Tag Archives: Motorcycle Photography

Killboy | Ep. 53 Rider Magazine Insider Podcast

Ep53 Rider Magazine Insider Podcast Killboy

Our guest on Episode 53 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast is Darryl Cannon, a photographer better known as Killboy. If you’ve ridden the Tail of the Dragon in Tennessee, then you’ve seen Killboy banners along the road where he and his team of photographers capture motorcycles in action. Killboy went from being a factory worker who enjoyed riding his motorcycle on the weekends to teaching himself photography and building a thriving business. Our host, Rider’s Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt, tells the embarrassing story about his first encounter with Killboy during his first press launch back in 2008.

LINKS: Killboy.com

You can listen to Episode 53 on iTunesSpotify, and Podbean, or via the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast webpage. Please subscribe, leave us a 5-star rating, and tell your friends! Scroll down for a list of previous episodes.

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The post Killboy | Ep. 53 Rider Magazine Insider Podcast first appeared on Rider Magazine.
Source: RiderMagazine.com

Interview: Jason Lau, Professional Motorcycle Photographer

All photos courtesy of Jason Lau

In 2017, a popular moto blog that I was running at the time was invited to participate in a group ride across the Rajasthan desert in India. There was an official photographer on the odyssey, too. Being an old hat at moto blogging by that point, I made a bunch of assumptions about the photos the shooter would take. But boy oh boy, how wrong was I?

Without breaking a sweat (except where the desert heat was concerned), the photographer rewired my brain as to what was possible when shooting motorcycles. I was expecting a bunch of shots showing Westerners riding on Indian dirt roads. What I got (including the amazing shot below) was a National Geographic-grade photo essay that not only made me feel like I was there, but also made me feel that I had missed out on something that was bucket list special. That photographer was Jason Lau.

A royal Enfield rider creates a 'rooster tail' in the Rajasthan desert

Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Jason Lau. I have been a photographer for over 15 years and my interests are broad and occasionally nerdy. I have a deep love of art and I used to be an art teacher for seven years. I’m now a full time photographer and love shooting everything from fashion, to lifestyle, and adventure.

A motorcycle rider looks down at his fallen bike on a majestic road in the Rajasthan desert

Where are you right now?

I am living in Melbourne, Australia, where I’ve been most of my life. I used to live in the eastern suburbs. Now I’m a lot closer to the city, but my work takes me to all sorts of places.

 Katie Abdilla in Tasmania seated on her Honda CB400 Four Motorcycle

What is it about motorcycle photography that inspires you?

I love the aesthetic of the motorcycle as it’s instantly evocative and carries so much history in terms of character portrayal and narrative. Motorcycles, especially custom builds, have so much personality, which creates an instant excitement for me.

A man sits on a custom Triumph Motorcycle on a salt flat in Australia

What makes for a great motorcycle photo?

Great motorcycle photography connects strongly with the environment. I’ve often said that a great motorcycle photo is actually a great landscape photograph – with great light – that happens to contain a motorcycle in it.

 A motorcycle rider on an Indian Scout races on a dirt flat track circuit

Digital and film. Which one do you prefer?

I started my photography on film. It’s basically how I learnt photography. I have done a lot of travel photography on film and I was kind of late in adopting digital. I now shoot digital all the time as editing software has such great ability to create filmic looks. I try not to get too bogged down with gear as that’s not what makes a good image.

An off-road motorcycle rider in Australia blasts through a puddle as a dog follows along behind

What’s your current go-to camera and lens combo?

A lot of my motorcycle photography was done with my Fujifilm X-Pro2 as I loved the handling of that camera and the portability of their lenses, which was helpful when you’re travelling. The Fujifilm 56mm f1.2 lens produces gorgeous results in terms of isolating the subject and creating a sense of grandiosity with it.

A cafe racer motorcycle and rider tackles a dirt road in Australia

Describe your dream outdoor shoot location

I’ve always wanted to shoot somewhere like the Mojave desert as I love a baron and epic landscape. I’d pick a custom Harley scrambler with a brutal aesthetic and I’d shoot it all day long in all sorts of ridiculous situations.

What bikes do you own personally?

I currently own a customised Harley Davidson Iron 883 Sportster. It took me a while to adjust to it, coming from a Triumph Bonneville. Harleys have a completely different feel to almost any bike and I’ve spent a lot of time making this Harley feel like my bike.

