Max goes for a cold night flight.
Max goes for a cold night flight.

63 Comments

  • + 45
flag TheStig04 (Nov 4, 2012 at 20:01)
 im not sure whether this makes me want to ski or bike more, but its an incredible shot either way!
  • + 13
flag Fraser-Laing (Dec 12, 2012 at 12:43)
 snowboard*
  • - 26
flag billythemouse21 (Dec 12, 2012 at 12:55) (Below Threshold) show comment
 neither*
  • + 19
flag 26street-swaagg (Dec 12, 2012 at 14:45)
 Snowblades*
  • - 3
flag LoganG73 (Dec 12, 2012 at 16:09)
 Snow Bike*
  • - 1
flag andycreak123 (Dec 12, 2012 at 16:10)
 Snow Shoe*
  • - 6
flag shaneRX (Dec 12, 2012 at 16:38) (Below Threshold) show comment
 Snow Angel*
  • - 10
flag tdoyle1995 (Dec 12, 2012 at 16:38) (Below Threshold) show comment
 horse shoe
  • - 10
flag Silocycle (Dec 12, 2012 at 16:57) (Below Threshold) show comment
 Horse s#&t
  • + 16
flag BCxTREME (Dec 12, 2012 at 16:58)
 snowshutup*
  • + 7
flag Silocycle (Dec 12, 2012 at 19:37)
 Ah, that was a fun game while it lasted... Lovely photo btw. Crisp!
  • + 2
flag LewisTA26 (Dec 20, 2012 at 9:34)
 Snow one cares? Smile

Sorry i had to haha
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  • + 16
flag Big-Col (Dec 12, 2012 at 10:42)
 People are asking me about the light and camera setup, so I thought I'd just write about it once here...

The pic is actually two images superimposed one above the other - one being a long exposure, mainly to get the light worm, and the second being the flash shot to freeze Max in the air. Max's light with the long exposure bounced a lot of light off the snow so that's why you see good light off the snow surface and trees.

First pic is the long exposure at about 20 secs @ ISO 160 @f/5.6 on the Nikkor 16mm fisheye, no flash.

Second pic is the flash - obviously do not change the position of the camera, use a good tripod. Flashed at 1/500th sec using an Elinchrom Quadra AS head jacked up high on a stand to the left. Nikon max flash sync for a clear image is 1/250th but because Max is in the upper frame I could push it to 1/500th therefore maximizing his sharpness. Rear curtain. Camera is a Nikon D800 so plenty of resolution.

In photoshop stack the two images on top of each other using layers. If the flashed image ( mainly black except the rider ) is on top then rub out the area surrounding the rider to show through the long exposure pic beneath. Then flatten, save & post.

You can do it in one shot with the rear curtain flash at the end of a long exposure but, in my experience, you're always going to get some ghosting effect and, therefore, not the sharpest action freeze. Framing the rider against a dark background helps a lot too.
[Reply]
  • + 12
flag Thrillride (Nov 4, 2012 at 11:18)
 This is amazing. Wow I just saw the other version without snow and its really interesting with the snow, better contrast between whites and blacks makes this shot freaking sick! Plus you can see the stars in this one...
  • + 4
flag downhiller87 (Nov 7, 2012 at 12:48)
 next POD for sure!
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  • + 7
flag gbhfghinn (Nov 4, 2012 at 10:07)
 Its a flying snowman Smile POD
  • + 11
flag suspended-productions (Dec 12, 2012 at 0:03)
 So that's what Frosty does when you're not Looking..
  • - 3
flag dbodoggle (Dec 12, 2012 at 0:33)
 oh but I'm always looking..
  • + 4
flag mattypants (Dec 12, 2012 at 16:14)
 In Canada we call them sasquatch
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  • + 4
flag hooligan23 (Nov 7, 2012 at 10:16)
 How did you only get the light to leave trails and not the rider himself? Slave flashes on a time?
  • + 2
flag Big-Col (Nov 7, 2012 at 13:00)
 It's two shots overlaid: 1 flash, one long exposure.
  • + 2
flag hooligan23 (Nov 7, 2012 at 16:22)
 Ohhhh, that makes sense, i feel like you may be able to do it with a remote flash and one long exposure. Not sure if you have tried that or not
  • + 1
flag marinlmasher (Dec 12, 2012 at 7:49)
 could you do long exposure, then have a flash go off half way through to show rider?
  • + 1
flag Argyll (Dec 12, 2012 at 8:57)
 @marinlmasher, if the camera was set to 2nd curtain flash, that might work.
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  • + 4
flag airsoftesneeto (Dec 12, 2012 at 0:03)
 its about time this becomes POD! well deserved!
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  • + 3
flag HermanShake (Dec 12, 2012 at 9:53)
 Dude's just ripped a hole in the space-time continuum. The snow spray looks like stars too, epic.
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  • + 3
flag CT-2 (Nov 4, 2012 at 16:48)
 Very sick shot!!! Wish it was bigger so I could make it my desktop background though.
  • + 2
flag Looorney (Nov 7, 2012 at 12:55)
 Here is the URL to the biggest version available.

