I love these kinds of photos, and have used them for years in the various magazine projects I’ve been involved with, including Arctic Cat Pride.
These images are taken (by professional photographers) of professional test riders such as Aaron Scheele, Rocky Cutsforth (RIP), Jared & Kyle Hibbert and others. This photography takes place under controlled conditions, with multiple “takes” to capture the perfect moment.
Such images are dramatic, impactful and awe-inspiring.
They’re also completely unreal, in terms of how most of us ride.
Seriously, I’m a fairly hardcore rider, but I never blast 10 feet into the air. At least not intentionally.
Most of the riding I do is on trails, where stunts like this generally aren’t possible, or advised. To catch this kind of air, you need terrain that enables it. Gravel pits, drifts and the like.
Once in awhile I happen upon such areas, and I admit to blasting a few jumps (“Let’s go free styling, ditch banging and tail standing.”). But I can’t do the stuff seen in most of these pix. Nor do I try.
Do you?