A Harley chopper rider in rural Australia stands upright on his bike as it travels down the road

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry?

The best advice I can give to someone starting out in the adventure photography industry is to really strive for a great shot. Don’t make excuses for why you can’t do something. Find solutions. Go make the contacts, take the journey, make the moment happen. The photography should be the easy part.

Social media and photography. Match made in heaven or hell?

Photography on social media is a great source of inspiration but it hides the work that goes into making that shot. Seeing a photograph a couple of inches in size is a very different experience from seeing something in print or on a wall. It’s great to enjoy photography on social media but it’s not the whole story.

A motorcycle rider on an Aussie beach at dusk

What do you do when you’re not taking photos?

When I’m not shooting I’m normally editing. Such is the life of a photographer. Other than that, I skate on my longboard and draw pictures of Batman. True story.

See more of Jason’s work (sans Batman) on his Instagram Page.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Interview: Katie Abdilla – Tasmanian Rider, Racer and Designer

**Photos courtesy of Jason Lau

Even for Aussies, Tasmania is pretty much the end of the earth for a multitude of reasons. It’s far enough south to make it seriously cold in winter and it’s wild as all get-out once you leave the cities and it’s the least populous state in the entire country. Also, it quite literally is the end of the earth. Sail south from its southernmost tip and you’ll quite literally be in Antarctica before you can say, ‘frostbite-inducing snowstorm’.

So surely most sane people on this icy island would be more interested in just staying warm and indoors rather than, say, racing around in the open air on unfaired motorcycles hoping their extremities don’t turn black and drop off, yes? Well, if Tasmania’s Katie Abdilla is anything to go buy, then the whole place is totally nuts.

Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi, my name is Katie Abdilla. I live in the South of Tasmania, Hobart, and I ride motorcycles. I was a picture framer but have now been undertaking full time study into graphic design.

Katie Adbilla on a Honda XL motorcycle in Tasmania

Tell us about growing up in Tasmania

I grew up in the north of the state on a cattle farm. My interest in motorcycles really began from the desire of wanting to go fast, faster than I could bomb a push bike down a gravel hill. A friend from primary school told me he raced dirt bikes. I decided that I too wanted to do this, so my parents bought me a little 1980s Honda QR50 to begin with from there, it all kind of snowballed for the better.

What bikes do you own?

I currently have: a 1967 Honda SS125, 1968 Honda CL175, 1972 Honda SL175, 1976 Honda XL175, 1976 Honda CB400F, 1992 Honda VFR400R (NC30), 2016 Honda CRF150RB and a 1972 Triumph Daytona 500 (T100R). I have had more small Hondas but sold them several years ago.

There are many reasons as to why and how these bikes came to be a part of my life. My favourite being my ‘76 CB400f. I first saw this bike at a motorcycle show back in 2014 and intuitively knew I was meant to have this model of motorcycle. The bike was completely stock at that point, and it was the sweeping headers that drew me in. Fortunately for me, she happened to have a for sale sign placed next to her. Not long later, I ended up with that same bike in my garage.

Katie Adbilla on her 1976 Honda CB400F in Tasmania

What’s Tasmania like for riding?

I love Tasmania for a multitude of reasons, but mainly for its abundance of winding roads and scenic landscape. Even though it gets chilly here in winter, the snow does not often settle at sea level, so riding all year around is an option. It is actually really hard to pick a favourite road here as there are so many, and they are all so different. I do like the roads in the Northwest of the State though.

Woman on her 1976 Honda CB400F Motorcycle in Tasmania

And you’re into motocross racing?

I did a few motocross races as a child and a couple grass track races in 2020, but wouldn’t say I race motocross. I really enjoy riding motocross though as I am forever learning rider technique and enjoying the challenge. I also enjoy road racing out at Baskerville Raceway in the warmer months.

katie Abdilla on her 1976 Honda CB400F Motorcycle in Tasmania

What other projects are you working on?

I’m not currently working on any moto projects, just riding and having fun! I am however itching to build another bike; I’d love to build a Triumph chop or knucklehead.

A few friends came down to Tassie to film a motorcycle journey documentary in February 2020. They needed a motocross track for filming content at, and just to have a good time. So my partner James offered them a ride at his track in Surveyors Bay. That was a really fun day we all had. Especially doing time trials around the sand track on the little XR100.

