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Two Wheels, One Lens – Photography Monthly

Here is my recent interview in Photography Monthly.

Photography Monthly Interview

Cycling has never been so popular and nor has taking pictures. Here we combine the two; from a little history, what bags are best, a tandem ride and even an interview with a cycling photographer

The wind in your hair, exercise, fun and freedom all sum up what getting out on a bike can mean. We get out into our amazing countryside and use all of our senses and a complete bonus is that we are getting fitter with each turn of a wheel.

A Little History

Hands up if you were among the many of us that dusted off their bikes after the London 2012 Olympics? Or were you maybe enticed by the thought of having a bicycle with a basket as a style extension? For the city slickers it’s for commuting with their fixed gear qualities popular among hipsters, for the country bumpkins it’s the leisurely factor – something to collectively do as a family – or you’re actually a real enthusiast who embraces the challenge of mountains and bumpy roads. Whatever the reason, let’s have a collective cheer for keeping fit, it is exercise after all. But there really is history beyond the hype. Introduced in the 19th century, there are now twice as many bicycles worldwide than automobiles, and it’s evolved from the Dandy Horse to the Velocipede, Pennyfarthing and bikes as we know them today, a plethora of designs and styles for all abilities. In the late 1880s it was more than a transportation mode, for women it was a form of expression, a sense of equality that measured freedom and soon became connected to The Suffragettes, not to mention champions in the competitive sporting industries.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, post London Olympics, and the craze is colossal. According to Sport England 200,000 more people took up cycling once a week compared to 2011 following the main event – the total now stands at just under two million. Very.co.uk reported a 73 per cent jump in the sale of bikes to women thanks to the Olympics effect, and H&M have just launched their very own clothing collection designed for the fashionable male cyclist using sustainable, breathable materials that are water repellent. Not to mention a certain Bradley Wiggins standing as a British icon in the cycling industry, not only bagging Sports Personality of the Year but also an OBE, who said that exercise was a slog when the proof is in the pedals and stands as so much more than a mode of care-free transport.

“Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel… the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.” Suffragette Susan B. Anthony, 1896

Q&A: Pulling wheelies for cycle photography

Cycling photography can be bland if you don’t think creatively, – something which Nigel Harniman takes on board. He took on the challenge of cycling from John O’Groats in Scotland to Lands End in Cornwall for charities such as Breakthrough Breast Cancer and KISS. Whilst cycling this impressive distance, Nigel was also taking some incredible shots along the way. We chat to him about his experience.

John O’Groats to Lands End

Q. What kit did you take with you?
A. Canon 35mm kit – full pro kit, including EOS-1Ds and 5D, long lenses and short lenses from 16mm lens up to 200mm, a couple of tripods, and a Fuji X10. Carrying wasn’t an issue with the support van!

Q. Did you have any difficulties cycling and photographing on the trip?
A. For snaps en route I slung the Fuji over my shoulder and cycled with that. I am quite adept at riding with no hands so would snap away whilst riding!

Q. How did you produce the planetoid images?
A. This is a spin-off technique (no pun intended) from environment captures for CGI, which is documented on my blog with a video guide at www.harniman.com/blog/video-tutorial

Q. Why did you choose to shoot them like this?
A. To get a sense of the whole environment – we experienced some amazing scenery en route ? and just to do something different to a group of blokes smiling to a camera!

Q. What’s so great about cycling and photography?
A. You see so much more around you when you cycle, things that you would miss in a vehicle. You take in much more of the overall environment.

Q. How long did the post-production take you?
A. About half an hour each.

Q. Would you do anything differently?
A. No, never look back, you might fall off, but maybe use a wider saddle 😉

Treffry Tavern

Seven Bridge

Invershin Bridge

Here is a link to the full blog from John O’Groats to Lands End.