Part of the thrill of riding a motorcycle is getting to enjoy the scenic views along the way. There’s nothing like a colourful sky on a sunset ride, or the excitement of a wildlife encounter along a quiet road.
We wanted to share some tips and tricks for getting that perfect shot—without compromising your safety, of course. We’ve also got some advice when it comes to equipment and composition for snapping photos on your motorcycle journeys.
How to Safely Photograph Motorbike Moments
When looking to capture those amazing motorbiking moments, the primary consideration should always be safety. After all, riding a motorcycle is very hands-on and places a lot of demands on your attention, so we never recommend trying to shoot with a camera or phone in one hand while you ride. Here are some ways to go about it instead.
Plan Ahead
Here’s the most obvious way to safely capture photos while you’re out on your motorbike: don’t take photos at all while you’re driving. Instead, map out your route and think about scenic places you might want to pull over, or the photo opportunities you might be likely to encounter on your ride. Any that you can plan in advance will minimize the temptation to try and take out your phone or camera along the way.
Get Someone Else to Take Photos
Have someone riding pillion? Consider delegating the job of taking photos to them instead. Just make sure that you’re in a safe place and driving at a safe speed to do so; taking photos should never compromise the safety of your passenger (or their equipment). We don’t recommend this on the highway, for example.
Backtrack and Pull Over
See something spontaneous that you want to capture? If it’s safe to do so (i.e. there’s ample time and room to turn around), consider pulling over and then retracing your path to capture that photo op.
Use a Mounted Camera
If you have a GoPro camera, you can get mounts to attach it to your helmet, chin guard, handlebars, or other places on your bike. You can also purchase a chest harness to wear your camera as you ride. This is a truly hands-off way to capture some amazing video footage or still shots. Some cameras are even enabled with voice command functionality so you can control your camera as you ride.
Equipment and Composition Tips for Motorcycle Photography
A great photo often has a lot of consideration behind it, and even though you can’t always orchestrate the perfect shot in advance, some pre-planning can be helpful to set you up. Here are some things to consider so you’re ready to capture those moments when they happen.
Think About the Angle(s)
Angles are one of the cornerstones of composition. The angle from which you take a photo has the power to tell a story or make the viewer consider something in a new way. For example, a POV shot taken from a mounted camera pulls the viewer along with you for the ride, while a wide-angle landscape shot can bring them into the glory of the moment.
Be Mindful of Your Shutter Speed
Depending on the type of camera you have, you might have more or less control over shutter speed. But know that if you’re looking to capture anything that is moving quickly (other vehicles, for instance) in a still photo without motion blur, you’ll likely need a shutter speed of 1/500th of a second or quicker. If your camera has a sports mode, that can be a good bet. However, if you do want a motion blur effect, you can intentionally play with a slower shutter speed.
Shoot Continuously or Automatically
To improve your chances of getting the best shot, consider putting your camera on continuous shooting mode, or shooting video, then editing it to pull out still frames later on. If you’re looking to achieve a particular shot or series of shots, you can also play with automatic settings to take photos at different set intervals.
Image Stabilization
One of the technical hurdles of motorcycle photography (whether it’s from your motorbike as a passenger, or from a mounted camera) is the potential for motion, of course, not to mention a whole lot of vibration from the motor. If motorcycle photography is something you’re serious about, consider investing in a camera with good image stabilization to avoid blur.
Backup Battery
Whenever you’re heading out for a ride, check that battery level before you go. A backup battery is a nice piece of gear to have with you in case you run out of juice in the middle of your journey.
Now, all you need is a picturesque location! Want inspiration for where to shoot next? Check out our list of the top ten Canadian motorcycle rides and the top ten motorcycle rides in the world.