FINAL ROUND: 2017 Pinkbike Photo of the Year - VOTING NOW CLOSED!

 There is something visceral about Thompson’s photo that I just love. Trumpore’s shot is impressive, but with Thompson’s pic I feel like I am there.

 Sven Martin's photo is way better than Trumpore's: www.instagram.com/p/Be7qZw7HTi9

 @ScandiumRider: It’s way more heavily edited to the point of being completely crushed, but I can’t say I agree it’s all that much better.

 @ScandiumRider: I have to agree. It is a little overworked, but the composition/framing is way better.

 Why the hell does Mr. Trumpore's picture still say Burlington, Vermont? Is that where he's from? Makes me want to vote against it. I mean, Madeira is in the same ocean, but.....

 @endlessblockades: relax, its been explained multiple times. the location is set the first time it's uploaded, Dave lives in VT.

 @laxguy: Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeew. I feel a lot better. Thanks. It has my vote.

 Horizon is off big time.

 Words!

I love Trumpore's work but this specific pic has several unfortunate elements that I think don't make it a worthy pick for POY.
The main one is the flower covering the wheel, in addition to covering the bike a bit, I think this whitish oof thing catches the eyes while I'd want to soak in the cliff and steeze instead.
My second grip with this picture feels constrained. The left part of it is really busy with foreground, back vegetation, the rider heading and looking to the left ( duh, if it was to the left that would be called Rampage). On the right I get a bit of the cliff, but there is a lot of ground and bush and we end up with a glimpse of the cliff.
To me the whole idea of the photo is to highlight how close riders are getting to the edge, using the trail as a visual divider between left and right could have made this more evident while also providing more space for the rider and cliff edge to breath.

And now here I am sounding very pedantic as if I knew better than Dave how to take pictures. But I tried to explain why, although I like it a lot, I think this could have been better and thus why I think the other picture deserves to win.

I'm so sorry, I love your work man and you're one of the photogs I look up to the most. 3

 People just cock gobble anything with Dave’s name on it.

 @polarproton: Personally I've never heard of Trumpore before (I tend to judge photos as such, I don't generally care who took them, a photo is a photo*) but when I pointed out the same things (plants partially covering the bike, rider moving away from the center of the frame) in a different discussion, he just came across as an arrogant prick responding to me in a style "I'm this famous photographer, I don't have to care about some rules, who are you to dare criticize my work?"
But I hope that if he wins, I'll finally be able to read his explanation why the photo looks the way it does and if there was some artistic intent behind it or if he just didn't have a choice.

*The competition is called "Photo Of The Year", not "Photographer Of The Year", so we should be judging one particular photo, not his work in general or even him as a person. And yeah, after going through his gallery, I must admit he's a very skilled photographer - I'd be able to choose a few photos from his gallery that I think are better than this one.

 @Extremmist: I don't really care about who he is as I will probably never meet him, I care about what he is, a very good photog.
As for his answer? Taking pics is his job, and you always have to stand by your work ( even more so when your pic is in a contest). So yeah, you can't expect him to say " Yeah, this one is shiiit, Sven that was by my right snaped a better one" because then ppl will just head to Sven's pic for the POY.

This one prolly isn't the best he ever pulled out of his camera, but i'm sure he'll survive ^^

 @endlessblockades: Same ocean? Burlington, VT is in the ocean?

 Blame the format. There were a few I thought were more worthy but they got voted out early by another amazing but similar picture or by THAT STUPID FUCKING ROOST! Either way, I actually do like his picture for a few reasons so I'm happy its not the roost.

 @ScandiumRider: So agry. Its Svens that makes me understand why this pic is in the final round

 Breaking News! Robb Thompson with the win! Good for him... but I'm annoyed there wasn't a "last day to vote" notice like for the other rounds.

 I don't think either of these would have won if the voting was just one round of winner takes all, but I really liked voting in rounds and putting photos head to head.

 @pacificnorthwet: Ditto.... and love the username. That explains why it was taken lol.

 This shot from the weekend has merit - natural light, great atmosphere and an intensity reflecting the riders concentration
www.pinkbike.com/photo/15601077

 @Otago: indeed it does. Although the contrast/lighting on the rider could be a little better. I know with it being naturally lit this is harder so that's a more minor point.

 Yeah both middle of the pack for me...

 Do you think Paddock's shot would've gotten more votes if it wasn't of Gwin?

I bet some people see it and think 'well that's a standard shot for a WC-level racer', and they don't consider how phenomenal that actual photo is.

That same shot (lighting, action, composition, etc.) of an amateur rider would end up in this final voting round, would be my guess...

 @MTBrent:
Not to throw shade but it is a standard WC spray and pray photo. Sure he was in a good spot and he framed the rider (Gwinner) well, but I'm betting he has a few shots from that spot. Great photo just not the best of the year. Voting has shown that as well.

 @sunringlerider: While it might be a fairly standard WC photo, they very rarely pan out that well. I'd challenge you to find another of the same quality from last season.

