Features

TOP TEN: Non Trick Photos by Robin Pearson

Words and photos by Robin Pearson

Sometimes it’s all about the spot itself. When you don’t need to complicate something that’s already awesome and exciting, you just ride it. It’s all about the setting, the obstacle and the feeling it gives. Not nuanced, not niche, just the bare bones of bike riding.

This simple approach of ‘hit it and hold on’ often photographs very well – this is why I’ve picked out these photos from my archives. So instead of looking at how clicked the trick is or what kind of technique the rider is using, we can just appreciate the pure elements of BMX here.

1 – Adam Aloise

Adam Aloise carving a soaking wet full pipe next to a dead frog. Why is it wet? Because it’s underneath a reservoir. This was the cover shot of Ride UK #166, when Stay Strong won Ride To Glory.

2 – Bob Manchester

Ah, the strange old Norwich ‘Bathtub’. Bob decided to pedal across the grass, hop in and blast out. Simple and awesome.

3 – Spanky

Down at Spanky’s local trails, we shot a turndown on this jump for the A14 Scene feature in the mag, but I loved this simple boost photo. Huge!

4 – Max Wood

This is what I’m talking about. It’s all about the spot here, and I remember being very pleased that all Max wanted to do was carve it. A damn photogenic set up on the waterfront in Le Havre, France.

5 – Jason Watts

If he wanted to trick it, Jason had plenty of air time when doing this gap line between bowls, but he just cruised it. Flying through the air in the sunshine in Livingston, Scotland. Seen on the Haro UK Tour 2016.

6 – Danny Stanzl

I could have probably made this whole article from photos of Danny Stanzl… He’s always boosting something and getting out of shape in the air, but I settled on this one with his tyres on the ground. Shot at a bizarre old forgotten skatepark in Dover for Concrete Relics.

7 – Boiski

This shot of Boiski from his Animal Bikes feature and video earlier this year got a lot of praise. It’s a reverse pole jam – hopping into the pole. Interesting, difficult and awesome.

8 – Janis Cunculis

Latvian legend boss Janis, hopping a rail by a London canal many moons ago. Look closely and you can see some ropes holding the branches back to make this hop possible.

9 – Bas Keep

One day at Viccy Park in London, Bas was hitting the cradle and I wanted to shoot it, but shoot it in a cool and interesting way. Climbing up there and hanging over the edge wasn’t the easiest thing ever, but we were happy with the resulting photo!