If you’ve marvelled at some of the imagery from just about any of the big cycling events in South Africa, chances are you’ve seen Tobias Ginsberg’s work. As one of this country’s most prolific lensmen, he’s honed a lifetime of photography experience to produce some of the most iconic shots from the Cape Town Cycle Tour and many other events.

Ginsberg got his first taste of the photography business when he was eight years old, when his father Ivor started the Portrait Place (which later became Action Photo) – taking thousands of photos during events, which riders and runners could buy as a memento of their day.

“I started off as a loader,” Ginsberg says. “Back then we used film; there were no digital cameras. We’d ship big boxes of Fuji film with us for events, and I’d help load the film into the camera while the photographer snapped away – 36 times per roll, and then change. The photographer and the loader would stand in the middle of the road and just take pics of all the participants at key points along the route.”

As Ginsberg got older, his father allowed him to upgrade from loader to photographer, to earn extra money. As a result, he got to travel the world, working for the business at events like the London Marathon and the UCI Golden Bike series.

But snapping thousands of pictures of race participants wasn’t enough of a creative challenge for Ginsberg; and finally he began to branch out on his own into more creative event photography.

“I’d seen such beautiful imagery from around the world, and I knew that I wanted to take pictures like that,” he remembers. “But it wasn’t like I planned to be a photographer. It just kinda happened, and then progressed.”

Ginsberg often has to hang off the back of a speeding motorbike to get the right angles over rolling hills and death-defying descents. 

Being an event photographer is not for the faint of heart. Ginsberg often has to hang off the back of a speeding motorbike to get the right angles over rolling hills and death-defying descents. 

“I admit I’m addicted to the adrenalin of photographing a bike race, especially when you’re following the elites,” he says. “Those guys are phenomenal athletes – it’s amazing to be that close to them. You need to trust your bike rider in those situations; for several years now I’ve been working with just one guy on major events.”

Ginsberg spends a lot of time preparing for event day; researching new routes, looking for the best angles, and planning where he’s going to get his best shots when the pressure’s on.

“In a bike race, you need to know where your light is going to be, figure out where you need to be in the race – in the break or the main group – and still be able to tell the story of the race through the images,” he says. “When you get it right and see those images, you just feel complete. It’s an amazing feeling.”

That ultimate Chappies shot

Ginsberg will generally take two camera bodies with him on a race: one fitted with a wide-angle 14-24mm lens, and the other with a 70-200mm telephoto. That way he can switch between cameras when the moment arises without having to change lenses – almost impossible when you’re barrelling down a road at 60km/h.

Keeping everything dry and safe when it’s raining or blowing (the Cape Town Cycle Tour is notorious for wind) is one of the toughest challenges, along with the pressure to produce the fresh images that either a media house or a client demands.

“It’s never boring, because the challenge always changes. Some days you have mist, other days it’s raining. I remember when the Cycle Tour went through areas where the fires had burned a few years ago, and how black and desolate everything was. You must constantly adapt to those changes.”

Despite having worked as an events photographer for so many years, Ginsberg is determined to continue honing his craft. “It’s very competitive out there, so you need to keep pushing the limits and getting better photos.”

He’s still looking for that ultimate Chapman’s Peak shot, which he says he still hasn’t quite managed. “I’ve tried with 800mm and 400mm lenses and I’ve tried all sorts of angles, but I’m not satisfied yet,” he says.

 Always eager to learn, he’s inspired by photographers like Russell Ellis (@cyclingimages) and Sean Hardy (@hardyccphotos). “These guys inspire me regularly,” he says. “They’re taking cycling photography to another level. 

“It’s about creating art.” 

 

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