Driven to distraction…
My first ever experience of a mountain bike race was in 2000 - the National Championships at Innerleithen, in the Scottish Borders. To this day, I would put it amongst the best experiences of downhill I've ever had, which isn't bad for something that took place 9 years ago, and happened when I didn't even own a downhill bike, let alone a camera of any note.
It was all about the spectacle of the weekend - the paddock was packed with trade teams, the sign-on sheets read as a who's-who of downhill racing at the time, and for someone who treated MBUK as a bible, it was a chance to walk amongst your heroes. Of course, the racing itself was great too, with the downhill and the duel races, it was awesome to see the event in the flesh for the first time.
It was also the first time I ever took a photo of downhill; using my dad's Samsung compact 35mm camera (totally unsuitable for taking photos of things that moved), I got a seriously impressive number of blurry shots. I also broke the camera, which didn't go down too well - but it was worth it; I got my cap signed by the riders, and my photo taken with every rider who I'd seen sandwiched in the pages of my favourite magazine. There's still a clip frame of my photos kicking around somewhere in my house.
I just don't see this enthusiasm at NPS races anymore. The biggest UK names, even when the calendar is otherwise empty of events, are simply not there - this isn't a slight on the riders who do turn up, but it's rubbish to see the National Points title being fought for by such a tiny field of elite riders. I just don't see why the riders that aren't there would change their mind, and come racing... the racing felt perfunctory, the crowd was small and quiet, and it really didn't look like anything special in the paddock either. The spectacle that I loved at the first race I went to was utterly gone.
It will be interesting to see what the turnout at the National Championships is like. It's coming back to Innerleithen next weekend, and it'll either renew my faith in British downhill, or piss on the fire entire. In the meantime, the photos here are from the Fort William race, and clicking on them for a bigger look is what I'd recommend...
Aiming for the apex..
I love cars. When I decided to study design at university, my original ambition was as an automotive designer - although that's not the case any more (frankly, I'm not good enough at drawing cars!), I still think they're one of the greatest things mankind has created - the freedom they offer, the excitement... everything, it's brilliant. Of course, as a 23 year old, I'm statistical liability for insurance companies. This means the chances of me owning anything remotely exciting are nil - I drive a Nissan Qashqai, which was a decision based on the fact that it is a diesel 4x4, has reasonable insurance costs, and was on a 3 year 0% finance deal - it also has a turbo, so it feels like I'm going fast for a couple of seconds every time I change gear.
However - a couple of years ago, I got given a voucher to go and drive a couple of supercars at a circuit somewhere in the Midlands - I never managed to get round to booking it until the other week, rather pathetically, but on the 3rd, I went down to Prestwold Hall to get my first taste of the good life. I also decided to take my camera, given the smorgasbord of four-wheeled exotica that would be kicking around, and the fact I've never really tried to take a photograph of a moving car (it's weird when you realise random things like that...).
The track itself is a 1.8 mile blast based on an old airfield, with three big straights and a few corners of varying severity - they whip you out in a Focus ST to show you the lines before letting you loose in their proper cars. The range of machines on offer was pretty phenomenal - from a ponderous looking Hummer, all the way through to a Lamborghini Murciélago LP640, worth around a cool 1/4 million. On the day, my weapons of choice were an Audi R8, and a Lamborghini Gallardo - about £220,000 of supercars, all in. Bargain.
As an experience, it was utterly, utterly incredible. I saw so many miserable bastards walking around talking like Fifth Gear presenters about what they'd driven that day in a manner more befitting showroom comparisons between a Mondeo and an Avensis. My reaction is essentially that one day, no matter what it costs me, and what family members I have to sell, I will own a supercar, and I will drive it until the wheels fall off - I felt the relentless grinning, laughing, and general joy that was about me on the day was an indication of just how much fun I had. The R8 was potent, but the Gallardo was a monster - you really have no idea how loud these things are until you're sitting in one, foot mashing the accelerator into the carpet, heading up a straight at over 100 mph, before braking (the noise of the overrun through the exhaust is delicious...) and sticking it through a corner. It's an operatic roar; the noise is so loud that it obliterates conversation and makes the hair on your neck fall off, never mind stand up.
I left that place a happier person, with my appetite whet, and with a new goal in life. I will own a supercar one day, and I urge you to do the same.
Oh, and the last photo was taken by my dad, who bought the voucher for me in the first place, and came with me to watch, and take photos. Thanks pa!
