Gravity Photo Contest / Justin Olsen Interview
The photo comment contest has finished. A big thank you goes to everyone that told us why this photo should win Pink Bike’s “Photo of the Year Contest.” Props to Justin Olsen for making the final four in the contest. His photo was only 2.6% behind the competition. Stay tuned to this site, Gravity will be reviewing the submissions and choosing the winner shortly.
Andrew Taylor had this to say about the famous shot seen ’round the world…
“This was the first year that I took part in the deep summer photo challenge and had been looking forward to it all year. We had a solid crew of riders and one of the top photographers in the business to ride and shoot the best bike park in the world. Who wouldn’t be stoked on that? The first couple days on the shoot were wet and muddy so we shot mostly trail and steep shoots, so on the final day we had sick weather to get the jump shots dialed in. We were having a session on one of our favorite jumps on A-Line when Justin busted out his crazy chest mount for his big camera. I strapped it on and followed R-Dogg until we got exactly what we wanted. One of the most clicked inverts I’ve seen and the best part was that he did it on a full DH bike. It took a few try’s to get the timing but it was more than worth it for a shot like this one!”
Check out this exclusive behind the scenes interview with the photographer Justin Olsen below.
1. Where are you from? How did you get into photography?
I am from Utah. I have always been into photography but have been pursuing it full time for the last 6 years or so.
2. When and where was the photo taken?
This photo was taken on A-Line in the Whistler Bike Park. It was part of my Deep Summer 2011 show.
3. Explain the chest mount set up?
I don’t want to give away the details, but it is a custom rig that I had made. It is comfortable to wear and protects the camera fairly well.
4. Where you nervous that AT was roasting the Tombstone on A-Line with your camera gear
strapped to his torso?
No, I wasn’t really sweating it at all, we shot a sketchy rock roll earlier that day that I was much more nervous about… I had full confidence in AT in this shot.
5. What made it difficult to get the shot you were looking for?
The timing.. it was tough to time it just right. They were training the jumps so close together. This shot makes it seem like they are not that close, but they were.
6. Whistler Bike Park is everywhere these days, is it tough to produce original photo’s up there?
Yes, it is really tough. Whistler is an amazing place, and has been photographed by all the best in the biz for sure. I was hoping to bring a unique perspective to the table with this set up.
7. Where do your skills shine brighter…behind the lens, behind your bars, or behind the ladies in
the bars?
Behind the lens for sure, I am a hack at everything else…
8. Who would win in an un-turndown contest, Ryan Howard or Gumby?
Ryan Howard has no competition, he pretty much owns that trick.
9. What is you’re all-time favorite MTB photo?
Not sure, there are so many that stick out to me. I like shots that make the viewer think “how did they do that?” The “birds eye view” shot that Sterling Lorence took of Thomas Vanderham and Andrew Shandro on the North Shore comes to mind. The one looking down on them out of a tree while they are riding across a skinny. Nice angle, nice color, nice motion blur..
10. Any Thanks?
Big thanks to Andrew Taylor and Ryan Howard for making this shot happen, and to the rest of my Deep Summer team for being willing to work with me. Also thanks to all the companies and mags who have ever bought a photo from me!
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Gravity Features
I think this photo should win because it captures what it really feels like to shred hard in whistler!
I think i should win the AT parts kit because Mountainbiking is my life. I come home everyday and go for a ride and if i can’t do that I’m on Pinkbike looking at the latest news. It would be so sick if i could win this. It would put me that much closer to building up my bike.
The photo give a POV shot thats so clear and clean. The unturndown is dialed down and the photographer is crazy for putting his 7D on his chest PROPS!!
it just sums it all up. you ride so you can see things like this. and even if you dont ride, it gives you a perspective on how awesome it really is.
It is such an original shot. Never seen this kind of still before. Makes me want to go ride my bike!
This photo should win the Photo of the Year due to the full on steezy trick, the excellent composition considering it is a chest mount camera and the wicked POV we get from the chest mount angle, giving the viewer the feeling that we are actually following the rider. Sic shot.
