Each sport takes on a certain visual aesthetic that defines it. In mountain biking, nothing has defined the sport more than the moody, foggy, deep in the woods photos from North America's Pacific North West, more specifically the North Shore of Vancouver and Whistler. In the late 1990s and early 2000s the photos and style of trails inspired an entire generation of riders, trail builders and photographers.
Growing up in Vermont and later living in Colorado, images like this one had simply never been more than a daydream. So when the opportunity arose to actually shoot and ride in Whistler, it was a dream come true.
Still, nature is fickle and many variables need to align in order to get that one perfect shot. On this day luck seemed to be on my side. I was covering a product launch for a client and a foggy day was quickly being burned off by the rising sun. Knowing my window of opportunity was small, myself and Brandon Turman had to hustle not to miss that golden opportunity where it's not too dark, not too bright, and the feeling and mood I was after was perfectly presented.
This is the type of photo I daydreamed about as a kid in Vermont; so much of the reason I shot it was personal. I shoot a lot riding in beautiful landscapes these days, but no amount of high ridge lines, sunrises, or backlit dust can compare to the classic shots from the Pacific North West. To me, images like this are timeless. Images like this are mountain biking.