The real deal…
Following on from my previous post with a few random images, I can now put up all the photos I like from the Fort William World Cup, as nobody wants them! Huzzah! The organisers will no doubt be using them for whatever they fancy, but I own the copyright, so I thought I'd pop a few up on here for your delectation. Please click on the images so you can see them bigger than they are on here, as the small size does them no favours...
Tom Braithwaite
Herman Olund (nope, no idea either, but I like the photo!)
Sam Blenkinsop
Dr. Steve Peat
Gee Atherton
Sam Hill
Dan Atherton
Dan Atherton
Jill Kintner & Fionn Griffiths
Dr. Peat and his adoring fans
Greg Minnaar's fan club
Flag waving for the winner
Greg Minnaar, back to back wins in Fort William
If anyone wants to use these images for any reason, then give me a shout.
Scrolls, robes and the end of the road…
I don't graduate until next year, so this photo isn't of me.
Due to my slightly disjointed path through university (I studied for two years as an engineer, before realising that it's just a hell of a lot of dull, dull maths), and my gap year, I've already seen a number of my schoolmates graduate. I love the austerity of the whole occasion - the robes, the tradition, everything, it's fantastic. Add in the fact that as a Glasgow School of Art student, I'll be graduating in the Bute Hall of Glasgow Uni, and you've got the full-on Hogwarts effect of the grand setting.
However, I absolutely, positively, cannot stand graduation photographs. The thought of my five years of higher education being summed up by me standing in front of a grey/blue mottled canvas backdrop, smiling like a twat with a mortarboard on my head, makes me feel physically sick. As a result of this, I was very keen for my friends in the year ahead not to have such a wank momento of their time at GSA, so I decided to take a punt at doing something a bit nicer for them.
Anyone who's been to Glasgow University will know how stunning the main building is - the rest of the newer buildings might look like they've been shat out of the 60s (because they were), but the old building is a monument. So, with a little discussion, we found a huge staircase, with lovely natural light coming through the windows. I'd have loved to do them outside to be honest, but the wind was insanely blustery, and robes are like sails - just because you're wearing a cape doesn't mean you'll look like Superman when the wind blows through.
I'm not a portrait photographer, but I enjoyed trying something new. I'd like to think the images I took were better than the generic ones that most people end up with, so in that respect, I think it went well. Feel free to let me know what you think. Finally - well done to the graduating class of GSA Product Design 2009; you've all worked like absolute dogs this year, and given us a bloody hard act to follow for 2010!
Let's see what this does…
You will often find photos such as this coming out of my camera, especially during the summer. Frequently, the ones I like the most aren't of the best known riders, which allows me the priviledge of sticking them up on my blog, as I know nobody will pay to put them in print. Frequently, nobody will put my photos in print for other reasons, but we'll keep it specific for now.
I was working for the event organisers, Rare Management, at the British round of the UCI MTB World Cup when I took this shot, at the start of June. I worked at the first event in 2002 as a course worker, when I was recovering from a broken collarbone, carting around large crowd barriers on the side of a mountain. A few years later, I tripped while walking down the course, and broke my ankle, resulting in me getting stretchered off the hill, and missing a holiday. Since then, I've tried to avoid injury, and take better photographs instead... largely, I think it's gone alright.
I'm trying to get to more World Cup rounds this year, but realistically, I think the only one I'll manage will be the finals in September (which I've got the flights for already...). Still, two's better than one. Maybe next year I'll go to three... or four. It's good to have goals for the future, and airmiles are mine. I hope people don't get so bent out of shape about purple lycra photo bibs in Austria, life's too short.
Also, the event had some great trophies, designed by Component Creatives. Good job on getting away from traditional silverware and following on strong from the massive claymores that the winners were swinging about after the 2008 event...
Behold my mumbling.
Hello all. I am the man in the photo below (although not the one above - that's Paul Smith of Maximo Park), and my name is James Porteous.
Never had a blog before. At present, I suspect I'll end up saying something on here that will either result in either bother with the police, causing massive offence, or never getting work again... I'll give it a shot anyway. I imagine this will probably be loosely based around photography - mine mostly, being the vain, self-promoting individual that I am. I'm trying to get my foot in the door as a photographer of any kind at the moment, so you'll be able to see my peaks and my troughs (stop sniggering) as I go.
Oh, and if you want a photographer, then just ask.
