunkey (Dec 22, 2009 at 15:27)

Well I sure as hell havn't had any exposure due to either of those sites. So far its been who I know and being in the right place at the right time. I got to do 2 weeks work exp in the recreation/photography dep. of my local FC office through knowing a guy, I've had the chance to shadow a few professional photographers because I happen to have bumped into them and we happen to have a mutual friend, and I'm currently shooting for the cover of a book published by Abbeygate Books because I know a guy who's wife has a brother who owns Abbeygate Books etc. You can see where I'm going with this lol. None of the business and experience that I've accumulated so far is because I have a good picture or two (I dont, I cant even afford my own a camera! All my stuff is on borrowed equipment), its because I've been in the right place at the right time and talked my way into a lot of business which I would otherwise have nothing to do with. Connections and business talk gets your name around, trust me Wink

charleyboy14 (Dec 22, 2009 at 15:34)

very lucky guy. i originaly said that all you need is mega skills and that still holds but obv if you want to make life easier and the process quicker you best be good at negotiating and have a few contacts that are very high up and most of all LUCK that makes life so much simpler as a photographer but my advice is keep lending your stuff untill you can afford yours and take every opotunity you can.

[Reply]

NorCalNomad (Apr 20, 2009 at 11:01)

MMMM cannon...and people hate on cannon, then why is the number one thing used at major sporting events?

naturalhigh (Apr 20, 2009 at 11:31)

I use Canon!

NorCalNomad (Apr 20, 2009 at 11:32)

Good move

ericpalmer (May 18, 2009 at 9:52)

The top 2 makes are Canon & Nikon, so either way u have a great piece of equipment, but the debate on which is better will never end, coz there is no answer.

jergo (May 25, 2009 at 8:06)

Yeah they are both great...personal perference makes the choise (=

KyleIsaman (May 28, 2009 at 15:30)

The only real difference is in the CCD's, which is why I prefer Nikon. But nonetheless, both manufacturers make great cameras.

coralcorn (Jun 10, 2009 at 20:57)

NIKON!!!

dingus (Aug 10, 2009 at 14:07)

Canon!!!

(The only reason I chose canon was because it was cheaper Razz

)

naturalhigh (Aug 10, 2009 at 18:59)

Really? I've found that Nikon is wayyy cheaper. Tell me where you get your stuff! Haha

dingus (Aug 11, 2009 at 2:06)

Got my camera from Canon's ebay store for £200. Its refurbished but basicaly new with a warranty Big Grin

It was only the camera that was cheap tho... Frown

paulclarke (Jan 2, 2010 at 23:23)

cause canon pays more money to have them use their equip, nikon pays more to have their equip shown in other area, in most movies and tv its always nikon, and yes thank u, they are at the same level, just in slr, hate it when people say canon sucks, canon is better for sports, but nikon for other uses..... Canon...

coralcorn (Jan 2, 2010 at 23:26)

Nikon hasnt had a good camera for the sport market.. Canon has... If you go to places like a studio for modeling and such... You will see much more Nikons then in the sport industry. Nikon is starting to get onto the scene though and more people are using them

NorCalNomad (Jan 2, 2010 at 23:50)

Coral I barely understand what you said...work on teh grammar. The reason why you see more canon in sports doesn't have to do with the body technology, it's because canon makes some of the best fast telephoto and super telephoto lenses (what are used for sports as seen in this photo).

ericpalmer (Jan 3, 2010 at 0:23)

Canon & Nikon both make great cameras. If it's an SLR it's good for sport, if not, it's you, not the cam. Some of the best cam's for action are the old Nikons, like the D70 & D100x, because of their fast sync speeds. One of the main reasons why there are more Canon users is coz when digital started Canon was a bit ahead, so a lot of ppl went with Canon & just stick with it. Now that Nikon is on par either way you go you've got the best...

coralcorn (Jan 3, 2010 at 1:00)

I basically was saying that in the sport photography more people are using Canon... Mostly because there cameras have some advantages over Nikon, more frames per second.. Stuff that would make an advantage in shooting sports. Recently though Nikon has been getting more into it.. I use Nikon and I love it

ericpalmer (Jan 3, 2010 at 2:29)