Katie Adbilla at dusk in a Tasmanian field

Who are some of your heroes?

I don’t really have any heroes. But I do admire riders like Ken Roczen (the German professional motocross and supercross racer), Barry Sheene, and Beryl Swain (the London-born motorcycle road racer and the first woman to compete solo in the Isle of Man TT race).

 Woman on a motorcycle at dusk in a Tasmanian field

What are your thoughts on electric bikes?

I actually love the approach of electric motorcycles. It’s wild how much speed and torque they carry. It is really cool seeing what companies and independents are bringing out as of late. The engineering side of things is fascinating.

Woman on a motocross motorcycle at dusk in a Tasmanian field

Name your fantasy road and bike combo.

I would love to ride the Isle of Man TT or the Manx GP course on either a Honda NC30 or on some vintage British steel.

Black and white photo of a racing motorcycle at Tasmania's Baskerville Racetrack

**Photo courtesy of Baden West

What would you say to other women who might be interested in riding?

What I would say to anyone, whether it be women or men who might be interested in riding a motorcycle would be to just do it! You do not know if you will fall in love with the sport or lifestyle unless you give it a hot crack. I would suggest for anyone who wants to take up riding of any kind, focus on technique first as controlled speed will come later with experience.

Seat time is everything. The more you ride in different conditions, the more experience and knowledge you gain. If you are new to riding, then ride with more experienced riders, ask them if you can follow their lines or have them tail you to give you pointers. The great thing with the motorcycle community is, generally we are a friendly bunch.

Follow Katie on Instagram

Katie Abdilla Photo Gallery

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Interview: Rob Hamilton, Motorcycle Photographer

Like Deus ex Machina, the Distinguished Gentlemans Ride and sweating while riding, Rob Hamilton and his ‘MotoFeelz’ brand is a staple of the Sydney motorcycle scene. If you’ve seen a post on a certain, very popular, custom bike blog about a cool Sydney bike, chances are the photos were taken by Rob. And don’t get me started about his Instagram channel. It’s top shelf.

But like all great content creators, we don’t often get to hear about why they do what they do. They are oftentimes so busy making content about the subjects they love, they’ll leave their own stories by the side of the road. So in an effort to rectify this, we wrestled Rob off his bike, took away his keys and forced him to answer a few personal questions. Here’s what he said.

Motorcyclists on a freeway

Can you introduce yourself?

Hey! My name is Rob Hamilton. I’m a Sydney-based professional musician, photographer and now YouTuber for my sick lil moto brand, ‘Moto Feelz.’

Where are you right now?

Right now I’m in my office wearing my dressing gown. It’s getting damn cold here. Before this I was replying to a bunch of emails, preparing a few shoots and getting ready to set up my new home flash studio. Exciting times ahead!

Motorcyclists rides a Triumph Bonneville on a road in Sydney

What is it about motorcycle photography that inspires you?

It’s the challenge of trying to capture the feeling that riding a motorcycle brings. I was a late bloomer when it came to riding, and photography for that matter. Mum never wanted me to ride after all the accidents my dad has had over the years, but I was always fascinated by them.

Being in the music scene, I didn’t know anyone else that rode a moto. I was a complete loner and was witnessing one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. I wanted others to know what they were missing out on and so I started shooting different kinds of motos including the lifestyle, culture and art behind the builds. Now a whole bunch of my muso mates bought bikes and are frothing.

Motorcyclist with a Retro helmet at dusk

What makes for a great motorcycle photo?

Location is important. Mostly it needs to relate to the style of the bike. Also lighting; if the moto has some mega chrome on it then you don’t wanna be out in the direct sun. I prefer shadows or clouds to shoot with. Adding the rider in with unique moto gear that matches the bike always adds another level of emotion to the snap.

Motorcyclists on a Harley-Davidson Livewire in Sydney

What are your go-to camera and lens combos?

I’ve been rocking my Canon 5D MK IV and either my 35mm Sigma ART 1.4 or my Canon 70-200mm 2.8 for quite some time. I love the compression of the 70-200mm but the thing is HUGE and it can get pretty weighty on the back when going for a ride longer than 30 minutes. I occasionally bring my 16-35mm 2.8 for when I shoot my rolling shots due to space limitations, but it’s so wide, it can warp the image and make the bike look all whack.

