12:54 PM Danny "DH" Hart

Shooting Danny is a blast. Always ready for more and style for miles! Hopefully next year he spends a little more time in the states or I make it over the pond to shoot him doing more than racing. This was shot near Tehachapi, CA during Giant Team Camp this past March. We were trying to model something after the Duncan Riffle ad from earlier in the year. After some weather challenges I think we nailed it.

4:14 PM MTB World's Day 2

Day 2 for me at World's saw a completely different morning. By this time I was caught up on sleep and ready for a big day. Rain was supposed to be on the way and my shoot schedule included DH practice and the men's U23 race. I already had some ideas for DH practice but had yet to even see the XC course. Good thing I was going to have 30 minutes in between to figure out what I was doing.

Shot within 20 feet of the lit up Brad Benedict shot from the day before was this shot of Fabien Pedemanaud. I really wanted to shoot here more, and maybe light it up- but I kept on moving because XC was starting soon.







After grabbing some lunch I hiked the back portion of the XC course and picked two spots. One I could work with multiple lenses, flashes, and angles, and another I had to run through the forest that I could grab two different looks at. Late in the race I settled in on one of my current favorite looks and was pleased with this shot of eventual winner Mathias Flückiger giving it hard.







Once I was happy with some of my face shots I got a little lower for some leg and chain wheel shots. I'm pretty into these right now especially if legs are dirty or bleeding.








After the race I hiked the remainder of the course to prep for Saturday's XC racing schedule. The course was pretty cool. Would have been nice to get a chance to ride it. Trees, roots, rocks.

6:47 PM US MTB Championships

Just got back from the US MTB Championships held at the SolVista Bike Park in Granby, CO. The higher altitude and mid-day sun were a bit challenging- not to mention my 2 hour hiking detour the morning of the U23 race with my camera pack. That pretty much ruined my legs and feet from the start but I got through it.

Funny things go through my head when I'm at a "big event." What am I shooting? Am I doing it right? Is my stuff going to look different? Unique? Will anyone say wow? Just when I'm really second guessing my self I usually settle down and see something. when I know I have something good I take a look around to see if any other photo nerds are around. If they aren't or their camera has a different lens or is pointed some where else I know I'm in business.

When I get home I start checking sites to see what others shot. It gives me a good view into how others approached each event, and how they see things. For this event I'm pretty happy how things turned out. for some other pics be sure to check here Giant's FaceBook page

11:45 AM FoxHead Poster

Really not a fan of selective color. Turns out Greg over at Fox isn't either but when he tried it on a whim for the poster below it worked. These are some images from Giant's Team Camp he put together for an autograph signing @ Sea Otter. Pretty stoked on how it turned out.

6:18 PM Sea Otter Classic

Got back from the Sea Otter Classic late last night. I'm not sure how many I've been to but I think my first was back in 93 or 94. I've missed a few and it's always been a love/hate based on what I was doing there. The last few have certainly been good for me and this one will go down in the memory books just based on the unreal weather. Guess 10 days of junk weather for Giant Team Camp payed off!

Been sorting through photos for most of the day and this one popped out at me. It's from Sunday during Pro DH practice. It was probably the largest field of pro's I'd seen at Sea Otter ever. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing but it is what it is.

I shot the photo below just as I got to practice. I seem to have a habit of making my first shot of the day one of my favorites. I'll probably have some more photos from the otter later.

8:34 AM Giant Team Camp and Vital

Vital MTB is a pretty rad site. Been lurking around there for quite some time looking at photos from Gary Perkin, Sven Martin, Damien Breach, Shawn Spomer and many others.

The content is always good so I'm pretty stoked to have some of my goods sneaking in there.

Ray's MTB Odd Couple Be sure to check the photo credit here although it's pretty clear what ones I shot (no offense to the other photog.)

Twelve Gravity Photos from Giant Team Camp (You'd never know it snowed or rained 8 of the 10 days I was there...)

On a somewhat related note I've added one photo from Giant Team Camp to one of "Projects/The Circuit." It's Justin Morse working late into the cold night to get a steed in shape for Duncan Riffle. Click the photo to view the whole gallery.

9:10 PM 1st Annual Race For the Glory Cup Of Spectacular Victory Downhill Pit Race

I'm just the messenger on the title here. Blame Jeremy over at Liquid-Dirt This little shindig was just a precursor to the mayhem that should happen on that hill. I ran late and showed up just before dark. Still got off a couple shots worth sharing- hopefully it's builds up some hype.

Off to Portland to shoot some muddy Cyclocross tomorrow. Looking forward to that one!