G H O S T R I D E R, a photo from Ulsan, South

Photographer's Note

Something a little different today. A transport photo presented from my POV. This is what I see everyday during my commute around the city, except there are no cars ahead of me today.

Taken at over 100km/h hands-free down the highway..the things I would do for photography...

This is not the first time I've taken photos like this, but it is the first with a fully manual mechanical camera. Prior to getting on the road I preset the focus + exposure, wrap it around my neck, practice holding it in the right place since I won't be able to compose with my helmet on. Brace the camera on my chest to stabilize and snap. That's about it. It may look scary but a bike is usually very stable at high speeds and won't sway much since momentum is carrying it forward. For this shot I got up to about 130km/h before letting go the gas to take the photo. Again, shot in colour (Fuji NPH400) and converted to B&W in photoshop.

delnaja, ksvijayb, tcht, leiju oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

delnaja (2056) 2006-11-10 8:54

Hi Benett,
great dynamism! The POV is totally amazing! Maybe a bit dangerous but the result is impressive : )
I like also the choice of the sepia tones.
Bravo!
Fred

ciaccio (66) 2006-11-10 9:07

wow, really a great shoot!!! good idea and very nice picture.
G.

schobi (187) 2006-11-10 9:21

Hi Bennet!
I like this picture - if you look at it you can feel the speed. Good idea + well done!
Best regards from Austria,
Bernhard

humanist (695) 2006-11-10 10:09

For the love of God man, keep your hands on the bars! Great photo but not worth the risk. I'd prefer a slightly longer exposure - but please don't do that again.

piozac (2065) 2006-11-10 10:38

Real photo maniac, risking his life to take outstanding image. And you did it. Your shot is truely amazing. You managed to compose it very well. Your pp is superb also. Slight vignetting add dramatic mood, what is very in place here.
Congratulations!

kurekpit (401) 2006-11-10 14:25

Hello Bennett
Very interesting picture,good idea.Well done ,regards

* Piotr *

tcht (7565) 2006-11-10 14:39

Hi Bennett
What a cool shot! Amazing feeling of speed here. You're one devout photog, and of course, the result is just surreally good!
Great BW treatment too.
Cheers
CheukHin

vilius (642) 2006-11-10 14:52

Perhaps we should not give you any points to save your life in the future :-)) Anyway, thumbs up for spooky photo! B&W works great. Cheers - Vilius

zenskat (656) 2006-11-10 21:46

you're a brave man, maybe a slightly slower shutter speed could have added some blur to the road ahead for some extra feeling of movement. jez

adamasao1 (466) 2006-11-11 1:02

Hi Bennett
Great photo. Great shot. As I rider I know bikes are pretty stable at that speed - but for me I'm impressed you managed to get the camera out from wherever you had it.
Good idea!
Cheers

avigur_11 (22535) 2006-11-11 1:58

Beautiful, interesting, sharp, but so dangerous!!!
Take care.

jinju (14265) 2006-11-15 3:58

Man, Bennet, and the motion blur too! is this really taken during your commute as in you actually being in motion in the shot? Now, I dint believe one thing. How can you see such empty streets on your commute?:) Seriously, Korea has way too many cars. Love the emptyness though.

leiju (1697) 2006-11-15 6:53

WOW! What a shot! and what conditions for shooting! Excellent idea, and even better realisation! This is beyond words...
Wow!!

TFS! Julia

Polonaise (5802) 2006-11-19 11:27

Still....It looks hellish scary to me.
Was there anyone in the back seat of the bike.
But - since you readily sacrificed your life for the sake of photography and for our egoistical pleasure of seeing this, you may be forgiven (eventually).
Hey!!! Much better way to go than wrap yourself with explosives and with the name of merciful God in your mouth - blow up some strange people in the market place, right?
Man, you have guts, gotta tell ya'

g.

mphotographies (1976) 2006-11-26 21:39

Hey Bennett,

CRAZYRIDER! You took the risk dude! Well I would do crazy stunts but have to still watch out. 'Freak' accidents happen so despite this amazing photo, I'm impressed!

Take it easy!

Jom

dijjac (1569) 2007-07-23 7:46

Hi Bennet
Génial !!
A ne recommander qu'aux bons motards
Amicalement
Jacques

sreeharig (211) 2010-05-13 10:04

awesome shot, you must be one heck of a rider. Fabulous shot. Although your stunt is impressive, but I wouldn't encourage you to do this kind of dare devil act :o))

Thanks for sharing this.