One Frame To Live Forever: Action & Adventure Sports Photography
Documenting that perfect moment of flight or impact is what drives my action and adventure sports photography. Filmmaking requires thousands of frames to tell a story. However, in still photography a timeless and engaging story can be told in a single frame. For over half of my life, I have been shooting action and adventure sports for a living, and to this day I am still drawn to the split-second decisions athletes make at high speed—where skill and fate collide, and the pressure to deliver through the camera at that moment.
Telling an Authentic Story
There’s more to adventure sports than massive, mountainside jumps and blistering speeds. It’s about personal triumphs, camaraderie among athletes, and the raw beauty of untamed landscapes. My goal is to create images that shine a light on the human element—showing how athletes push past their limits and form a bond with the outdoors.
the crossroad of stunning locations and perfect timing
If there is one through-line in my photography, it is my goal of capturing the action at the perfect time in a landscape setting that helps tell the story of who is doing what and where. From towering mountain peaks to dusty desert trails, the playground for action sports is often breathtaking. As an outdoor adventure photographer, I love blending natural scenery with powerful athletic performances, ensuring each shot conveys both the intensity of the sport and the awe-inspiring surroundings.
My Approach to Action and Adventure Sports Photography
1. Planning for Perfection
Before any shoot, I connect with the athletes and research the location. Understanding the terrain layout, lighting conditions, and weather forecasts helps me anticipate the best plan of attack. This planning is vital to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments. Planning for every project includes numerous location scouting sessions and shot list creation based on key areas of the terrain and how the light moves through those zones. It’s a saying as old as time, but the more effort that goes into a project the more one gets out of it. And, that simple statement is the foundation of any photography or film production work I create. All of the up-front work before I ever touch a camera makes the shoot days fun, productive, and as smooth as possible. Whether it’s a mountain bike photo shoot, a gravel bike project, back-country snowboarding shoot, or something completely of my action and adventure sports niche, regularly as we wrap for the day the talent on the shoot comment something to the effect of,” Wow, I can’t believe we’re already finished shooting! That was the smoothest and most product shoot I’ve ever been a part of.” It’s always a good sign when that’s the consensus at the end of the shoot days. Yet, what they didn’t see were the multiple all-day location scouting trips to secure the best spots. The hours I rode, hiked, or drove around potential locations to document how the sun moves to potential shoot locations, or the countless hours I spent on the phone getting permits filed for all of the shoot locations. That’s all part of the job, if the goal is to have the best possible photography and video marketing assets to tell a brand story.
2. Building Trust with Athletes
High-energy action demands a certain level of comfort between photographer and subject. I spend time getting to know athletes so they can focus on their performance, confident that I’ll capture their best moves authentically and in their best style. Although I shoot all kinds of outdoor action and adventure sports, mountain biking is my expertise. As a mountain bike photographer, being able to read the terrain like a rider, yet analyze the location through the eyes of a photographer and filmmaker allows me to explain what the shoot plan is at each location through terminology and technical jargon I know they understand. Being able to “walk the talk” in this regard has a lot of advantages and builds report with riders, as I am able to help them see what the end goal is of each shoot location and how I plan to capture them at their best and most engaging moment. Additionally, I’ve ridden in countless shoots myself, so having been in front of the camera as a rider since I was a little kid, I am able to understand the challenges facing athletes during shoots and do my best to accommodate their needs and wishes
3. High-Quality Gear for Harsh Conditions
From mud-splattered motocross tracks to high-altitude mountain bike trails, I face unpredictable environments. That’s why I rely on rugged, professional-grade equipment to ensure each image remains crisp, vibrant, and authentic, no matter the conditions. For over 25 years, Canon has been my go-to brand for both still and cinema cameras and lenses. At the time of this writing, my two main still cameras are the Canon R5 II and the Canon R3—two photography weapons that always deliver.
Let’s Bring Your Action and Adventure Sports Photography to Life
If you’re searching for a time-tested adventure sports photographer with a proven track record to document mountain bike product launches, motocross shoots, or any adrenaline-pumping outdoor project, I’m here to help. Energy, expertise, and a knack for storytelling in a single image is what I’ll bring to the table.
See for yourself. Explore my Adventure Sports Photography portfolio for a closer look at my work. Let’s chat about how we can capture the heart-stopping action and share your brand’s unique story. Reach out today, and let’s start planning something incredible together.
Topics covered in this article:
- Adventure sports photography
- Ryan Cleek Adventure sports photography
- Professional action sports photographer
- Mountain biking photography
- Action sports photo shoots
- Outdoor adventure photography
- Extreme sports photography expert
- High-energy sports visuals
- Adventure sports photographer Reno
- Capturing outdoor sports moments
- How to capture the thrill of adventure sports
- Behind the scenes of action sports photography
- Mountain biking action photography tips
- Professional outdoor photographer in Reno
- Best practices for extreme sports photography