Aaron Bittner, Switch Back 7, Whistler BC © Mike Yoshida.

Behind the Shot brings you every week or so a sick shot from a rad photographer, where he explains the context of the photo session, as well as all the technical aspects you might want to know about. If you’re a snowboard photo geek, this is for you!

After we focussed on our senior photographer Matt Georges, then Scandi’s own Lucas Nilsson and lately Colorado finest’s Zach Hooper, it’s now time to get into the eye of another sharp shooter from the other side of the pond: Mike Yoshida. Here are all his secrets behind this damn fine picture:

I popped off a couple shots, and the riders had no idea I had shot them.

Aaron Biittner – Switch Backside 720 – Whistler, BC Canada

Camera: Canon Mark3

Lens: 70-200 F2.8

ISO: 100

Speed: 1000^th

Aperture: 6.3

The Tech:

There’s not too much tech to this shot.  Shooting at the settings described above is pretty much the industry standard of what most shoot on a classic bluebird day in the snow.

I use the rule of thirds for this particular shot, which worked out nicely.  I also pulled way back, and shot the rider sillouhetted in the sky.  The sled tracks in the foreground made for some interesting lines, so I was also able to incorporate those as texture in the photo.  I think that this gives the image a well rounded effects, so that there is interesting things to look at in every piece of the photo.

Shooting at 1000^th or above is crucial to freezing the action as well.

The Context:

I was actually shooting with a different crew when I got this shot.  The people I was shooting with actually took a little lunch break, and I new Seth Huot and Aaron Biitner were in the next bowl over about to hit this nice jump.  I talked to them earlier in the parking lot, and they mentioned that they did not have a photographer.

As soon as I rode my snowmobile into the next bowl, I set up and got this sort of far away shot, that I was really stoked on.  I popped off a couple shots, and the riders had no idea I had shot them.  I think Biittner was super stoked on the shot, once he saw it, so that makes me happy as well.

Check Mike Yoshida’s website, his blog, or find him on Instagram: @mikeyoshida