Photographer: Mike Netley

Tom Robinson, turndown.

This time, we’re speaking to long-time trails photographer Mike Netley. Mike’s part of the south-central BMX scene and his photos have appeared all over the shop – and he recently just got back from a trip to ride and shoot trails in Pennsylvania USA (hopefully we’ll be seeing those in print soon). We caught up with Mike just before he went to the pub to chat about Bronicas, film, and taking the Bar End locals to Catty.

BIO

Name: Mike Netley Hometown: Southampton, Hants Years shooting BMX photos: Six or so Where you can see my photos: Ride UK Magazine, Passionbmx forum!? Nikon or Canon? Canon AND… Bronica

Mark Mulville, toboggan, PA.

What are you doing today? What’s the plan? It’s half five and I just got done working. Up until half five is pretty samey for me most days, except weekends. I’m about to eat, then I’ll go meet a couple of good buds at the local mini ramp. Normally it’d be the trails after work if it’s a light evening, but it’s August and it’s raining so that puts an end to that plan. Mini ramp then undoubtedly a pub it is then…

Okay, what are some of the trails spots you’ve shot photos at? Wooahh, too many to name, ermmm, Winchester, Spooks, the M25 area… Chertsey, Epsom, Leatherhead etc etc… L’boro, Leeds woods and some PA trails. I’m sure there are more.

What are your stand-out favourite trails spots? The greener and denser the woods the better. L’boro is up there, and Winchester because it’s the local.

And are there any others you really want to take photos at, that you haven’t been to yet? Other Pennsylvania woods. Wingham Will’s woods. I’d settle for more of the same though. I’ll use my camera soon if this rain ever stops!

For you, how does shooting photos at the trails differ to shooting, say, street, indoor parks, contests, etc? I enjoy shooting street also. Just stuff that isn’t really built by money-grabbing assholes is good. I really like raw street spots and hang outs, Dye’s place springs to mind, any run-down looking street spot is cool, trails, obviously, you can’t really get any more ‘hand made for the simple fact of dedication’ than that. Outdoor parks are bearable due to the sole fact that you can usually incorporate the unique surrounds to the photograph. I try to take as much gear as I can possibly carry. You never know when another flash might come in handy. Or when a lens that only fits a different camera of yours would make the image your were looking for. Sometimes though, mainly for security’s purpose it’s good to travel light. But if I’m going somewhere I know is safe or if I’m on a trip then it all comes with me.

As for what I use…

Canon EOS 1DS, which I mainly use for colour images and sometimes for lighting tests and a…

Canon EOS3 that gets used for black and white photos and sequences.

A Bronica SQA. I love that square format. And real nice looking colours and surroundings look bad-ass on a 6×6 neg.

Canon Lenses. 15, 50, 135 and 70-200mm, and one 80mm for the Bronica.

A few Vivitar flashes.

Quantum radio slaves.

Minolta light meter.

And various other lens filters and flash filters for different effects.

Josh Pekich, Pittsburgh, PA.

Ideally… film, or digital? I prefer the look and the feeling that shooting film gives you. There’s nothing better than the buzz or waiting for films to come back from the lab.

What tips would you give to people wanting to take better trails photos? The more flashes the better. Long lens because the fisheye angle is rinsed.

What’s your favourite trails photo of all time? I really liked the small collection of photos that Steve Bancroft shot at L’boro. They were of the jumps, the scenery and surrounds and the ‘trails lifestyle’ rather than of people riding. A really wide angle black and white image that Billy Reising shot of Kris Bennett for his interview a few years back stands out also. It was a huge tuck on a big step down in Pittsburgh. A really raw image that really showed what was going on. I dig that.

Do you prefer shooting trails in the woods, or out in the open? Woodland for sure. Although I’ve not had a huge amount of experience of being out in the open. The recent Empire of Dirt proved it’s trickier though…

What about dirt jumping contests – how do you see those? The Empire of Dirt is the way forward for sure. I’ve not shot at dirt jumping contests, but I have at a few jams. It’s good fun. And scary knowing that a flash could be wiped out very quickly. I’m quite into shootin’ people and the goings on at jams as opposed to riding.

If you were going to, say Catty Woods or Bar End, for a photo shoot for one day with just three riders – who would you pick, and why? Just three? Come on… I guess I’d take the three main Bar End guys to Catty. I’ve shot a lot more of these guys at Bar End than anyone else, anywhere else. It’d be a cool comparison to shoot photos of the same group but at two different locations. If we can count the Bar End guys as one, then my other two choices would be Brandan Pundai or Brian Yeagle. Rippers!

To see info about Mike’s new BMX mag, click on to: Case BMX

posted by Patrick Best
on 14/08/08