On a MTB tour with your digicam? If you have a modern smartphone with a high-quality camera, you can usually do without it. The mobile phone is always to hand and captures unforgettable impressions in the blink of an eye. In contrast to the blurry snapshots of a few years ago, really good bike shots are now possible with a mobile phone.
In BIKE 7/2021, we invited you to take part in a smartphone photo competition. BIKE picture editor Georg Grieshaber chose the winning pictures in the Categories Action and Landscape.
Category Action
Roman Lüthi (41), St. Gallen "The picture was taken on my home trail (CH). I used the self-timer on my iPhone 11 Pro Max and strapped it to a small tripod. I think this shot proves that you can take spontaneous photos as a hobby without professional equipment. However, it took me a good 30 attempts before I liked the photo."
The jury: Strong atmosphere. But the image composition is also successful. Because the driver is positioned to the side, the focus is on the vastness and the experience of nature despite the action.
Category Landscape
Sabine Bonhaus (53), Melle near Osnabrück: "We are five bike girls and set off every Thursday for our ride in the Teutoburg Forest. It was particularly foggy this morning, but the sun was gaining strength. I pulled out my Samsung S10 and set it to self-timer. I'm the second from the left, by the way."
The jury: It doesn't get more mystical than this. The biker group forms the centre of the motif, but does not distract from the extraordinary natural atmosphere thanks to its shadowy appearance.
Winners win brand new Cat S42 outdoor smartphone
The winners of both categories will each receive a brand new Cat S42 outdoor smartphone worth 249 euros. In addition to the high-quality camera (13 MP), the smartphone has plenty of battery power and is extremely robust as well as waterproof and dustproof.
More pictures of the BIKE Photo Contest
HOW-TO: The perfect mobile phone photo ... and action!
In BIKE issue 7/2021 professional Wolfgang Watzke gave valuable tips on how to take perfect bike shots with your mobile phone. The action photographer from Ammersee knows what makes a good photo and knows all the tricks to make it work with a smartphone.