Motorcyclists and scrambler bike standing stationary on sand at dusk in Sydney

Describe your dream outdoor shoot location.

This is a tough one. Time is always at sunset. Always. It’d be during Autumn so we’re not freezing or dying of heat. Bike and place? I have always dreamed of being asked to shoot for Arch Motorcycles and hang out with Keanu Reeves in the Californian desert, kicking up heaps of dust. Maybe replace the Arch with something more 1200 Scrambler style with massive, aggressive tyres and epic lights. Just as long as Keanu is riding it!

Triumph Scrambler Motorcycle at dusk parked by the side of the road in Sydney

What bikes do you own?

I own a Triumph Street Scrambler that I bought new in September 2018. Since then, I have customised it with a new spray job, pipes, fabrication, suspension, lights, tyres and more. It looks and sounds the absolute business, but it was also a bike that I wanted to ride every day. Last year I went on a massive 5000km ride around New South Wales, where I dropped it a few times and put a few cred marks on her, but I’m totally cool with it.

That’s the vibe I’m going for. I want it to look used and semi-beaten. It is a scrambler after all. Saying this though, I do take very good care of the scram and learnt pretty fast that parts are expensive, so I bought myself a 2003 Yamaha WR450F for practising my off-road shenanigans.

Motorcyclists wearing helmet and jacket at dusk in Sydney

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry?

Make sure you do this for you. If your sole purpose is to gain a massive following or get heaps of likes then you will most likely fail. Passion is the winner in this industry. Where there’s passion, there’s motivation. And where there’s motivation, there’s nothing stopping you and you will win.

A MV Agusta Brutale motorcycle on an industrial road at sunset

A good question to ask yourself is, “if I had all the money in the world what would I be doing?” Yeah, I’d have a blast exploring the world (not that we really can at the mo) and blowing coin on the best hypercars, but ultimately I’d still have my camera in my hand, taking photos of dope bikes and making Youtube vids. Oh, and still playing music.

Motorcycle rider stand next to their Triumph Scrambler at dusk

Social media and photography. Match made in heaven or hell?

Social media helps photographers in so many ways. It helps inspire, it’s informative and it’s somewhere for photographers to share and display their work with the world. On the flip, it can also discourage photographers by them comparing their work negatively with others or become a trap where you only end up shooting for the ‘Gram’ and the likes, rather than for yourself. I could go on for ages about this but it’s mindset dependent.

Motorcyclists rides through a tunnel

What do you like to do when you’re not taking photos?

Making videos! Seriously, it’s something that I’m enjoying as much as taking photos. Did I mention I have a YouTube channel? Also, I enjoy working on my bike, riding with mates, hanging with my girlfriend Romina and playing music, along with having a solid Xbox session with the boiz.

All photos by Rob Hamilton – Instagram | Web

Rob Hamilton Moto Feelz Photo Gallery

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Six Steps to Taking Killer Photos of Your Bike

When I first started shooting cars and bikes professionally, I got myself a highly-regarded book on small business. It was full of wisdomful pearls that explained everything in excruciating detail. And while I didn’t read it from cover-to-cover (it was eye-gougingly boring), I’m sure that at no point did it say anything about explaining in detail how you make money so that any blow-in who wants to copy your schtick can do so.

But you know what? That’s exactly what I’m gonna do. So read on  as I stupidly explain all my little tips, tricks and secrets to you in the hope that you will send me out of business, or at the very least, figure out just how fun and rewarding automotive photography can be.

A MV Agusta Brutale motorcycle on an industrial road at sunset

Step 1: What You’ll Need

If you’re thinking that they will be an expensive exercise, you’ll be pleasantly surprised right about now. All you’ll really need are four key things and thankfully, two of these four things are completely and utterly free. That’s right, free. Like the air you breathe, a good sunset and laughing at the Kardashians. Come to think of it, one of them IS actually a sunset. The other freebie here is a great location.

Detail shots of Canon EOS Rebel and Nikon D5600 DSLR Cameras
Photos courtesy of Nikon USA & Canon USA

Luckily, I’ve already gone to great lengths to describe these so the only other things you need are a motorcycle and a camera with manual settings. What’s that mean? Put simply, a manual camera is one that allows you to set your own f-stop, shutter speeds and focus. They are a dime a dozen, and I’d be surprised if you don’t have one already. Think of the Canon EOS Rebel series or the Nikon D5600. But if you don’t have one, just ask a relative or friend if you can borrow theirs.