Shooting 11fps is almost not photography anymore... like shooting video & capturing a frame... it sux! Takes the whole point of having good timing away... I only use continuous for sequences so I can stitch them & for that anything much faster that 4fps is useless. If you have bad timing you shouldn't be an action photographer Razz

hahaha

jergo (Jan 3, 2010 at 10:27)

i have to agree with Eric Smile

jergo (Jan 3, 2010 at 10:27)

I have to agree Eric Smile

paulclarke (Jan 3, 2010 at 10:36)

to a certain i agree, but on ur blog eric u have photoshoped alot... not to say ur not a great photographer i liked ur site, not to say anything, just a point, i have too of course... guess the key is to find what we like to shoot and to have fun, and i see alot of people do that on pinkbike... Smile

ericpalmer (Jan 3, 2010 at 22:30)

what has photoshop got to do with discussing cameras? The photoshopping was just a bit of a break from just shooting... I get bored of the same thing over & over, so did something I don't normally do. My action shots I hardly do anything at all, but still don't quite know where you were going with your comment... I still have to shoot at the right time & light things properly & with the photoshopping side it makes you have to do it even more carefully to make it convincing. I don't photoshop to fool ppl & make them think someone jumped higher or did a trick they can't do, I only really do stuff you have to be a retard to think is real. Like the mini versions of me in my hand.

All my point was (in my previous post) is that photography should be all about timing IMO & if you can't click at the right time you might want to try landscape or macro.

jergo (Jan 4, 2010 at 6:41)

eric

some people have no idea what they are talking about. it's pinkbike, get used to that Smile

ericpalmer (Jan 4, 2010 at 14:01)

yeah. I always like to think there's a lil hope for everyone, but I keep getting proven wrong haha Wink

[Reply]

samjackson10 (Jun 7, 2009 at 2:18)

WHOOOOOOOO thats one hell of lens. That camra body is about £8000 in Uk :O

[Reply]

j-peters Plus (May 6, 2009 at 14:47)

you should send this to him, im sure he would get a kick out of it

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natephillips (Apr 19, 2009 at 21:18)

Sterling is my hero

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demo9er (Apr 20, 2009 at 7:35)

This is an EPIC shot! it captures Sterling Lorence in time, as he is capturing a rider in time! Just sweet!

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longnguyen Plus (Apr 19, 2009 at 21:54)

Hahah awesome. Sterling is a great photographer

+ 17

brockanderson (Apr 19, 2009 at 22:30)

i guess i need to start making faces like that when i take pictures...

naturalhigh (Apr 19, 2009 at 22:33)

key to success

me2menow (Apr 20, 2009 at 15:42)

lol, his nose is all pushed up

[Reply]

sewi (Jun 21, 2009 at 14:20)

I think this is 200mm F2.0 lens, not 300.

funkedafro (Jul 6, 2009 at 13:01)

doubt it mate, 300

[Reply]

diogodavinha (Nov 24, 2009 at 17:22)

The Collective Hat! great photographer!

[Reply]

dillonchamberlain (Apr 20, 2009 at 12:57)

oh wow
that is indeed epic.

[Reply]

j-peters Plus (Jun 14, 2009 at 10:41)

1DS M3 300mm 2.8... yummy

[Reply]

funkedafro (Jul 6, 2009 at 13:02)

200 wouldn't need a mount on it coz its lighter

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Flamka (Nov 30, 2009 at 2:22)

sniper!

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nicolai-helius-freerider (May 19, 2009 at 9:45)

hes amazing at taking photo's there normally in mbuk hes mint

skawt-1 (Jul 26, 2009 at 13:40)

Yaaaaaaaaaaay MBUK, dirt is where it's at

[Reply]

sarah95 (May 12, 2009 at 18:11)

do u sell ure pix? cuz u should!

naturalhigh (May 12, 2009 at 18:16)

Haha, I'm not good enough to do so

coralcorn (Jan 2, 2010 at 23:26)

tony's images go for millions... he does just the value is so high not many people can afford them!

[Reply]

sarah95 (May 13, 2009 at 9:03)

u could try, or atleast post them on google er somthin

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aaronlampman (May 19, 2009 at 20:40)

he's amazing!!!

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ken11 (Jun 9, 2009 at 8:19)

He looks like Ovechkin

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nickf (Aug 22, 2009 at 0:17)

so he's right eyed...

[Reply]