gp1.pinkbike.org/p6pb8866803/p6pb8866803.jpg

Maybe that will work?
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  • + 2
flag Big-Col (Dec 12, 2012 at 10:45)
 And I forgot to say, you can see the video from the same session here,

www.pinkbike.com/video/285341
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag Ghostrider73j (Dec 12, 2012 at 0:54)
 Tried it, not the same when you use candles
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  • + 2
flag lstanners (Dec 12, 2012 at 2:50)
 I might have a crack at that drop in the day time when it's not covered in slipery snow!.... maybe! cool shot!
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  • + 2
flag footballer4499 (Dec 12, 2012 at 0:03)
 I want to see a picture of this guy's landing
  • + 1
flag Big-Col (Dec 12, 2012 at 1:13)
 Watch the video to see the landing.
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  • + 2
flag bretttippie (Dec 12, 2012 at 2:43)
 I love this!!! Nice shooting Colin and wicked riding Max. Looks cool.
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  • + 0
flag Questrails (Dec 12, 2012 at 14:46)
 This photo is only 300 times better than the photo of the year contest winning crap shot. Might have to give this guy two bikes and $15,000.
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  • + 3
flag JFryze (Dec 12, 2012 at 5:16)
 Tron Legacy on a dh bike
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  • + 2
flag freeriderayward (Nov 7, 2012 at 23:44)
 The sun is going to drop in later through the far trees...
  • + 1
flag barbarosza (Dec 12, 2012 at 10:33)
 YES ! goood observation ! thats super nice
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  • + 2
flag MackemMark (Dec 12, 2012 at 4:27)
 *Clicks 'Add to my Favourites'*
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag powerline (Dec 12, 2012 at 12:32)
 colder than a witches tit
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  • + 1
flag kristensen (Jan 4, 2013 at 7:12)
 WOW! That´s a beautiful shot!
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  • + 1
flag bj4x4 (Dec 12, 2012 at 23:15)
 I think this calls for a desktop picture change.....
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  • + 1
flag mtbfanatik (Dec 12, 2012 at 17:01)
 He must be freezing his ass off!
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  • + 1
flag adove Plus (Dec 12, 2012 at 12:59)
 Duuuuuuuude! Very creative, well executed!!!
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  • + 1
flag otiotori (Dec 12, 2012 at 2:15)
 i love light tracing in long exposure shots Big Grin this one is no exception
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  • + 1
flag Worm-Burner (Dec 12, 2012 at 0:10)
 pursued by tentacles of light...
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  • + 1
flag trickn0l0gy (Nov 5, 2012 at 2:42)
 sketchy as hell. max has some proper balls.
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  • + 1
flag matteoganora (Dec 12, 2012 at 14:26)
 stunning! great photo!
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  • + 1
flag danyul (Nov 5, 2012 at 9:21)
 MINT!!
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  • + 1
flag zigzad7392 (Dec 13, 2012 at 5:06)
 cool Smile
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  • + 1
flag jack-jdeagan10 (Dec 15, 2012 at 12:19)
 "Live your passion."
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  • + 1
flag Forever-sunday (Dec 12, 2012 at 2:51)
 wow
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag josecampos (Nov 4, 2012 at 14:20)
 sick!!!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag arnodj (Nov 7, 2012 at 13:11)
 POD for tomorrow!
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  • + 1
flag STR0MER (Nov 8, 2012 at 8:31)
 Stunning
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag downhillerinsf (Dec 12, 2012 at 8:44)
 SO SICK
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  • + 1
flag Turqoise (Nov 7, 2012 at 17:50)
 Photo of day the
  • + 2
flag boogaloo77 (Dec 12, 2012 at 12:26)
 word scramble?
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  • + 1
flag barbarosza (Dec 12, 2012 at 10:32)
 this was here before !
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  • + 1
flag frednewton (Nov 8, 2012 at 2:55)
 awesome photo!
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  • + 0
flag Kourtskii (Nov 4, 2012 at 11:57)
 b e a uuuutiful!!
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  • - 1
flag neale1978 (Nov 4, 2012 at 15:06)
 e f f e c t i v e
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  • - 2
flag McommeMiaou (Dec 12, 2012 at 4:39)
 He's crazy ! In winter we ski, we don't bike !
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