Calgary | aLBERTA


FIM World Supercross Championship


If you know me personally than, you know, how much i LOVE horsepower, adrenaline and dirt! So why not take my love and admiration and go photograph one of the best dirt sports around?


I was fortunate to have ground level access at the FIM World Supercross Championships right here in Calgary Alberta! On Friday, after a quick briefing on the rules i was handed a jersey, that same jersey earned me ground level to the event! I walked the track SO MUCH - not complaining though, my goal was to know every since of that track! The best advantage point, the best angle, the background, everything!! I was taking all of McMahon Stadium in, including all the stairs! Friday was a preview day, a day to get a feel of the track, the direction of travel, how the jumps were going to be done and most importantly... did i pack the right lenses! I mean that's one of the very important things!


Race Day : Saturday! I was there early, i mean if you are not early your late (as my father would say) i was so excited, i watched those seats become packed with eager fans of all ages. However before i share more about Saturday lets take a moment of what was in my Thinktank Street Walker V2.0 camera bag!


2 Nikon Z9 bodies | Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 | Nikon Z 70-200mm F2.8 | Peak Design Tech Bag | Lens cloth | Peak Design Strap | Water bottle!


I mainly used my Nikon Z 70-200mm paired to my Z9 for the whole event! Why? Well, it was the most versatile lens for the event and even though i walked around i was still able to zoom across the track if i needed! Also, my tech bag houses all my batteries, memory card holder, cables, extra cloths ect, its exactly as it sounds... tech bag 10/10 recommend purchasing one to keep everything organized!


Motocross rider performs a jump at the FIM World Supercross Championship Canadian GP with flames blazing in the background.

Dust, Dirt & Split-Second Moments


The dust, the dirt and for once no lost lens caps! I am sure for the next 2 days after the Motocross i was cleaning dirt out of my ears still! Let's talk about these "rooster tails" from the bikes - also side bar: the pictured bike is electric and HOLY does that thing go! Okay! Back to the rooster tails! Their my favorite thing to photograph, i don't know about you, but something about capturing this particular moment is my favorite!


Throughout the day my shutter speed varied from 1,600 - 80 yea... you read that right, because that speed blur if something real! My aperture was a mix of F2.8 and F5.6 - 7 depending on if a group was coming this stayed pretty consistent throughout the whole event until it started getting dark than i stayed to F2.8


Single solo riders, F2.8 all day long! Group of riders F5.6 - 7 varied really depending on my location on the track. This particular corner was the "sweet spot" as they would rip around this corner before hitting the jumps (which would be behind me) at times you would get 5+ riders trying to get around this rather tight corner at the same time (cue F5.6) for those images! My ISO i left in auto mainly because i was moving around on track which meant the light was changing and with the speed of the bikes; trying to combine changing shutter speed, ISO, and F stop all at the same time while trying to capture an image or anticipate "the next shot" would have been a task! So for me and the fast pace event it made more sense to leave it on auto vs manually changing!


Dirt was flying and when you are ground level the risk of dirt reaching you is substantially higher... is it worth it? Absolutely it is, every second! If you are ever photographing something dusty or dirty having a lens cloth readily available is a must, because no one wants a dusty/dirty lens when their photographing!

A media cameraman with accreditation badge films an interview with a man at a sports stadium.
Man in navy MCR Honda Racing cap and shirt stands in profile at a motorsport venue.
Smiling male motocross rider in black racing gear posing at an indoor motorsport event.
Motocross rider interviewed on camera at Monster Energy supercross event, wearing black cap and hoodie.
Two women wearing headphones and sunglasses smile at an outdoor motorsport event, one holding a rolled document.
Excited sports fans cheering in stadium stands, wearing casual attire including hats and blue jackets.
Athletes celebrate victory on podium with champagne spray at night motorsport racing event.
Young woman in denim jacket singing passionately into microphone on stage before large outdoor crowd.

More Than the Race


There is so much that goes on behind the event, during the event and after the event. From the crew that preps the field, builds and maintains the jumps during the whole event - mean those men and women are rock stars and deserve a round of applause! We have the mechanics, the pit crew, who ensure those bikes are running at their best for the whole race! Let's be honest, we all know how important they are! Last, but not least, the crowd! Now i watched those grandstands fill up with eager fans of all ages, cheering loudly for all those to hear! I cannot recall the last time i heard a crowd cheer as loudly as this event!

Motocross rider wearing Monster Energy gear races on a blue Yamaha dirt bike through a muddy track.
Two motocross riders perform aerial jumps at a night stadium event under bright floodlights.
Motocross rider performs a high jump on a dirt bike under bright stadium lights against a deep blue night sky.
Motocross rider soaring through the air on a yellow dirt bike during a nighttime supercross event.
Motocross rider soars over a jump at the FIM World Supercross Championship Canadian GP with dramatic fire pyrotechnics.
Motocross rider performing a jump on a dirt bike inside a stadium with red empty bleachers in background.
Motocross riders compete on a dirt track hill before a packed stadium crowd under clear blue skies.
Two motocross riders soar through the air at the FIM World Supercross Championship Canada event in Calgary.