MTB

How Far Would You Go to Shoot the Perfect Photo?

Accessible only by boat or helicopter, this New Zealand paradise is remote but so worth it.
By Faye Brozek
2 min readPublished on
Behind the Scenes of Scenic Silhouettes project at Wanaka, New Zealand on October 28th, 2015

Conor Macfarlane had to do a lot of the legwork

© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool

There's a lot that goes into getting the perfect mountain bike shot, and it isn't always as easy as it first appears. We were able to get an inside look when we joined photographer Miles Holden and shredder Conor Macfarlane as they explored a remote area of New Zealand's South Island.
Famed for its diverse and stunning landscape, from snow-capped mountains to rolling farmland and scattered with clear blue lakes, this setting is picture-perfect already. But with bikes involved, will they be able to capture the perfect images?

Remote

The location of Holden's Scenic Silhouettes photoshoot is a 50,000-acre farm on the edge of Lake Wanaka, on the South Island of New Zealand.
Behind the Scenes of Scenic Silhouettes project at Wanaka, New Zealand on October 28th, 2015

They went to extraordinary lengths

© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool

Taking a helicopter out to spots where people seldom go gave Holden the chance to capture Macfarlane in the midst of natural New Zealand beauty.
"I was stoked, I couldn't say no to flying around in a chopper all day and taking photos in these hard-to-reach locations," says Macfarlane.
Behind the Scenes of Scenic Silhouettes project at Wanaka, New Zealand on October 28th, 2015

A helicopter was used to get the best shots

© Graeme Murray/Red Bull Content Pool

The project

"It always has been a dream to shoot specifically shadows and silhouettes," says Holden, "and to be able to do it in a place like this is amazing."
In the dramatic landscape of Central Otago, the crew set off on an action-packed day of shooting.
"Our plan was based around picking the right lighting times at each location," Holden continues. "With a small crew and a helicopter, we could move around the location really quickly in order to suit the conditions."

Captured to perfection

Starting before dawn and ending at sunset, it was all about capturing the right action in the right light.
"My plan was to show the athlete in a big-landscape setting, and create beautiful scenic images with an action element to them," says Holden. "Everything about this shoot is about timing, to be able to create those perfect silhouettes."
See the results of their effort by scrolling right in the gallery below and marvel in the beauty of the diverse landscape.
See more amazing photographs from the Scenic Silhouettes project plus a behind-the-scenes video at the Red Bull Photography site.