This is one of those images that was never really intended or planned, but rather one that just sort of happened while working towards totally different types of shots. It’s what I believe makes the best lifestyle images – those candid, natural moments that can't be repeated or replicated.
On this day I was actually on a commercial assignment to shoot mountain biking around the San Fransisco Bay Area. It was late January and we were searching for a place not too far from home that looked like summer and we chose a private ranch in Novato.
Mark Weir, pictured, would be our guide as he knew the property inside out. As a bonus he had just built up this old 4x4 rock crawler as a side project to shuttle us about in. Mark's enthusiasm for fun and adventure is both one of a kind and contagious, and I wanted to capture that spirit while shooting between takes. I've always loved the fly on wall style of photojournalism and the close-up, realistic 50mm perspective so approached these candid moments with that aesthetic in mind. To be honest I don't think Mark even knew I was shooting this photo.
In the end I chose the black and white processing for its timeless qualities and to keep the viewer from being distracted by the bright colored bikes in the background. I wanted the viewer to be focused on one thing – that sense of excitement and enthusiasm for an adventure about to unfold.