The Freedom of Bike Photography

Growing up near San Diego I became addicted to driving along Pacific Coast Highway, a perfect piece of open road along the California coast. On one side were the rolling hills, and on the other, the pristine Pacific Ocean in all its glory. I’d spend my days gliding down the coastline, surfboard strapped on my car, Hendrix on repeat, and the salty air lingering on my taste buds.

1/200 | f/5.6 | ISO 100 | 18mm

 

When I moved to Berkeley, I swapped my coastline cruising for a vintage green commuter bike, and happily enough, I still get the same feeling of freedom biking down the quirky streets of Berkeley as I did driving down the coast.

 

 

So with this feeling in mind I decided to embark on my first photo-biking adventure. Equipped with some comfy sneakers, I swung my NX300 around my neck, and queued up my favorite tunes to put me into full-blown exploration mode.

 

Now if you lack superb coordination skills, I suggest you take some precautions before venturing out on the road with your treasured new Samsung SMART CAMERA. A helmet, backpack, and neck strap for your camera go a long way when it comes to comfort and safety, letting you concentrate on what you really set out to do: find the perfect shot.

 

While you can always take shots when you’re stopped at a light, or after parking your bike at a pit stop, it can also be fun to play with the settings on your camera to set up some action shots during your ride. The self-timer feature on the NX300 is perfect for this, since it allows you to adjust your settings from 2 seconds all the way to 30 seconds. By experimenting with timing, you can come out with some surprising shots you may not have thought of.

 

 

 

1/125 | f/4.5 | ISO 100 | 18mm

 

If you’re like me, you’ve had those times when you pass by something in a car and think, “That would’ve made the perfect shot,” but you regrettably can’t stop to take advantage of the moment. That’s where bike photography comes into play.

1/320 | f/7.1 | ISO 200 | 18mm
1/100 | f/6.3 | ISO 100 | 18mm

 

 

With the ability to easily stop and shoot on any corner, biking is the perfect mode of transportation for the wandering photographer. However, choosing the right equipment for bike riding photography is essential—because let’s face it, how can you really give in to this idea of freedom when you have to lug around clunky equipment everywhere? Instead, stick with a lightweight camera, and maybe toss a lens in your backpack for an impromptu change of scenery. If you want to go really pro, you can invest in a SMART camera, like Samsung’s NX300 and upload your photos on the go! You can upload to photo-sharing sites, e-mail an image to a friend, or connect directly to Wi-Fi compatible devices.

 

1/3200 | f/11 | ISO 100 | 35mm

1/80 | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | 18mm

 

 

said, “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” With bike photography, you are able to wander the streets, without destination, and discover these secret destinations that lay hidden all around us. So the next time you’re feeling inspired, hop on your bike and see where the streets take you.

1/80 | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | 18mm
1/30 | f/4.5 | ISO 400 | 33mm
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For permissions to use this photo contact Alessandra Roqueta at roqueta2@gmail.com.