Remember, do not use your phone. I can’t stress this enough. You won’t get decent shots if you use your phone; show me a pro that uses an iPhone and I’ll show you an Instagrammer with a big head.

Step 2: Get Prepared

Wash the bike. Next up, you’ll need to get meteorological and check for a decent sunset. You’ll need to know what time the sun goes down and you’ll also need to make sure the weather will be clear so your sunset isn’t hidden behind the clouds.

Now figure out how to work the camera in manual mode. More specifically, put it in ‘aperture priority’ mode and pick the widest possible aperture you can. It’ll be something like f2.8, f2, or even f1.8. This is the mode where the camera will lock its aperture (the part of the camera’s lens that opens and closes like the iris in your eye) to one specific value and vary all the other settings like shutter speed to work around that.

Close-up of a Fujinon 110mm lens showing aperture ring
Photos courtesy of FujiFilm America

Now it’s time to plan out the shoot. If the sun on the day sets at (say) 7pm, you’ll need to arrive at the location 90 minutes beforehand to make sure you are good to go when the light gets golden. And for the love of all things that are right and holy, clean the camera’s lens with a proper cloth so it’s crystal clear.

Step 3: The Set-up

OK. The day’s arrived and you’re at the chosen location with the bike, the camera, great weather and the sunset due in an hour and a half. Now you’ll need to position the bike. Let’s use a clock face metaphor to make this as easy as possible. Place the bike at the twelve o’clock position with its ‘exhaust side’ facing directly at you. Position yourself at the six o’clock position with a good 5 metres (or 15 feet) between you and it, and make sure that the setting sun is either at the 3 or 9 o’clock position.

A MV Agusta Brutale motorcycle on an industrial road at sunset

Time to turn that camera on and frame up the shot. I won’t go into excessive detail, but take a look at the photos here and try to copy what I’ve done in terms of how big the bike is in the shot and how much space is around it. Hot tip – it’s better to be a little too far away than too close; you can always crop your photos if you want but you can’t add space to a photo that’s too tight without the help of a Rocket Scientist, Pixar Studios and a supercomputer.

Step 4: The Shoot

Look through the viewfinder again, make sure the camera is level and the bike is positioned nicely in the centre of the frame. Now take a photo or three. Next, review the photos you just took. The absolute best thing about digital cameras is this thing right here; you can actually look at what you’ve just taken and see whether or not it’s any good.

Is it in focus? Is it exposed OK? Is everything behind and in front of the bike nice and blurry? Is the bike itself nice and sharp? Also check to see if you have details in the shadows and the highlights, like the sky behind the bike. With less than an hour to go before sunset, you should be seeing colours in the sky rather than pure white and no super black shadows, either.

collage of MV Agusta Brutale motorcycle photos on an industrial road at sunset

Once you’re sure that everything’s hunky dory, it’s your time to shine. You’ll need to take three to four photos of the following scenes. First, shoot the bike by walking around it and – to use the clock metaphor again – shoot it from every ‘hour’ until you have 12 sets of angles. These photos should be taken at the same height as the bike’s headlight for the best results. Trust me on this one. Now get close, change the aperture to f5.6 or thereabouts and shoot the following details: the tank, the seat, the headlight and taillight, the speedo, the exhaust, both wheels and both sides of the engine.

Step 5: Download and Grade

By now you will have noticed that despite all your best intentions and efforts, the photos still don’t look like what I’ve got. This is probably the biggest secret to how pros get their shots looking the way they do. They know that for all the effort and time you’ve put into the bike shoot, a cool-looking bike photo needs a heap of love in ‘post’ to really make it shine. I never cease to be amazed at how grading can turn an OK photo into something really, really cool.    Especially if your camera can shoot in RAW format, as this vastly increases the photos’ ‘tweakability’.

An MV Agusta Brutale motorcycle on an industrial road at sunset

There’s no single ‘proper’ way to do this, but the one I have selected is not only free, but it’s quick and it should result in some pretty impressive results. Step one is to download Adobe Lightroom on your phone. Note that I also use Lightroom, but on my laptop. This is a better option, but it also costs you so there’s that. And no, they didn’t pay me to say this. Like the OG Photoshop software, It’s a genuinely good product that many pros use.

