flow, style and tricks on all wheel sizes
Published: 08/09/12
Saturday Snaps with
Roger Gruetter
Who is Roger Gruetter?
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If I knew that...
I am 34 years old, I live pretty much in the middle of Switzerland and I have worked as a freelance photographer since 2008.
Years shooting:
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Eight.
What got you into taking photos?
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As a result of racing downhill and dual slalom I was often injured. In 2002 I had a pretty severe crash, which resulted in five operations over the following years, so I needed a hobby to pass the time. This is when I started taking photos. I went to lots of races to shoot photos when I couldn’t compete, which was great because it kept me in the scene.
First photography related memory:
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As a child I always wanted to use with my father's singel-lens reflex camera, but I was never allowed.
Best photography experience:
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The incredible feeling I get when I realise I have a banger shot
Worst photography experience:
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I came home from a job for a Ski Magazine, put the memory card in my iMac and was happily browsing though the photos. Then an error message flashed on the screen. Although I followed the computers commands, all the photos had gone... After several hours in the middle of the night I managed to restore about 85% of the photos.
Advice for taking a great photo:
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Oooh, this is difficult because there are many things to take into account, but the two most important factors are:
- You should know, before you take the photo, what you want to have in and out of frame.
- Press the shutter button at the right moment.
Three favourite photographers:
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Ansel Adams, Marcus Riga and Sebas Romero.
Photography highlight/achievement:
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I can live with photography, and what could be better than to turn your passion into a career
Why do you take photos?
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Because I can decide what I want to show.
I can be creative.
I enjoy not knowing in the morning what the result of my work will be at the end of the day.
And simply because I love it!
Top photos:
2008: 2CV
We were changing location for a shoot further up the road, and just as I drove off, I looked in the rear view mirror and saw Reto Schmid. I reached for the camera on the passenger seat and pressed the shutter button. At that exact moment an old 2CV drove past. Later that evening I read on the Internet that the 2CV had celebrated it's 60th birthday that day: What an incredible coincidence!
Nikon D700 70mm 1/2000s f/2,8 iso 200
2009: Night Ride
I had had the idea for this photograph in my mind for quite some time. Actually I wanted to additionally highlight the rider with my camera flashlight, but I'm glad I didn't. I pressed the shutter button of my Pocket Wizard, with ever increasing pressure, for 192 seconds. In the end I had almost no feeling left in my thumb, haha.
Nikon D200 12mm 192s f/8 iso 200
2010: Little Human
We discovered this beautiful location on an Autumn bike tour. Camera out, press the button, pack it back up and continue the journey...
D200 58mm f/5,6 1/2000s iso 200
2011: A Day in a Never-Ending Fall
This panorama is, in my view, as good as it gets.
D700 45mm 1/1000s f/8 iso 320
2012: The Power of Pow
I expected a pow cloud, but not one this big. Positive surprises like these are one of the best things about photography. Life is beautiful!
Nikon D700 105mm f/16 1/1250s Iso 200