Bold Eagle Left the Nest

During Mountain Biking World Cup, Grouse Mountain Vancouver BC

Is the biker pasted in? If not -cool perspective.

NO ps except sharpening and dodging.

I find the water at the bottom distracting. Otherwise a 'wow' image. I really like the fact the the front wheel is parallel to the front of the camera, and is spinning.

Definitely worthy of publication.

Very impressive sensation.

I would have die from an heart attack!

Dear Kris,

 

This is a very spectacular shot. A little more explanation on how it was taken would be helpful to the viewer e.g. are you one of the performer taking this snap shot of another player in front of you or are you standing at a very special vantage point to this this shot ?

 

Good composition.

I have seen this type of performance, and the illusion of height is spectacular. It appears that he is 100s of feet in the air, when in reality he is about 20 feet up at most (which is still 20 feet higher than I will ride on a bike)

 

You created a masterpiece! Submit it to SI or ESPN mag. Really worthy of publishing.

Great shot! And I don't mind the water one bit.

loved this shot on the cover of bike magazine's last photo annual, would love to see some more of your bike work...

Sorry, I didn't think the explanation is needed. It's very simple. But if some of you don't know how to do it I should draw a sketch. Any way the biker is as high above the ground as space between him and bottom frame, means about 8 feet. Requirements longest possible lens, sloppy terrain and biker who can jump at list once on build bump.

I still wonder. I guess it is a composition. If it is real, yes, i need a sketch. Also, it is not obvious to do that 8 feet above earth. I am myself a mountain biker, and that bike is a freeride or downhill one around 20 kilos of weight. But, in short, if it is not a composition, congratulations because you have a picture to publish in Bike or any other best magazine. Manuel.

Having been to Grouse Mountain many times, I can vouch for Kris's explanation of the biker only being 8ft or so above the ground.

This looks like it's at the top of the main ski run (known as "The Cut" - many international standard mountain bike competitions are held here in summer). The run drops away quickly from the main 'ease-in' area, allowing Kris to stand not too far behind the action while having a clear view down towards the city. Freestyle competitions are often held on this part of the run, meaning there was probably also a jump allowing the biker to get some real air.

One of the more 'classic' tourism shots of Vancouver is also from this site... usually of someone skiing down 'The Cut' at night with the lights of Vancouver spread out in the background. To Kris' credit, all this photo took was a good sense of where to place one's self, a zoom lens and uncanny timing and preparation to capture the frame.

Looks like a "Table top superman" to me. Nice shot. Shooting mountain biking, especially dirt jumping or downhill can be pretty difficult. Nice capture. Cheers.

You perfectly placed the action. It wasn't even competition, just one guy practiced jumps there.

Fantastic perspective. Do any of you remember the '92 Olympics in Barcelona? There were a bunch of great photos from the Diving venue that were essentially the same thing- Only the Cathedral was the background. Actually, It doesn't take much effort, just a little preparation and patience for the right moment. Great job.

I still remember those images from Barcelona. Things like that we always have somewhere in the back of our head.

To get downtown! Excellent catch.

Big Air!

Great visual impact! There is something puzzling though - even assuming that the ground on which this guy was about to land was immediatley below the lower border of the photo, it still looks like a two - two and a half meters fall. Would YOU like to land from a two - two and a half meters jump, and on the seat of a bycicle?

You have to know that Vancouver is the cradle of the creasiest bike jumpers in the world. This one is just only kindergarten.

Amen to that...

excellent !

This photo looks A LOT like one at Bike Magazine's site (follow the link).

Any comments on the similarty? The bike and some details (e.g. the shoelace on the right shoe) are indentical, but the jersey color and photographer's name are different on this picture.

I'm not trying to sound accusatory here, but the similarities between the two pictures are enough to make me say "hmmmmm"...