Photography Tips for Cyclists

When out and about on your bike, especially on an adventure that is different from a daily commute or routine errand you may want to record your journey so you can reminisce about it later or share your memories with others. That is where photography comes in.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, then photos can be helpful to collect snap shots of your surroundings, clever businesses, your cycling companions, beautiful plants and vegetation, and destinations worth remembering.  Cyclists often include the bike itself in the photos as a reminder of what the journey was about.  Below are some tips for photography that will make your photos from a cycling journey even more memorable.

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Advantages of Taking Photos as a Cyclist
While some photographers take photos that include cyclists, what we are going to talk about here is photography from a cyclist’s perspective—photos you take while out riding your bike.  The cycling boom of the 1890s occurred at the same time as the advent of armature photography and have been intertwined ever since.  The advantage of seeing the world by bicycle is that you can travel to see a subject with greater ease, go farther and faster to new destinations than you can by walking, the human speed of a bike enables you to see more than you would from a car, bus, or train, and you can stop more easily than you can or other forms of transportation so that it is easier not to bypass a good photo opportunity.

When to Take Photos
Cyclists that do long endurance rides designed for fitness give priority to pace and duration and don’t stop frequently so this type of ride makes it difficult to stop and take photos.  If you are planning to take photos on a ride, you would do better riding at a relaxed pace.  You will be in a better position to take photos since you will have the time to enjoy your  surroundings and look for opportunities to capture what you are experiencing.  If you do want to take photos as part of a fast ride, the time before the ride begins or after it concludes is the best. 

Where to Take Photos
Here are  tips for composition and background for your cycling photos:

• Look for good light.
• Include important buildings, monuments, and points of interest.
• Keep the background simple, eliminating unnecessary clutter such as litter.
• Use roads to create strong diagonals to lead the eye into the picture.
• If cycling in a group, try to include other cyclists.
• If there is a lot of traffic use caution taking photos while moving.
• Be creative by featuring both the good and bad aspects of a trip, such as the process of fixing a flat tire or try different perspectives or elements.  

 
What to Look For in a Camera for Cycling Photos
Cyclists like to lighten their load so they can pedal with less effort so when looking for a camera to record cycling adventures you will want one that is light and compact enough to fit in a jersey pocket or handlebar bag.  A smartphone is likely to be carried anyway, so using the built-in camera for your photos is a common practice.  Some cycling photographers, however, want a camera that shoots higher quality images and more settings to customize shots.  If you want to shoot videos it is a good idea to upgrade.  

Here are features to look for in a camera to take along with you on a bike:

• Give priority to ease of use and small size over bells and whistles such as multiple lenses and gadgets.
• WIFI connectivity will enable you to send photos you take to your phone for immediate upload and sharing.
• A long battery life will assure you will be able to continue to shoot photos during a long ride.
• A weatherproof case will keep your equipment safe for future rides.
  
  

Here is an overview of leading camera technologies available today:

• Compact/Point-and-Shoot: These are portable and easy to use and a good upgrade if you just want an easy upgrade from using a smart phone camera.  By spending a little more it is possible to get advanced features such as more manual control of shots, better lenses, and zoom features.
• Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR): These are an excellent choice for action and sports photography.  The optical viewfinder helps get a better shot of fast-moving subjects and they support a wide range of lighting situations.  The long battery life is another plus.  Disadvantage is the large size.
• Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens (ILC): Smaller and more affordable than a DSLR, yet better quality than a regular compact, ILC cameras offer a great compromise on characteristics like performance, battery life, price, and size.
• Action: Small, mountable action cameras such as GoPro, Insta360, DJI Osmo Action, AKASO, Drift Ghost, Coleman and more can record videos from your handlebars or helmet but they also enable to you capture still shots. 
• Instant: Instant memories can be made with cameras that enable pointing and shooting on special film.  Examples are Polaroid and Fujifilm Instax.  
  
  

Different equipment enables different types of cycling photos.  If you are further away from the subject, a telephoto lens in a good option and a monopad or tripod is a way to stabilize the camera for the shot.  To capture a vast environment, a wide-angle lens will be useful.  A fast lens will help eliminate the blur of cycling in motion or result in better photos in low light.  Make sure you have a large enough memory card so are not limited on the number of photos you can take.  

For help and reviews in selecting a camera for cycling photos check out this review.    

How to Take Cycling Photos
Cycling outside offers many opportunities to be creative in composing your photos.  Here are some tips:

• Try incorporating the surrounding environment, either a panoramic view or a close intimate perspective.
• Adjust your perspective to enhance the subject.
• Select a different camera angle to create more interest.
• Try shooting from a low point of view to elevate the dimensions of the bike and rider.
• Alternately try a bird's eye view taken from a high viewpoint to get more scenery into the shot.
• Record the expression of a cyclist if you are in a position to get a close up shot.
• Take a shot with just a bike because the condition of a bike and it's location tells a story.
  
  ​A bicycle is a freedom machine that connects you to the outdoors and a little practice with a camera will provide you a record to remind you of all the most memorable moments.