Jean-baptiste Liautard

Canon Ambassador Jean-baptiste Liautard is among the most prominent extreme sports photographers of his generation. Renowned for his artistic style and unique images, Jean-baptiste's creativity and drive have made for some of the most iconic mountain biking shots out there.

"I'm just trying to take another approach to mountain biking photography," he explains. "I try to do my own thing, something a bit different and arty. That's what people tell me; my photos are different."

Born and raised near Lyon, France, where he is still based today, Jean-baptiste's first love was mountain biking, before photography became his passion. "I got into mountain biking when I was about 14," he says. "There's a hill near my parents' place and I always saw people biking on the trails – one day I tried with a friend and I got hooked."

The sun-drenched mountaintops of France and Canada's misty forests are just some of the spectacular backdrops featured in his portfolio, but among Jean-baptiste's most famous images is his award-winning picture of a rider performing a jump while silhouetted against the night sky. Captured at home in Lyon, this ethereal shot was recognised at The Red Bull Illume awards.

"That picture is very special," he explains. "I love shooting silhouettes and reflections. The challenge I faced was that there was no water at the location, so I had the idea to fill up a wheelbarrow to create the reflection.

"The hardest part was finding the right trick," he continues. "That was a real challenge as we had to find the best stunt for the angle, and it was a very low-light situation – the rider had to run the trail almost blind. It felt amazing to be recognised at Red Bull Illume. It's among the most prestigious awards for action sports photography, so it was incredibly special."

Jean-baptiste's unique style has caught the attention of many commercial brands. "I always have a lot of projects on the go," he says. "But it's also good to just spend time with the athletes riding and not shooting, as it builds the relationship. That's what I love the most about what I do – at the end of the day, I'm just shooting with my friends."

What would you say are the key elements to successful mountain biking photography?
"I think it's one of the most difficult sports to shoot because there are so many things moving at the same time. The athletes move extremely fast and their movements are so quick, which is why I would say knowing the sport inside out and having a great camera are really key."

How would you describe your photographic style?
"I try to play a lot with light, whether it's natural light or artificial light. I see a lot of pictures – from Instagram, online, even paintings – and I look at the different techniques used, and I'm inspired by that. Today, it is hard to invent a completely new technique, but I try to make it fresh by adapting it. Sometimes I look for a specific location – I have a list of ideas on my phone – and when the location fits the idea, everything comes together."

What's the biggest challenge when photographing mountain biking?
"There are many things that need to come together. You must showcase the action in the best way possible; the athlete has to be happy about the picture. The bike must be in the perfect position, and it must be the right moment. Even if the shot is perfect in every way if the attitude of the rider is not good, then it doesn't come off. That can be frustrating; you could be working with the last ray of light that day and then the rider doesn't do the best that they can, so you must do it again. You have to always be quick-thinking."

What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry?
"I'd recommend not doing it for money [at first]. In extreme sports, everybody knows everybody, and it's hard to make it your full-time job before you have a name for yourself. I just tried to reach out to people, found athletes and shot for free at the start. Every weekend, I'd be at the hill at my parents' place shooting everyone. That's how you build a name and develop your skills because you have no pressure. Shoot as much as possible would be my advice."

"I used to go to a shoot with an idea in mind, and when the weather or something that was out of my control wasn't how I imagined it, I was a bit lost. I would spend time looking for what I imagined in my mind. But now I've learnt to adapt and not fixate on just one image; if the weather or riding conditions are not as I expected, now I am more creative and prepared for everything."

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