Above: Brad McNicol, wallride to flair during a Haro UK trip to Transgression for the Snowballin’ jam.
Words by Dunk Photos by Adam Lievesley
Adam has been on our radar for a few months now due mainly to his enthusiasm and regular output. He’s going about it the right way – in other words just doing his thing! You may well have seen his name dotted about, especially if you follow the likes of Tom Justice on any kind of social media, and if not then let this be your introduction to the young and enthusiastic photographer that is Adam Lievesley.
Name: Adam Lievesley Age: 19 Job: Lifeguard Home Town: Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Instagram: @adamlievesleybmx
Jake Walters wallride to tyre slide at the Asylum. Local shredder who's living the dream with the BSD crew working for Vision Ramps.
Tell us a bit about yourself – where you’re from, your involvement with riding and how you got into photography.
“My name’s Adam Lievesley, I’ve just turned 19 and I’m from Chesterfield, Derbyshire. I’m currently a lifeguard at a local leisure centre while I decide what I want to do for the rest of my life. I’ve been riding for roughly about 4 years now, but it all started getting a bit more serious when The Asylum Skatepark opened up, just down the road from me. My local outdoor is pretty bad and is mostly ridden by skateboarders so there was only a handful of bikers there. When the Asylum opened it introduced me to a lot more riders and a great BMX scene. This opened my eyes massively as to what BMX is all about. With regards to photography I bought a DSLR after I got talked out of buying a bridge camera (half way between a point and shoot and a DSLR) at my local camera shop. It was about a year later that I started going down to my local park and snapping a few photos of me and my mate Billy, who would be about one inch off the floor, but at the time we were stoked. That is why I still love taking photos today because every photo means something completely different to someone else.”
Jay Hobson, alley-oop flair bar just before BeastRamps shut its doors.
What was it that caused a spark with photography? The catalyst which made you want to learn more and progress with your abilities?
“It would probably be seeing the look on the rider’s face after you take a picture of them which they are stoked on. So as I started progressing with my photography, I started taking pictures of better riders and this made me want to stand out from other photographers. I began watching videos on YouTube, learning how to get out of auto mode and little tips on lighting and composition, those kind of things. Getting out of auto is the best thing you can possibly do, you have so much more control.”
With the internet awash with a constant supply of photos both good and bad, what was it that caught your attention to provide inspiration photographically?
“I think that would have to have been the Flybikes Coastin’ gallery that Vince Perraud shot. The photograph of Roey blasting a table with a brilliant view behind him showed the detail of his muscles and the sunset. It was just the perfect shot which showed an athlete doing his thing in a beautiful surrounding. The lighting and composition was incredible.”
Close friend Ryan Dawkins with a one footed table at Unit3sixty, doing it for Socialbike co.
Who gets you stoked nowadays? Either photography wise or with riding?
“Photography wise, Eisa Bakos with the work that he is doing with Endless mag making print work with the current standings is a huge achievement in my eyes. Riding wise, all the locals at Asylum including Ian Ufton, Billy Woodbine, Tom Hibbit and Tom Justice. Also my friend Mitch Dooley, who’s coming on at a ridiculous rate, this has bagged him a flow deal with Haro. Then there’s the girls Izzy and Mia, to see two girls not only partake in a male dominated sport, but to excel at it makes me supper happy. They should be role models to prove that girls can ride BMX.”
What’s your most used equipment, and what is your preferred setup?
“It’s probably my 70-200 f2.8 and 50mm on my Nikon d800. I just think these focal ranges are perfect for isolating the rider and making it look cool. I also heavily rely on flash due to mostly shooting indoor, so I use 2 cheap Youngnuo flashes which for the money are incredible.”
Kit List: Samsung nx500 Nikon em Nikon d800 Sigma 15-30mm Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 2x youngnuo yn560 iii Various triggers Samsung 16-50mm Nikon 28mm f2.8 Nikon 50mm f1.8 8mm fisheye Nikon to samsung converter
To date, what has been the most fulfilling moment for you with regards to your photography?
“I’d have to say getting invited down to NASS festival as part of the Four One Four build team, to shoot the course build. Also, to get to shoot the competition itself, shooting pics of the best riders in the world. But to top it all off to get my own gallery on Ride UK showing my best photos from the festival. That for me was a huge thing.”
What is your approach to shooting BMX? Do you go in with a plan, just see what happens or push the rider out of their comfort zone at all?
“Sometimes I have a shot in my head and ask someone if they could do it. But I usually go and ask somebody if I can take a pic of something I’ve seen them do. If they’re game we shoot it.
It’s a dodgy area because obviously if they can do it higher or click it a little more then I’ll try and get it out of them, but you don’t want to push them too far so they get hurt.”
I could take pics of Tom Justice all day. Here’s one from our local trails – Fullwood – built and maintained by Jon Jon.
Every BMX photographer I know seems to have had that one friend early on in their career who happens to be really good on their bike, and thus allowing consistent progression and reciprocal stokedness for both parties. Who has that been for you and have you really noticed the benefit to your photography?
“Reciprocal stokedness, I like that one, haha! Yeah for sure, early on it will have been my two mates Vaughany and Matt who had been riding a lot longer than me so were obviously a lot better. They had been riding my local for years, so knew all the lines and were just stylish riders, boosting tables and t-bogs, the timelessness that make the best pictures. But recently it’s got to be Tom Justice, his bike style and control is just incredible and perfect for photos, so I work extra hard to show how stupidly high or over clicked each trick actually is and do it some justice.”
What have your best and worst experiences been photographically?
“Best experience going on trips which I wouldn’t be going on if it wasn’t for my pictures. Worst has to be shooting a photo and watching hopelessly as some skater knocks your flash flying.”
In day to day life, outside of BMX and photography, what do you do?
“Day to day life is working as a lifeguard, going swimming as I’m also a competitive swimmer. Eating lots of food and seeing my girlfriend. I have a pretty hectic life so fitting everything in is sometimes an issue.”
Cam Peake doing this ridiculous 360 backside seat grab over Corby’s box.
From first hand experience (and despite popular belief) the life of a BMX photographer isn’t that glamorous. So what do you personally get out of photography, and where would you like it to take you?
“No it’s not as glamorous as people think, first of all equipment is stupidly expensive and you are usually taking pictures for free, so can end up out of pocket. But looking at a picture and getting the feeling that I couldn’t have shot that any better and the look on the rider’s face when you show them, this for me makes picking up a camera the best thing I have ever done. I would love to go on a trip abroad shooting pics. That is definitely a goal.
Massive shout out to Jack Plowman at the Asylum Skatepark for being the raddest person, building an incredible park and helping everybody out. Also Rob Andrews at Haro UK for all the help he gives me and the local scene.”
Tom Justice doing a Superman over the box at Flo during the reopening jam.
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