As a professional cycling photographer, I work for different international teams, photograph those competitions around the world. So my camera and I have traveled all over the world. I have always been interested in street photography and in sports photography. My style sports photography has that background: make portraits, emphasize people and tell emotions and a personal story, not just the sporty side.

Because of this sports documentary style need my camera and equipment meet high demands and are fast enough. The Sony α9 is great for everything I do. I can tell a story and record the action. I can quickly photograph cyclists at 20 frames per second switch to making a beautiful portrait. Especially in cycling and other sports it’s not just about taking the picture. The posture must also be good. If they cycle past quickly, 10 frames per second is not enough for an optimal photo, but at 20 frames per second you are sure you will the right body shape and facial expressions. If you can choose from 20 frames, you can choose the frame with the most emotion.

The autofocus of the α9 is also great. Even at 20 frames per second the goal is followed and be almost all 20 frames sharp. Yes, the autofocus is great. I now use one focus point. I choose a cyclist and take as many photos as possible when he drives through that light source. And when I look at the photos afterwards, I’m looking for the right facial expressions and the perfect cycling position, with the right amount of light. With 40 images in 2 seconds, chances are that there is a good photo. The lens series from Sony is also perfect for me. I have everything I need. I use the prime lenses, such as the 28 mm and the 55 mm Zeiss 1.8. I also use the 85 mm 1.4 for portraits, and the 24-70 mm and 70-200 mm for more traditional work. I also have the great 16-35 mm.

I use these a lot for sports, which people often find surprising. But it is nice to use a lens with the classic 35mm range for narrative street photography, and 16 mm for landscapes. And thanks to the 400 mm 2.8 and the teleconverters, nothing is missing from the lens series. When I work with teams, I spend a lot of time with cyclists when they rest. So I don’t want to use a loud shutter. The fact that I can freeze the camera, has revolutionized photographing certain scenarios for me. I still don’t feel like I’m taking the perfect picture, so when I go out, I always try to take a better picture than last time. That’s why I keep shooting. Thanks to the α9 and its functions I can literally take pictures that I couldn’t take before, and the type of recordings that was not possible with my DSLR a few years ago. So who knows what features are going to appear, and what pictures I will take in the future.