As far as whether or not the shot would have done as well if it wasn't Gwin... I would say only if the rider was as skilled as Gwin. Part of what makes the shot so good is you can imagine how truly fast he's going. Not many people go as fast as Gwin haha

 I like both of the final photos but never would have guessed they were gonna make it to the final two. There were a couple others I expected and wanted to see in the final.

 exaggerated turning technique

 It is that moment you can't unclip and fall sideways into the bushes.

 narrowhead

It’s called steez brah and only a true endurobro can do it whilst enduroing on an island....

....so it’s obvious that you’d be confused.

#moreendurothanyou

Also March shot in the PB calendar!

 More like “ I was walking home after a heavy lunchtime session on the brown , when I decided to take a little nap amongst the daisies . I was rudely awakened by a pair douchebags on bikes so got up and carried on meandering on !
Voted for the other one

 Agreed

 Agree on the feelings the Thompson photo evokes. That said I'm a little surprised it made it so far.

 Hasn't Trump getting into office taught you that voting is important?

 @juicebanger: Yes, especially if you live anywhere but California or New York. The system worked just as planned by the folks who wrote the Constitution.

 @Extremmist: I think your keyboard is broken

 @k2rider1964: The electoral college is there so uneducated rednecks have a voice among the educated city folk.

 @dualsuspensiondave: but shouldn't everyone have a voice?

 @FrozenTreads56: Definitely! I understand how our democracy works and all, but I think it would make much more sense to ditch the political party system and have people vote on every issue. That would truly be a democracy in my books. Once we get the big business out of our voting system and truly give the voice back to the people, things can get better for everyone and bring more peace throughout society.

 Took the words out of my mouth. Uncredited would be the best method. I have also seen photographers promote their photos on their socials as well, so this should not be allowed as well.

 @casey79: the problem is that these pics were posted months ago potentially and had their name on them at the time, it would take great foresight and restraint to not post any pictures under your own name that you thought may win POTY almost a year in advance.

 @robaussie99: Not having the name of the photographer at the bottom of the photo would go a long way. You are right in saying if you where to image search you could still find out who took the photo but it would certainly help keep the voting honest.

 ....which is why I can't believe it's lasted so long in a PB photo contest

 The earth is round, my dood.

 Wow now that you mention that it's actually not that rad as I first thought.

 That's just how things happen with a fisheye now and then... Any wide angle has to distort something, and a fisheye will make straight lines curve quite often. The plus side though is that they give images a unique depth... Tradeoffs, nothing less.

 @davetrumpore: thanks for sharing the photo dave, i appreciate your willingness to discuss the work in the comments sections. god knows doing either can result in immense satisfaction or astounding frustration. it must feel good to showcase your work alongside another very deserving competitor. both are worth acclaim, and although i prefer the competition, i hope you keep up the great work.

 Looks like it was shot with a very wide angle lens and the spherical distortion at the edge is contributing a lot to that.

 Or kept as rounds, and we can vote for up to half in each round. Just not head-to-head'd untill the final two

 and no E bikes!

 While I agree with the anti-roost sentiment, I kinda wish there was something indicating some speed or something more dynamic. I was a fan of the shots that showed off landscape and setting like the finalists do, but now that I see them I realize I generally voted for ones that had at least a wheel off the ground, or some indication of speed/power. It's personal preference, but I'd like to see some air, or dust, or blur, or something to show some dynamism.

 agreed!!! Thompson captured something pretty amazing

 Totally agree, best pic of the last four there

 @gunners1: yes, it was the essence of mountain biking! that piss off feeling

 @gunners1: www.pinkbike.com/photo/15605815

 Would have been my pick.

 totally

 #satchelwasrobbed

 Would have gone for that Filip Zaun one to be honest

 @gunners1: I've been voting for Filip Zuan all the way through, thinking it was such a sick shot of a remote ridgeline full of awesome slabs. But looking at it now I can see another trail in the foreground, I think this is just a cool shot from a bike park, I don't think that scene would have looked quite so cool from the riders perspective.

 @gunners1: yes! That was a good one.

 @red720: Yeah your probably right but regardless the colours and sharpness that jump out of it is unreal

 Check the bottom of the article. Code RSC and GX Eagle.

 Obviously you didn't read

 @weebleswobbles: well, I voted, through all the stages, I did a lot of hard working.

So, GX Eagle please.

 @ka81: Do you have one of those strength building mouses? I hear it's the next big thing to exercise at the desk...urgh....Soooo... HARD! *Click* YES!!!! Manager walks by... (Drill sergeant voice) "Gimme 20 more!" ... I think I'm gonna die....

 @mtbikeaddict: those are some strange words you've written.. Very, very strange..

 @ka81: What can I say? I was bored and wanted to poke fun at you saying that voting was such hard work. It was hard to decide though, I'll give you that.

 Ok, maybe not more, but at least a consideration. The photos are awesome, but what happens happens. Winning something is quite the icing on the cake...

 Insesible?