ATV Amateur Models

[STLBILL]

Hi all:

 

I've been a shutterbug for over 10 years and the last couple have earned me a few part-time bucks at weddings, prep and private sports events, engagement and senior photos, etc. I would like to get more experience with action photography.

 

What would it take for someone who considers themselves pretty good on a 'Shee to put it through it's paces for my cameras?

 

I am not talking about reselling the photos or making any money off it - just practice. I can find plenty of professional paid models - the folks you see in the manufacturer print ads. If I was making money from it I'd go that route, but I'm not. I also do not expect to haul in special dirt like most manufacturers to get the perfect roost. Location/props/backdrop is definately important, but I believe there is value in keeping it natural too.

 

The rider can keep the original digital negatives for bragging rights and legal rights to their likeness, etc. If I want to use your likeness to advertise my work that would be separate. For the aspiring pros they may have some value obtaining sponsorship. If I have extra supplies from an event I may donate some color 8x10s and with the Adobe DNGs you are free to print as many more as you like. The digital negatives would be of sufficient quality for at least a 24" x 30" poster so you can admire yourself while tuning your bike in the garage or while recouperating in the hospital.

 

Since riding a 'Shee in my studio would be very bad I'll fly/drive to you. Full-face helmet, goggles, "riding clothes" and boots preferred. The greatest condition is that the rider work with me to try (accidents happen) not to destroy my gear - intentional roosts to an unprotected camera and lens costing $20k, for example, are generally bad... :-)

 

So, what is the going rate for something like this?

 

Additionally, any suggestions for how to "interview" someone for this would be appreciated. It would really stink to fly to California, rent an SUV to Glamis and find someone who can't get their bike to run or doesn't take it out of first gear.

[Cotton eyed Joe]

That sounds like an awesome plan you've got. Too bad I suck ass. :baseball_wibble:

[dawarriorman]

Well first what exactly are you talking about photographing? Dunes, MX, desert, woods? Id try and find somewhere that has as many varied terrains as possible. Plus some great scenery doesn't hurt. Im sure you could find plenty of qualified willing people on here, but Id make sure you have good locations available before you go. Going to film someone ride some MX at a shitty track thats small as hell wouldn't give you much opportunity.

 

Hell I think many of us would be willing and able to do it, I would. You just have to narrow it down to figure out what you want.

[Soupbox660]

Sounds like a good idea to me. I doubt there is anyone on Banshee HQ that wouldn't want to show off on a good camera. I know me and my friends would. Kind of like he was saying though, just make sure you get different footage. Maybe even do several different groups of people for different conditions and places. Every riding place has something unique, no matter how big or small it is. So take tons of different places' "uniques" and then you will have a collection of some of the coolest shit around. God its good to be back on BHQ!

[STLBILL]

Thanks for the responses!

 

Joe - how can you suck with all the awesome Utah terrain to practice on? You got the salt flats and dry lakes for all out speed and Moab for exploration too! Last time I was out there I don't think I've ever photographed better inland freshwater than Lake Powell. It is such a deep shade of blue! When all the Colorado's dirt settles the water looks like it was piped in from Hawaii. Oddly Lake Mead isn't the same way. Probably all that Vegas smog.

 

Soupbox - I did not know you were in Columbia? Have you been to Finger Lakes? I've met folks up at Finger Lakes for shoots a couple of times. The almost always wet conditions keep the dust down and the old Peabody strip mine high walls make for some good hill climb and off-camber shots too. Plus the often adjacent park road keeps the gear to bulky, heavy or fragile for quad transport close-by in an SUV. The lake backdrops are sweet to boot.

 

WarriorMan - I hear you. That's why I figured one of the more popular public riding parks might work. It is just hard to keep others out of the shot in a public area (been there done that). One shot I did for a guy at Finger Lakes attracted a two people with little automatic cameras. You have to worry about spectators as much as other riders trying to steal the show.

[KlotzBanshee]

Michigan has some pretty spots this time of year.

[korndawg]

Another option you could look at is just heading out to the dunes for a weekend. You would get plenty of opportunities to get some action shots out there.

[STLBILL]

Hi Korndawg:

 

Even in a public place I tend to respect personal privacy more than that.

 

I can think of a couple times over the past twenty years when a buddy's buddy brought someone's wife for a little "weekend fun" riding with the guys. I'm sure that still goes on and those people don't want some yay-hoo they don't know using a long lens to snap pics of the wife with her boyfriend... :-)

 

You also have to watch out for the guys collecting worker compensation, but able to huck a superman off the top of <insert radically huge and famous dune name here>.

 

 

-Bill

[Cotton eyed Joe]

Thanks for the responses!

 

Joe - how can you suck with all the awesome Utah terrain to practice on? You got the salt flats and dry lakes for all out speed and Moab for exploration too! Last time I was out there I don't think I've ever photographed better inland freshwater than Lake Powell. It is such a deep shade of blue! When all the Colorado's dirt settles the water looks like it was piped in from Hawaii. Oddly Lake Mead isn't the same way. Probably all that Vegas smog.

 

 

Eh, I've ridden 2 times in the last 3 years. That and I have stock shocks on my Banshee, so I think that disqualifies me right off as a "hard core" rider.

 

I hope to remedy both of those problems next summer. :ermm:

[BigRed350x]

Eh, I've ridden 2 times in the last 3 years. That and I have stock shocks on my Banshee, so I think that disqualifies me right off as a "hard core" rider.

 

I hope to remedy both of those problems next summer. :ermm:

 

Sounds like another person has the disease! Prepare to have no money in the bank!

[bansheefreestyler]

ill do it if you fly to canada. awesome location for backgrounds and plenty of riding areas

[BenBB]

So, what is the going rate for something like this?

 

Who doesn't like to show off in front of a camera?! Usually it's about as bad as seeing babes trackside...something like "jeez that jump is insane I ain't gonna hit it, oh wait look at the jugs on those chicks, watch this superman seat grab [huck][crash][mangle][broken bike][hospital bill]"...kinda comes with the testacles heh.

 

Anytime you're in NM Bill lemme know, more like anytime you're passing through on the way to someplace decent heh. I've seen photographers at NMDRC and ATVCCS races, alot of times they'll take pics of everyone and sell the prints either in person or online; same for WORCS and I'm sure plenty of other races (GNCC, SCORE, etc. etc.).

[korndawg]

I can think of a couple times over the past twenty years when a buddy's buddy brought someone's wife for a little "weekend fun" riding with the guys. I'm sure that still goes on and those people don't want some yay-hoo they don't know using a long lens to snap pics of the wife with her boyfriend... :-)

 

I never thought of that, although I should have, since that's what I'm supposed to be doing tomorrow. And don't bother saying it...I already know I'm going straight to hell for it. :baseball_bat:

[Cotton eyed Joe]

I never thought of that, although I should have, since that's what I'm supposed to be doing tomorrow. And don't bother saying it...I already know I'm going straight to hell for it. :baseball_bat:

Not to take the thread off track but this reminds me of a funny story from about 8 years ago.

 

Bunch of us at Sand Mountain, one guys wife is there. She's hot etc etc.

She decides to lay out on the trailer and tan a bit.

 

5 of us, standing beside the trailer, with our sunglasses on supposedly looking up at the top of Sand Mountain at a sand rail....but every one of us was looking down at her under our glasses. :baseball_w00t: