Merlin Lotz at Ferme Libert in Malmédy, Belgium - photo by bortels

Picture by Christophe Bortels for Landscape Magazine

Photo of the Day on Jan 5, 2012 - more PODs

Selected by Ian Hylands - With the World Cup season being over we haven't had a legitimate DH race photo in quite a while, so when I saw this one I jumped at it. I love the angle of the shot, and the composition with all the tape everywhere. The out of focus foreground really helps separate the action, and also really works with the composition. Thirds everywhere...

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57 Comments

Score Time

+ 43

gclarida (Jan 5, 2012 at 0:02)

Dh racer is a cool guy. he looks like a cool guy he races bikes and doesnt afraid of anything

+ 34

Six-or-Shore (Jan 5, 2012 at 0:21)

You sure darn right there mate. He aint not afraid of nuthin that's anything. And stuff.

- 106

Jack1201 (Jan 5, 2012 at 3:48) (Below Threshold) show comment

my opinion is that this pod sucks and there is a lot better pics out there!

+ 92

DeVo694 (Jan 5, 2012 at 5:21)

well obviously no one cares about your opinion eh? Razz

RaleighVoid (Jan 5, 2012 at 6:59)

surely we'll find out who mystery Dh racer is with this being POD?

- 39

MiloXC3 (Jan 5, 2012 at 8:58) (Below Threshold) show comment

And Jack, my opinion is YOU suck and there's a lot better people out there!

+ 27

thenegpropper (Jan 5, 2012 at 11:32)

NEG THEM!! ^^^^

joseda (Jan 5, 2012 at 12:42) (Below Threshold) show comment

@jack1201
in my opinion a lot of pics does not have been shooted with a "canon eos 1d mark-III", this pic yes xD

- 31

Jack1201 (Jan 5, 2012 at 14:37) (Below Threshold) show comment

Its my f*cking opinion. You guys are all f*ggots and don't respect other peoples opinions. Opinions are rights and privileges so you guys can have your opinion and I can have mine. Also all you f*ck faces think that this is the "best photo ever" then why wouldn't this be P.O.D. http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/7478603/

Oh and by the way your all really stupid and narcissistic, if you f*ggots know what that even means!

+ 18

RobbyBriers Plus (Jan 5, 2012 at 14:46)

Jack, I respect your opinion. But there are more socially accepted ways to say you don't like this photo. In general, it is better to not say it at all, because nobody who enjoys or comments te photo will be interested in someone saying he doesn't.

That's more or less a general known rule here. Many have learned from it, others keep trying.

RaleighVoid (Jan 5, 2012 at 14:49)

jack, POD is not all about it being the 'best photo available that day' it takes other things into account, like Ian explains in the explanation.

is that stupid and narcissistic, whatever the f*ck that means? Smile

Nickroy (Jan 5, 2012 at 15:10)

Both guys you are right . . In my opinion this is no POD but you can say it with a delicate way . . by the way Narcissistic in a ''free'' translation is the guy who acts like there is nobody else in the world except him.(from the greek ''NARKISSOS'')
You must learn some greek too . .

henrytgreene (Jan 5, 2012 at 15:13)

I agree with RobbyBriers... and calling someone f*ggot or stupid just because they don't agree with you or neg prop you is just childish. I find it ironic that jack1201 is calling everyone who doesn't agree with him narcissistic. Made me laugh.

and for everyone who doesn't know what narcissistic means, here: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=narcissistic

ivanjumpstyle (Jan 5, 2012 at 15:56)

thank you i needed the meaning

qman11 (Jan 5, 2012 at 19:18)

@Jack1201 why are you chirping when you ride a norco wolverine.................???

mtnbyker Plus (Jan 5, 2012 at 20:17)

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/5320233/

D-Owen (Jan 5, 2012 at 20:50)

^^ Beautiful !!

njdfan101 (Jan 5, 2012 at 21:58)

Hah, classic.

kokaneecrankworx (Jan 6, 2012 at 2:29)

Rider is Merlin Lotz (Josh), rode with him in france.

[Reply]

lars123123 (Jan 5, 2012 at 4:11)

Finaly a pod from Belgium!!!
Love Landscape-mag Smile

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devonbalet Plus (Jan 5, 2012 at 13:22)

I love these kinds of photos. My first photo professor would have marked this failing because of the out of focus foreground, but I for one thing that can add a lot to an image. It draws your eye right to the rider having him be in focus and everything else falling off due to a narrow depth of field. The rider is nicely placed in the top left third. The colors of the rider's cloths and tape compliment each other nicely.

lstanners (Jan 5, 2012 at 13:52)

Totally agree, having the subject pin sharp and everything else blurry is the key to great sports photography.

