With the rise of the cellphone-in-hand amateur photographer and content creator that is ever present, combined with the immediacy of social media, we spoke with Absa Cape Epic lead photographer Nick Muzik to unpack the art of the photograph.

“Every stage begins the night before with intensive planning,” says lead photographer, Nick Muzik, explaining how they pour over maps to ensure they know which locations to set up early to utilise the golden-hour morning light. “The route is just one consideration; we also look at the weather, seeing if there will be any sun or not … rain, wind — you know?”

“A time trial is different though,” the fifteen-year veteran says. “Between the four of us, we figured out where each of us would go on the 46km route to maximise the visual impact and to catch all the riders we need.”

Muzik and his fellow photographers usually carry two or three lenses, weather depending and then look to set up a wide-angle and long-lens zoom shot in one location. The big challenge, Muzik concedes, is to stay fresh and creative after so many years on the event. “The thing for me and Sam (Clark, who shoots the CM.com Women’s category) is to try and get visuals we haven't captured before, and that is kind of tricky.” Fortunately, the Absa Cape Epic route changes every year and presents unique challenges (opportunities) daily.

Muzik and his team work on the old-school news photography style of getting a few "safe" shots in the bank before trying to get too creative. “Once you know you have all the important teams covered, you can play around with a couple of pans and wide angle scenics to bring out the drama.”

According to Muzik, those initial shots are, normally, long-lens, tight-cropped, news-style shots. “You need action shots of all the potential stage winners early on, when the light is still good. Later on in the day it becomes even more challenging as the harsh African sun burns down.”

The photography team’s brief is diverse, from documenting the front of the race for news to capturing the action of the entire field in a way that allows viewers to experience it as if they were there themselves. They work tirelessly to capture the emotion, adrenaline, and triumph of the race, as well as the stunning scenery of the Western Cape region of South Africa.

In addition to capturing images of the race itself, the photography team also produces gritty portraits of the riders and behind-the-scenes shots of the race organisation, the support staff, and the local communities that the race passes through.

Much like the bikes (and accessories) of The Untamed African Mountain Bike Race, the camera equipment and demands on the photographers have evolved exponentially over the past 20 years. “I normally go back and see what I've used the year before,” Muzik says of his lens selection for the race. “My go-to is a 35mm prime lens.” The ‘prime’ is a fixed focal lens which means Muzik doesn’t have the freedom to zoom in or out to frame his shots, but this is why it is his favourite.
 
The limitations provide a challenge though. “You’ve got to work. You’ve got to walk around.” To document the eight days of the pinnacle of the Epic Series, Muzik and his fellow photographers shoot around 800 images per stage and deliver a selection of around 20 for press distribution — the daily press release and winners’ shots go to over 1000 media houses globally with many more accessing the daily media galleries. In addition, the photographers send through images from out on the course to be used on the event's social media channels.

As the Absa Cape Epic continues to evolve, the photographers have had to adapt to new challenges to capture the essence of the race. "It's another thing we've got to think about the whole time while out on the motorbikes," says Muzik of sending images for social media. Despite the added difficulties, the team's dedication to innovation has led to new developments, including a bigger and more powerful addition in 2023. However, as Muzik notes, it's important not to let these technological advancements distract from the ultimate goal of capturing the excitement and intensity of the Absa Cape Epic. After all, as he puts it, "the whole thing has gotten faster and harder so the years of experience help." The Absa Cape Epic is indeed a race that measures all, from the riders to the technology used to capture their incredible feats.