Now you should be able to open the photos you’ve just shot, get them into the Lightroom app and go nuts. As for how exactly to ‘get them looking cool’, this depends entirely on things like what camera you’ve used, the colours in the photos and the light at the time you took the shot. It’s also down to your personal preferences, too.

a comparison between a graded and ungraded photo of a motorcycle at sunset

But a good place to start is to download some free Lightroom presets and try them out. Another great option here is to hit up YouTube and watch some vids. Here’s one. Here’s another. Watch and learn. And be patient, too. You won’t get it immediately.

Step 5: Do It Again

OK, so by now you will have probably figured out my sneaky little ruse. Like most things in life that are worth doing, there’s pretty much zero chance that you’ve followed these amazing and beautifully worded instructions and absolutely nailed it. I’ll admit to knowing that before I started.

Please don’t hate me; I have a wife and three kids to feed. The truth here is that like most genuinely cool things in this world – take riding a motorcycle, for instance – this isn’t something you can get right the first time. Or the fifteenth. And if it was, then everyone would be doing it and you’d be bored in five minutes flat.

Taking truly great photos of cars and bikes is something people spend a lifetime perfecting. But you know what? Even after doing it for more than a decade, I still get a real buzz when I start fiddling around in Lightroom and realise that I have managed to capture an amazing shot of a beautiful vehicle. There’s not much else on this mortal coil that beats it and I strongly suggest that you give it a go.

An MV Agusta Brutale motorcycle on an industrial road at sunset

All bike photos by Andrew Jones from Machines That Dream

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

The Best Locations for Motorcycle Photography

So, the word on the street is that you want to take some sweet, sweet photos of your precious wheels. Think you’re a bloody professional photographer or something, do you? You don’t? Well, I do. And as one, I’m here to tell you a few little secrets about where to shoot your precious noise-maker so that the results look a little more ‘rad’ and a little less ‘sad’.  

So join me as we rummage through my database of cool locations and listen while I tell you what makes them so damn good. Also, keep your eyes peeled for bonus ‘hot tips’ that will make you photos suck even less. No, no. It’s OK. You can thank me later.

Location 1: Nowhere

Custom BMW R100 motorcycle at an airport

The biggest mistake I see with most moto photos is overly interesting locations. Think about it like this; when you take a photo of an amazing motorcycle, do you want viewers to be looking at the random thing just behind the bike, or the bike itself?

If you’re new to all this stuff and you want the bike to look its best, just find a big, open, empty piece of nothing to shoot. That way, you’ll be sure that people are looking at what they should be, and not what they shouldn’t.

Hot Tip: See those little numbers on the camera that say things like ‘f2.8’, ‘f8’, and ‘f16’. Set them at as low as possible. This reduces your depth of field and makes everything in front and behind the bike go blurry. This is a good thing. If your camera doesn’t do this, get one that does.

Location 2: A Quiet Country Lane

A custom KTM flat tracker on a country lane

No buildings. No onlookers asking lame technical questions about the bike or the camera. No cars passing by. That’s right, the countryside is your best friend when it comes to bike photos. Again, it’s usually open, empty and neutral, too. Maybe try a spot with some hills in the distance. Long grass, or a line of trees. They can add a little interest without overwhelming things.

And if there are some nice clouds around, get them in the shot too. Now that you know about depth of field, they’ll be all out of focus and soft. But if there are cows about, definitely do not include them. Cows are weird and funny.

Hot Tip: Shoot at golden hour. It’s that time in the hour after sunrise or before sunset where the light is low, yellow golden, and bloody beautiful. If the sun is in your shot washing everything out, just hold your hand or finger in the top of the shot to block or control the glare; you can always remove it in post.

Location 3: The Beach

A Royal Enfield Himalayan at Bondi Beach, Sydney

The best thing the beach has going for it – apart from the space – is that amazing horizon line that will cut like a knife right through the back of all your photos. In photos, lines are good. They give your eye something to follow and they’re fun to play with when you’re composing shots.

Also, off road bikes can be shot on the sand but note that the footprints you make while positioning the bike can look weird, so be prepared for some Photoshopping.

