Jakub Frey

Czech photographer and Canon Ambassador Jakub Frey's portfolio includes a diverse range of subjects shot for both editorial and commercial clients. It includes cars, motorcycles, portraits and his favourite subject: action sports. "I love nature, like to travel and meet new people, and I'm fascinated by incredible sports performances," he says.

Jakub's dynamic images capture the excitement of activities such as skiing, mountain biking, motorcycling, skateboarding and snowboarding. His photographs are often shot in extreme conditions: on frozen mountain slopes, in rain-soaked fields, and even while strapped to the side of a helicopter.

Jakub's favourite sports to photograph – free-ride skiing and snowboarding – are also the most difficult to shoot, he says. "I love them both, but these sports involve a lot of complications at once. The photographer and athlete need to be in tune. They both need to have experience in the winter mountains, otherwise the risk increases too much," he explains.

"When I want to take a nice backcountry photo, I need snow without the tracks and footsteps, so we always have only one try," Jakub continues. "If for some reason it doesn't work out, we have to look for a new place. We are constantly struggling with the weather and other factors."

In recent years, Jakub's work has diversified further, from shooting portraits for print media to photographing automotive ads for brands including Škoda and Volkswagen. He has also "fallen in love with custom motorcycle culture" and co-founded the Klasick Wheels brand in a barn near the centre of Prague where he organises concerts, motorcycle trips, races and exhibitions.

For Jakub, the most enjoyable thing about being a professional photographer is the sheer variety and unpredictability. "You have to adapt quickly, because with this work, everything changes all the time," he says. "I think you have to really love it or you'll go crazy.

"I really enjoy the feeling of going to a photoshoot prepared but certain that something will change," he adds. "I can't imagine a job where I would arrive in the morning and leave in the evening without being surprised by anything throughout the day."

What has been the most challenging action shot you've taken so far?
"I can't choose! Sometimes it's a photo shoot on an avalanche slope. Sometimes I'm strapped to the side of a helicopter. Sometimes the hardest thing is to force yourself to take your frozen hands out of your gloves and try to press the shutter button on the frozen camera body. Once, while taking a base-jumping photo, I was climbing a rock overhanging 500m above the ground and found out that I was badly tied on the rope."

Which images are the most complicated to shoot from a technical viewpoint?
"Backcountry photo shoots taken at night with flashes are always the most complicated. It is not easy to focus accurately in the dark. The rider also doesn't see much and setting the flashes so that the snow remains intact is quite complicated. In addition, there's the frost and humidity, which do not suit lighting at all."

How much post-production work do you do on your images?
"It depends on whether I'm shooting sports photos or advertising sports photos. I usually take a classic sports photo by looking out the window in the morning and deciding, 'Today it's great light, let's go for bikes or skis and maybe take a picture.' I edit such photos only minimally, but I like them the most. Advertising photography is often created in non-ideal conditions and many retouches are sometimes required, such as drawing intact snow, removing trees and changing the sky, to achieve the desired result."

"If you want to become an action sports photographer, your life will be greatly simplified if you practise the sport yourself. You can then imagine the possibilities much better. For example, when looking for a suitable place for a photo of a biker on a drop, it's important for the rider to be able to start well, land well and leave safely. Then you have to imagine how fast the rider will be, how high he will fly and where. It is also important to build a portfolio so that the rider believes that you can take a good photo. If the rider trusts you, they will do much more for the result."

Facebook: @jakubfreyphoto

Instagram: @jakubfreyphotography

Website: www.jakubfrey.com