Today marks Ansel Adams' birthday. His prolific photographic work still holds immense influence over the concept of 'landscape' art.

The phenomenal images he made whilst working for the american National Park Service did not just document natural structures and scenes, but served and continue to serve as an outlet for Ansel's emotional response to the megaliths and vistas he saw.

Today, his images inspire engagement with our natural environment and also inspire us to create our own images, by feeling for our emotions and searching out the places and landscapes that reflect and augment them.

Below we have an exclusive Q&A with Camille interspersed with a short gallery of some of our favourite photos that have been made of the recent years in another National Park, images not made by Ansel Adams but Camille McMillan whilst exploring on Mason bicycles. All of these photos made in his local Ariege National Park.

Are you creating images to reflect your emotions? 

No, they reflect what I see.
 
Please run us through your kit for image making.
 
At the moment I am using:
Contax 35mm Rangefinder from the early 50's 
Pentax 67
Fuji XT and a Samsung phone
 
I have seen you using a Pentax 67. When will you choose this over digital?
 
Depends on my bank balance and use of the image. 

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Will you be photographing Further race?
 
Yes, last year I only did a small amount, this was a mistake
 
Is Ansel Adams an inspiration? Who else?
 
Yes, he is, kind of.  I love looking at inspirational photographers, however,  my inspiration for work comes more from outside photography.
 
Do you have specific scenes in mind when you head off to make images, or do you go without intention and capture the ones you like?
 
Depends on what I am doing.  If I am out on a race recce, I wish to just document the journey.
 
'Cycling' photography/ers today seems to be rooted in documenting the sport. At what point marks the departure from documentary to be considered as art? Is sports photography 'art'?
 
That's a very big question. I disagree. Most cycling photographers are interested in lightroom and creating an image they hope people want to see. There are very few that are interested in documentary photography.  Anything is art if the maker says its art.  There is good art and bad art.
 
When did you become a photographer?
 
I have photographs I took as an 8 year old - I see myself as an artist that takes pictures.
 
Would you prefer to paint your landscapes or photograph them?
 
Obviously photograph them
 
Will you revisit places to retake images? Or when it's done it's done?
 
Like all cyclists I like repetition, I think that's why I studied fine art Printmaking.
 
Are you interested in the technical aspects of image making?
 
If I need to know something to get the image I want, then yes.  I like the act of image making and the final thing (hopefully).

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Tell us about the light in Ariege
 
It is very good in the mountains because it bounces around off the mountains.  Also it's Southern and there is some of that Mediteranian Spanish magic light.
 
What's the future of photography?
 
I was thinking about this on my ride this morning. I made the distinction between Film Photography and Digital. It's obvious I know. But Photography is Film and Digital Photography is something else. Digital Photography is the future. The future was fun right?
 
There's less snow in the mountains than before.
Personally it's good, I'm not a fan on snow. On a global warming 'we are all fucked' level, it's bad.
 
When are you happiest?
When the sun is warm on my face and there is a light warm breeze blowing white curtains through an open window

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