This is your chance to shoot one of the most amazing action packed sports around - Downhill Mountain Bike Racing - at one of the very best events in the world.
The Mercedes Benz Mountain Bike World Cup takes place at Fort William in Scotland on the 1st and 2nd June. The Nevis Range and the uncompromising slopes of Aanoch Moor are the incredible location and backdrop for this weekend of racing - a fantastic setting for what will be the best and most dramatic downhill racing around. The best of the best compete at Fort William and the race is also the best attended spectator event on the UCI World Cup circuit.
The racing provides for some of the best sports action photography around and we shall be shooting in the heart of the woods right up close to the riders as they fly though the air taking on some of the amazing jumps and negotiate some of the biggest and nastiest rocks and tree roots and turns around. I've photographed the race for the past two years and it is truly amazing - not just for pictures but for the most incredible scenery as well. Uniquely there is also access to the superb gondola system that takes you right to the top of the mountain to capture some incredible views.
I will teach you how to get some incredible images, from freezing the action with fast shutter speeds to creating your own feeling of speed and motion by combining slow shutter speeds, flash and zooming all at the same time ; slow-flash-blur-zoom !! Incredible!
This Is Either A 1 Day Or 2 Day Photography Course
We will start with a full photo technical briefing each day by me before we hit the downhill action. I will take you through various photo techniques that will enable you to capture some amazing pictures just a few feet from the action. It's just incredible to be so close.
This course can be quite physical - but it's entirely up to you as we move up and down the course amongst the trees to find the best angles to shoot from, often from low down amongst the undergrowth to maximise the impression of speed and visual impact. However we will be able to make full use use of the superb gondola network to take take you up and down the mountain. These are the same as the gondolas used in the skiing season.
Long trousers, robust walking shoes/boots are a must. If you have some fingerless gloves too that would be helpful.
This is NOT a course that needs long telephoto lenses. Ideally you will have a wide zoom (24-70mm or so) and a 70-200mm as well. A flashgun is also a must as I will be teaching you some stunning flash/blur photo techniques to enhance the feeling of speed in your images - giving them a real wow factor.
Don't worry, I can get as technical as you like and will gauge everyone abilities quickly. If you're someone that really wants to push your sports photography forward experimenting with new techniques then this is for you, but you can also get great pictures too if you want to keep things simpler. Don't be scared - whatever you photographic level I will take you to the next step, and beyond.
THE FULL WEEKEND COURSE IS POSSIBLE WITH FLIGHTS OUT ON FRIDAY EVENING AND BACK ON SUNDAY EVENING - AVAILABLE FOR UNDER £50 RETURN
Fort William is just over two hours in a car north of Glasgow or and hour and a half south of Inverness. Return flights from London to Glasgow departing Friday evening and returning on Sunday evening are £48 return at the moment. London to Inverness is £92 return.
The event attracts 10,000 spectators each day and therefore hotel rooms are very hard to come by. However I have secured some rooms on the 31st May & 1st June at nearby hotels and B&B's from around £50 per night.THESE ROOMS WILL BE ALLOCATED ON A FIRST TO ASK FIRST SERVED BASIS.
This course will prove to be very popular. However places are strictly limited so please email me as soon as you can at info@sportsphotographyschool.co.uk to book your place, asking for either a Saturday or Sunday place - or both
It's going to be incredible - be there !!
NO TRANSPORT OR ACCOMMODATION IS INCLUDED IN THE COURSE FEES
PICTURES TAKEN ON THIS COURSE CANNOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE OR COMMERCIALLY DISTRIBUTED IN ANY WAY.