Hot Tip: Get down low. Shooting at eye level makes for boring photos because that’s the same angle you always see bikes from. Try shooting from the same height as the bike’s tank. The angle is much cooler and the bike will look clean and balanced.

Location 4: Underground Car Parks

A Royal Enfield Interceptor in an underground carpark with owner

They are dark, minimal and they look cinematic. Shooting bikes here is one of the easiest ways to get cool shots fast. Some of my first decent bike shots were done like this. Try and keep the space behind clear of cars and use the traffic markings to your advantage, as above.

Another benefit is that you can shoot at any time, day or night. Golden hour is cool, but sometimes you just can’t wait or the weather may be rubbish. In these instances, a garage is like a personal studio. You can set it up however you like without conditions changing.

Hot Tip: If the garage has fluorescent lights, you can twist them off by turning the strip tubes slightly – even the caged ones. But keep one on directly above the bike. This way you get a pool of light that the bike will sit in and the rest of the garage will be all cool and dark. Use a tripod if the shutter speed gets below 1/30th of a second to avoid shake.

Location 5: Rooftop Car Parks

A Harley-Davidson flat tracker on an airport rooftop at dusk

Detecting a theme? Once again. It’s about open space and just the right amount of nothing but something backgrounds. Some rooftops might have sky behind them. Some might even have cool city views. These are all fine; just find out when they are empty. Even better; try airport car parks during a global pandemic…

After dark, you can also experiment with pole lights and dark backgrounds. Just be aware that some of this lighting can create weird colours in photos. Set your white balance to ‘auto’ in these cases.

Hot Tip: Wet the surface under the bike for that always cool Blade Runner look. Or see if you can shoot at sunset just after some rain. It’s a big ask from Mother Nature, but you’ll get silly cool shots.

Location 6: Industrial Areas

A restomod Vincent Black Shadow racer at sunset in an industrial area in Sydney

The great thing about bikes and locations is that you can mix and match them. Got a 1950s British bike? Shoot it at an old factory with chimneys and arches to give it that ‘Industrial Age’ feel. Or mix it up and shoot a brand new V4 Ducati there. Contrast can make for great shots, too.

But always be wary of my number one pet hate: bikes photographed in front of graffiti. Brightly-coloured walls full of eye-catching shapes and wacky words are the exact opposite of what you’re after. Show me a bike that can outshine 10 foot high psychedelic artwork and I’ll eat my hat.

Hot Tip: Always grade your shots after shooting. None of the shots you see here are straight from the camera; all of them have been adjusted to look more awesome. Check out Adobe’s Lightroom app on your phone – it’s free and it comes with filters.

Location 7: Anywhere in the Desert

MV Agusta Brutale at Sunset on a road

There’s a reason why so many cool auto and moto photographers come from L.A. and that’s because L.A. is basically half desert and half ocean. It’s a photographer’s paradise. Close your eyes, spin in a circle and press the camera’s shutter release; you’ll probably capture an incredible image here. Bonus points if you also get a movie star in it.

Deserts also have truckloads of dust and haze, making the atmosphere really heavy and the sunlight incredibly vivid. Position the bike directly between the camera and the setting sun. Wait until the sun is just below the horizon and go nuts.

Hot Tip: Off road bike? Sunset? Heaps of dust? Get someone on that damn bike to ride past you and kick up some dust! Or hang out of a car window and get them to ride alongside while you shoot them. Haven’t you heard? Action shots rule.

Location 8: The Ones That Suck

BMW R100 Custom Bobber at sunset in Sydney

Sometimes you just won’t have the luxury of choosing a killer location at an amazing time to get the best shots possible. Take the above photo. Yes, it was taken at golden hour, but the rest of the scene was completely meh. The bike wasn’t registered, so it couldn’t be ridden anywhere and the builder’s shop was surrounded by fugly industrial units and overflowing dumpsters.

So I grabbed a stepladder and shot the bike at an interesting angle while making sure there was nothing else in view. And for any other shots, I made sure the sun was in the background to overexpose all the ugliness. Why yes, I am pretty resourceful. Thanks for noticing.

Hot Tip: Take time to think about the location. There’s nothing worse than realising after a shoot that all the photos look like ass. If you can make a call and shoot to accommodate the negatives, you’ll always end up with better shots than just ‘spraying and praying’.

You can see more of Andrew’s work here.

*All photos courtesy of Andrew Jones

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com