Combining two passions: motorcycling and photography

This is my motorcycle going through a curve, taken last night in BC’s Fraser Canyon. I rode the bike and took the picture at the same time. “How’d you do that?” you ask. Glad to tell you.

The idea came when I watched two motorcycles ride through the same curve. “Darn!” I thought, I wasn’t ready for that shot. Then I decided to give it a try in the rapidly falling light.

I set up my camera on a tripod, choosing a telephoto lens to compress the road and enhance the beautiful S-curve. Then, I preset the camera on manual mode for the correct exposure (20 seconds at f/8, ISO 800) and took a test shot. My camera has a maximum delay on the self-timer of 20 seconds, just enough for me to run from the camera to the parked, idling bike, barely out of the scene on the right. Good thing there was no traffic! It must have looked funny as I ran from the camera, counting out loud to 20, jumped on the bike and rode it through the scene. But it was worth it when I got back to the camera to view the photo.

So, why can’t you see the bike or the rider? All of this and much more is included in my introductory photography courses. More info about photography courses is here. Join us and learn to make more creative photos!

Update: After thinking on this image for a while, I felt it needed something more to tell the story. So, once the imagination got going, the magic of the digital darkroom was employed to add the rider. As soon as I saw the result, I knew the title would be Ghost Rider. 

Ghost Rider.
A few more images from my ride are below.
The purpose of my photo shoot was to create a set of images for a publication. It was important to look like BC so I stopped where the road was twisty and mountains were in the background to begin shoot. Always looks great to see motorcycles leaning into the curves. My route for the day was the Duffy Lake route, well known to motorcyclists. It’s a long day of riding, about 10 hours, and goes through unlimited winding roads from Vancouver to Whistler, then to Lillooet, and down the Fraser Canyon through Lytton and Hope and home again.
I had no idea this guy gave me the royal salute until I saw it on my computer. Definitely the best laugh of the day!
Just south of Whistler, a favourite stop along the way is near here, where the mountains dominate the view.
The route is a favourite among motorcyclists and every sunny weekend will have many on the roads.
Nothing beats a long and winding road when it follows a beautiful river between tall mountains.
My favourite sign: twisty turns ahead. We’re half way through the route, this is heading south after going through Lillooet. The Fraser Canyon is on the right.
The mighty Fraser has been the main route of travel for millennia.
The highway hugs the cliff, at times very narrow and always at risk of falling rock, as it follows the route carved by the Fraser. Pine forests give way to desert in this area.
creativity motorcycles