Climbing the Galibier – Lessons from the Road and the Lens

This is one of the early photographs that really helped me learn—not just about photography, but about slowing down to choose a shot that works.

Our bike club was touring the French Alps to take on some of the most legendary climbs in cycling. One of the toughest was the Col du Galibier, the highest pass used in the Tour de France. And, yeah, I rode around with my camera bag.

This is my friend Rich, about two-thirds of the way up the Galibier. It was spectacular. I took a lot of frames here before I landed on this one, and that process taught me something important: sometimes you have to keep experimenting before you find the shot that really tells the story.

The final image uses two classic composition techniques:

• Rule of Thirds – placing the cyclist and horizon off-center to create balance and interest.

• Leading Lines – the curve of the road draws the viewer’s eye forward, giving a sense of motion and pulling them into the scene.

  
  

It’s a memory of a hard climb, a good friend, and one of the first times I felt I’d framed a shot exactly the way I wanted.