The first person perspective draws the viewer into the picture and engages them. This is because the viewer can feel the adrenaline and excitement of the rider going over the jump. This effect is emphasized by the motion blur on the front tire and in the trees. By far the most successful aspect is feeling of urgency to get out and shred some single track.
I voted for this photo for a few reasons.
1st: That’s one bad ass unturndown!
2nd: I ride gravity hubs and I love them!
3rd: This is first person view which is sick!
4th: It shows you don’t need fancy equipment to get a sick shot!
5th: It makes me want to go ride! Ahhhh!
Love the pic Justin!
This picture has the steeziest unturndown going on. It’s framed perfectly, and the timing is spot on. It also takes huge balls to ride with a 5D on your chest! Definitely one of the most creative shots i’ve seen, from an angle that people never really get to see in still pictures!
I love this photo because of the memories it brings back to me, not to mention amazing quality and composition, it also has the perfect timing, and does a great job representing gravity with my favorite bars in the world (gravity light). Also another reason this photo deserves to win is because of that sick whip in front! definitely my favorite photo, and I sure hope it wins, from the perfect timing to the earthy feel, it’s all great!
I love this photo because of the memories it brings back to me, not to mention amazing quality and composition, it also has the perfect timing, and does a great job representing gravity with my favorite bars in the world (gravity light). Also another reason this photo deserves to win is because of that sick whip in front! definitely my favorite photo, and I sure hope it wins, from the perfect timing to the earthy feel, it’s all great!
Well the shot is so awesome you see right down the trail and can think about whats to come off that next jump and then R-dawg’s just so stylish and big clicked invert big bike style , also very cool how you can see that AT is almost completely in the air when the shot was taken so you got to wonder how close these two were just a rad photo all together!
This photo is pretty damn incredible. I love the perspective of his arms coming from both sides, which also almost perfectly frames the rider in front of AT. Not to mention the fact that the rider in front is perfectly centered in the frame, which is astounding because I assume AT was going approximately 100 mph when this photo was taken. Seriously sick shot!
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Its not about the aesthetics, its not about framing or lighting or any other artsy fartsy crap, its not even really about the sick unturndown. Its about the feeling you get when you are running a train with homies on an amazing trail and the stoke you get out of riding you bike. You can easily put yourself in this picture and imaging all the high fives and hell ya’s that followed at the end of the run. This photo makes we want to get out of the couch.
Such a rad photo! really represents what it’s like following your buddy down lines at whistler, and we all know how that feels. Timing on this shot is unreal!!
Closed Whistler Track-check,
Unique pov-check
Steezy trick-check
Photograph triggers mid summer flashback in cold, cold winter-check
Justin Olson is an up and comer pushing the limits-check
This shot, more than any other, makes me want to go and ride my bike and that is most important part of mountain bike photography to me.
so sick i had to replace my own desktop of me with this.
Nuff said!!!
rad photo becuz we have all have been riding with a buddy and looked up and saw them doing something sick like whiping it side ways or rosting a turn or in this case pulling a sick trix and we all ” o f**k ya buddy !!!!” and high 5s always are due after and alot of laughter fallowing too
AH YEAH DOIN IT BIG IN THE NW!! It is hard to determine how he even took this photo considering that he has both hands white knuckled on the bars. I think the photographer is just about to fly high just like Ryan Howard blasting up front, which is sweet. R-Dog’s right hand almost behind his back shows that he has style for miles! It’s a goodie!
Starring at this still shot it makes me imagine how adventurous of a rider I could have been if only I took up Mountian Biking before I was 40. Too bad bike technology for mountain biking, like it is today wasn’t around in the early 80″s when I was a kid. I really would like to be one of these guys in the photo, but realistically, I have to work to pay the mortgage and pay for the kids college. Can’t afford to get hurt trying these stunts. I take my hat off to any rider who can perform like these guys can. Wish I were you.
This photo really throws ou the good vibe of just cruising and have a session with friends. The photo makes you want to get out and rip with friends. You can just picture the hollering and smile on his face as he watches Howard throw down only a few feet ahead! That and the amount of high 5′s and cheers once looking at the shot. Also the way it is framed and the use of that big ol camera is something that really sets the photo off. Sweet to see that trick from the riders perspective from right behind already getting air!