The next photo story I looked at was also published in 'cranked' magazine, I chose to look at this story because although still being based around mountain biking the story is completely different with a lot more thought on storytelling through the images. The photo story is about the rise in mountain biking in Guatemala after the civil war, it follows two peoples journey across never ridden before paths in the landscape whilst discussing the why the country is so perfect for mountain biking and the reason it hasn't taken off like in other parts of the world.
I like that the story gives you more than just mountain bikes and riders, I think by including portraits of the people they met along the way, their campsites, and general scenery really help to tell that story and takes the viewer on the journey with them. It shows that no matter what kind of riding you do there's always that element of the unknown, and potential risk. This is also what keeps so many people coming back to the sport.
Firstly the title page of this photo story is extremely contrasty, it uses a 3/4 page spread and shows two men cycling on a narrow, and bendy track along the side of a mountain. It is a black and white image that is dark, moody and extremely textured with lots of detail in the landscape. I think that black and white was used to portray the feelings that they had, the path is extremely off camber with a big drop and I feel the dark and gritty nature of this gives me that tense feeling, similar to how you'd be feeling tasked with getting down the path in the image. By using this as the initial photo you see sets the scene on the kinds of trails they will be riding on, this shows the viewer the level of skill and commitment these riders have to the sport as well as the fearless nature of these people. The text on this page entices the reader into wanting to know more by partially telling a short story/ memory from one of the riders. This gives you a taste as to what the place is like and really portrays Guatemala as a beautiful, and adventure filled country despite its troubled history and misconceptions.
The next pages continues that story, and recalls a time they tried to get directions from a local who they passed in the backcountry that didn't end up helping. This introduces the culture of local people to the viewer and starts to break down the misconceptions of outlaws and bandits in the backcountry. This coupled with a selection of portraits of locals, shots of the landscape and buildings, and them riding the trails really sell the country as a great place to go an explore. I think the images work well to invoke the adventurous nature in the people that will be reading this in a hope to put Guatemala not only on the map for mountain bikers but all tourists who like adventure.
Next you see a full spread image, with a quote in the bottom right of the frame. The image shows mostly scenery/ landscape with two 'very small' people riding along a trail. The light is soft and natural and is making the scene glow in nice golden light, which gives the image a peaceful and relaxed feeling. Very different to the previous images of the trails, this shows the diverse landscape and all the different kinds of riding that this place has to offer as well as the different experiences you can have in the country depending on character and style of riding. The quote says, "I felt the buzz go riding trails that were not built for mountain bikes but rather utilitarian human highways carved into the landscape from centuries of footfall", this further pushes out the audience to a more touristy audience due to them highlighting that these are all footpaths and combined with the beautiful landscape show on the page is enough to entice even people who aren't adventurous. I feel that the write has a personal connection with the country and wants to shine a new light on a place that was plagued by war for a long time, and wants to help the economy recover and progress.
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