Shooting Urban Sports Photography with the Tamron 16-30mm G2

Urban sports photography of BMX riders posing at Aomori beach with landmark sign and bridge backdrop.
BMX riders performing flatland tricks on boardwalk beneath Aomori bridge. Captured during an urban sports photography shoot.
Urban sports photography featuring BMX riders relaxing near Wa Rasse cultural center in Aomori, Japan.
BMX rider performs jump outside Ramble Burger shop while another rider watches and smiles.
Creative urban sports photography capturing BMX rider performing Toboggan trick above mosaic skatepark bowl.
Urban sports photography of skateboarder performing trick in concrete bowl under blue sky and palm tree.
Group of BMX riders relaxing with bikes at skatepark bowl under blue sky and palm tree.
BMX rider jumping beside Wa Rasse building, casting dramatic shadow across the wall in sunlight.
Urban sports photography of BMX rider performing trick at night in a concrete skatepark bowl
Urban sports photography showcasing rider performing snowscoot jump on snowy mountain with dramatic winter landscape

Naoki Gaman captures BMX, skateboarding, and Snowscoot in Japan

I’m Naoki Gaman, a photographer based in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. I mainly shoot BMX and Snowscoot (a winter sport invented by a French BMX rider that combines a handlebar-equipped frame with two snowboard-like boards)—both of which I enjoy myself—as well as other action sports like skateboarding and snowboarding. These genres are often described as action sports or urban sports photography, a field that captures the raw energy, creativity, and individuality of athletes in dynamic environments.

While the terminology varies, I’ll use “urban sports photography” throughout this article for convenience. In Japan, urban sports have recently grown in popularity. As the number of athletes increases, so does the number of people who enjoy photographing these activities. Still, it’s a relatively new culture, and I believe many are still figuring out what makes a compelling urban sports photography image and how best to capture it.

Read my blog post to see how I capture urban sports images. >>

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