Fraser Britton How did you get started in photography?
sheer drama of the venues we are at can make the image many times. As for MTB shooters, my first
young guns are starting to show up to play. Fair-
I started working as a photographer in high school
job was working for Plush Magazine out of Boulder
clough, Smith, Cammelini, Atherton, Gatto.
and ended up doing a mass communications de-
and Mark Dawson, Matt Lanning and Mark Doolittle
gree, followed by a journalism degree in university.
really helped me out early on offering advice and
Somehow, I got sidetracked into print and then ra-
support. Currently I really admire what Flipper is
What is the future for mountain biking?
dio work and the photo stuff just sort of faded away
doing. His off the cuff finish line portraits are sim-
No idea at the moment. Racing isn’t going any-
for a few years.
ply the best I have ever seen.
where, but trail riding is on its way up. Whistler and
ogy, slowly decreasing prices and the next batch of
the other resorts are filled with people on $4000
I moved to Colorado not long after and slowly got
bikes who have never raced a day in their lives, and
the content I was providing to magazines from the
Favourite shooting location and why?
race scene. It made the articles an easy sell. Even-
Scotland is fantastic for the drama. Shiite weather,
fully some more rampage style events show up, big
tually a friend convinced me to buy a new 10d and
great course, epic riders. Whistler rates way up
mountain riding. Slopestyle bores me, but watching
not an HDTV. It was the best decision that was ever
on the list as well. I managed to talk my way into
Cedric work his way down a massive big mountain
forced upon me, as I have been working full time as
a shoot on the absolute top of the peak last year
line and then throw a backflip makes me smile.
a photographer ever since.
(no bikes allowed normally) and it was epic. The
back into shooting to have photos to go along with
are just out shredding. It is good to see. Hope-
backgrounds were incredible and the light was
Do you still ride/race?
When did you decide to specialise in mountain bike photography?
perfect. Maribor is up there just because they have
I still do both. I manage 2 race teams with the
the sketchiest gondola of all time, and the biggest
help of Orange Bikes, and am currently on the Mojo
It was sort of a natural progression as I have been
2 euro burgers you have ever seen. And $1 beer. I
Orange Trade Team. The more I travel to work the
racing bicycles since the early 90s, almost exclu-
LOVE $1 beer.
less I get to race, but I still try to cram in a half dozen events every year. Local stuff, Canada Cups,
sively mountain bikes. I wanted to continue to travel with my friends, and knowing where an athlete is
What camera gear do you use?
going to be at any given time in any sport gives you
I shoot with all canon gear. 1dmk2 bodies (and that
a huge advantage. I still shoot other sports as well
original 10d still as well!). 300mm 2.8, 70-200mm
Fears?
as studio stuff for clients, but I am most at home in
2.8, 17-40mm 4, 15mm 2.8 Fish for lenses. I use
Sketchy chairlifts.
the woods shooting downhill.
Elinchrom Ranger lights when I need a fake sun and vivitar 285 flashes the rest of the time.
Any mentors or influences?
Crankworx etc.
Hopes? That MTB goes rockstar again and I am around to
What are your thoughts on the current state of DH mountain biking?
shoot it.
of influences. I am constantly looking at what other cycling photographers are doing. Graham Watson
Dh mountain biking is about to hit it’s next big wave.
Dreams?
manages to make some amazing images, with bikes
It probably won’t touch the mid to late 90s, but the
See above!
almost as the second story most of the time. The
slump is nearing an end I think. Better technol-
I don’t really have any specific mentors but plenty
Clict Photo Annual FRASER BRITTON
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