I don’t often get a chance simply to shoot something simply because I want to however this was one of those welcome opportunities – so please indulge me just a little.

Mountain biking: nearly as exciting/expensive* as snowboarding (another passion of mine) but without the need for the increasingly scarce resource of er… snow/apres-ski* and significantly more active than knitting. No matter what my nan might say. And, in this instance, a mountain bike in the thankfully very capable/fearless* hands of Elliot Harper – someone I’ve previously captured more conventional images of.

I’m a big fan of mountain biking (though I do admit I’m nowhere near as skilful or as brave/foolhardy* as Elliot) and this was a welcome chance to capture some images of a sport I absolutely love – and types of image I’ve never been had a chance to capture before.

This was all shot up at Coombe Hill on the various slopes and trails that criss-cross the area. Elliot is seriously impressive/nuts*, both in his cycling skills and in the careful approach he takes to each leap. Contrary to what the ever opinionated tabloids might well say of such cycle-borne teenagers inconsiderately launching themselves skywards with little regard for their own safety (or, indeed, the safety of other esteemed Daily Mail/Sun* readers), everything Elliott approached was done (and quite rightly, if you ask me) with a not inconsiderable attention to detail.

I do have to admit that, had it been me on that bike, I would have exercised even more caution/cowardice* by, let’s say, not even attempting such impressive/ridiculous* challenges, but given it wasn’t me on the bike, I was left with enormous respect/awe* for the approach by which all this was done. Every ramp and run was checked (and checked again) and wasn’t attempted until Elliot was absolutely certain it was going to go-to-plan/not-kill-him*. Not exactly the image of reckless youth that the press might have us believe.

And, while I am sure that all of this upped his pulse rate just a tad (he was, after all, launching himself six feet in the air each time) I also discovered it to be not a little interesting/terrifying* for me too. Lying on the ground while Elliott repeatedly landed 35lbs of metal and 10 stone of teenager just a couple of feet from my head** is something that I think I would always regard as mildly exciting/sickening*. I do suspect though, that Elliott was keeping things well within his limits – particularly given my suitably stern/dull* safety briefing and insistence that he keep things safe/boring* (I am sure I sounded like a father/teacher*. Sigh) – so I can only imagine what he’s capable of when he pushes things out a little/lot*! Maybe we’ll do that at the next shoot***. Awesome!

Cheers
P.

* delete as applicable
** no photographers or cameras were hurt in the making of this production
*** but only after another suitably stern safety briefing of course