[Reply]

Mitch78 (Jan 5, 2012 at 12:29)

Yeah, Merlin is the magic man Wink

[Reply]

djosh49 (Jan 5, 2012 at 10:10)

Et une de plus pour toi TOF

[Reply]

Pedro404 (Jan 5, 2012 at 11:37)

Thirds everywhere? The line separating the trees and the ground is almost smack in the middle.

Marlfox87 (Jan 5, 2012 at 15:40)

it's kinda hard to catch, but actually to the bottom left is the out of focus foreground, which gives away to the jumps in the middle ground which are in focus, and jumps back to the out of focus trees in the background. That may be one of the thirds Ian's talking about.. another thing I see is the use of the the golden number..(Ian actually gives a more detailed description of it in his tutorial on composition), but the foreground and middle ground divide the the photo in half, and then the rider being positioned to the left of the upper half divides the upper half again. Also maybe the fact that the riders line of path, and the jump are criss-crossing with the multiple lines of tape dividing the shot into thirds where those lines cross.. But Those lines seemed bunched so that may be a weak argument. Just how I broke down the photo anyway.

[Reply]

FunnBOB (Jan 5, 2012 at 0:33)

Amazing color combinations! His clothes, the bike, the stick on the right side and even the railing!

[Reply]

shockabahala Plus (Jan 5, 2012 at 0:07)

That guy in the profile pic has a bonner for his camera

+ 27

RideFree420 (Jan 5, 2012 at 0:17)

shockabahala^^ its boner... jokes on you...

shockabahala Plus (Jan 5, 2012 at 0:45) (Below Threshold) show comment

I spell it how i pronounce it

+ 17

bigburd (Jan 5, 2012 at 1:50)

Do you also pronounce bones ' bonnes ' ? :p

ashleyren (Jan 5, 2012 at 4:46)

cant blame him, its a nice camera ;-)

lstanners (Jan 5, 2012 at 13:55)

If I owned a camera that mint I would have to have it regularly serviced for a 'despunking'...

bortels (Jan 6, 2012 at 9:54)

yes, I'm in a relationship with my cameras :-)

shockabahala Plus (Jan 6, 2012 at 13:47)

please treat it right.

[Reply]

BobBogdanWilliams (Jan 5, 2012 at 9:49)

It almost looks like the biker has been photoshoped and the depth of filed increased.

bortels (Jan 5, 2012 at 10:33)

the magic of this amazing lens :-)

[Reply]

BobBogdanWilliams (Jan 5, 2012 at 9:51)

there is not even the slightest dust speck tickle or anything coming out of the tire nor the ground.

[Reply]

freerideglory (Jan 5, 2012 at 8:53)

I've loved those bikes since I started Riding Smile

[Reply]

alexthebikeguy84 (Jan 5, 2012 at 7:18)

Looks like he's rippin over a pair of ass cheeks..just sayin

[Reply]

grahamc (Jan 5, 2012 at 2:34)

Like the tape, foreground spoils it for me. Really POD? meh.

[Reply]

MingMtnMedia (Jan 5, 2012 at 0:00)

Okay...

J-JUMP (Jan 5, 2012 at 0:02)

okay-ly amazing! Wink

[Reply]

bobby-owen (Jan 5, 2012 at 4:39)

kinda looks like sam blenky

[Reply]

prurient-possum (Jan 5, 2012 at 1:43)

what kind of bike is that?

Amethyst-Shark (Jan 5, 2012 at 1:54)

Last Herb DH I believe

[Reply]

BrodieBiking (Jan 5, 2012 at 21:45)

Great action shot! Smile

[Reply]

schweigi (Jan 5, 2012 at 22:45)

Racing!

[Reply]

jptothetree (Jan 5, 2012 at 19:15)

you sir, look very fast!

[Reply]

Ellbrown (Jan 5, 2012 at 0:17)

Nice

[Reply]

LexaWe (Jan 5, 2012 at 6:18)

SICK boy! I know him Big Grin

MiloXC3 (Jan 5, 2012 at 8:59)

Then say who it is!

LexaWe (Jan 5, 2012 at 10:46)

Merlin Lotz from Germany

bortels (Jan 6, 2012 at 9:55)

thanks, I added his name in the description :-D

[Reply]

dansands (Jan 5, 2012 at 9:27)

Guys pinning it!

[Reply]

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