paddling with a camera

Bennett Peak to Pick Bridge on the North Platte River, Wyoming

marek — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:20:57 +0000

I am extending my paddling on the North Platte River in southern Wyoming. Last Sunday I had a very nice trip from Bennett Peak campground to Pick Bridge below Saratoga. I paddled Sea Wind canoe with Pixel, the water corgi, as a partner. Connie with Dax were waiting for me at the Pick Bridge. It was a fast training run: 36 miles in exactly 4 hours without any stops.

River flow: ~1700 cfs in the North Platte at Northgate + ~1000 cfs from the Encampment River joining just above Treasure Island, ~4500 cfs in the North Platte further downstream. It was still high water, but much lower than a month ago during the Wyoming Outback Challenge. A perfect weather with just a moderate wind, very green with a lot flowers. A lot of wildlife including nesting bald eagles.

The river below the Bennett Peak campground is very scenic. It flows in a granite canyon with many rocks and cliffs. There are multiple narrower channels in several places. Paddling was easy. I suppose that it may be more challenging at lower water: some rocks sticking out and rocky shallows in some channels.

Driving to the Bennett Peak access takes some time. It can be reached by 19 mile long dirt road starting at highway 230 a few miles east of Riverside. The road is well marked and pretty scenic. The first 10 miles you can drive at highway speed, then you need to slow down.

I started to paddle at 11am. The light was very harsh and not so pleasant for photography. Nevertheless, I shot a few pictures with Pentax Optio W30 camera between the Bennett Peak and Treasure Island for documentary reasons.

Other resources:
The Floater’s Guide to Wyoming Rivers: Paddle and Portage
Wyoming Atlas & Gazettee
map of public access areas by Wyoming Game and Fish Department
North Platte River flow: Northgate, CO | Ft Steele/Dugway

WSBS Thunderbolt-X Kayak on the Lonetree Reservoir

marek — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:41:35 +0000

Launching my Thunderbolt kayak on the Lonetree Reservoir near Loveland - tall grass and high water.
It was a pretty wet spring in Colorado.

This time I was carrying my standard “self portrait” DSLR camera gear: Canon 40D, EFs 17-55mm zoom lens, Gitzo carbon fiber tripod and TC80N3 Timer Remote Control. Of course, Pentax Optio W30 waterproof camera is always attached to my life jacket.

This is one of my stock images and is available for purchase from Featurepics together with some other paddling pictures.

Surfrigger Canoe on the Boyd Lake

marek — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:11:57 +0000

Boyd Lake near Loveland is very full - the highest water level since 2005.

And, water is still flowing in.

This is the inlet from from Heinricy Lake. I believe that there are two other inlets: at marina from the Horseshoe Lake (a big pipe, now under water) and from the channel in the southern part of the lake.

There is something new in the south: a concrete zipper like dam.

Lake, dam, Loveland and Longs Peak

Crocks or Everything Turns Green in Springtime

marek — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:21:19 +0000

Three pictures from an evening paddle workout - Surfrigger canoe on the Lonetree Reservoir near Loveland, CO. The lake is still full, you can paddle among submerged cottonwood trees or sneak into a supply ditch. You will see a lot fishing boats and fishermen on shores, but it is quiet. Of course, it is nice place to watch or photograph sunsets over mountains, especially, now when thunderstorms are moving around.

I was testing my new “high visibility” crocks in Surfrigger. They worked, but I prefer my regular water shoes which give a little bit more room to move my feet around in a tight cockpit. The Surfrigger hull is the narrowest (15′) in my paddling fleet.

This is my second pair of crocs. I’ve been using these clogs in Sea Wind canoe (2008 MR340 race) and, even, in Thunderbolt-X kayak.

Other picture posts from the Lonetree Reservoir:
Paddling through Forest and Irrigation Ditches
A Peaceful Sunset after a Heavy Gun Fire on the Lonetree Reservoir
5 Pictures in 1: HDR Image of Sea Wind Canoe and Colorado Sunset
Sunset Is Not Always Spectacular over the Front Range of Rocky Mountains
3 Pictures from Sunset Paddling in Northern Colorado

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Paddling Photography in May and June (2005-2008)

marek — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:43:43 +0000

Paddling and photographing in a spring time … A selection of my blog posts in May and June during last four years.

2005

A diversion dam on the South Platte River above Fort Morgan

Exploring South Platte River in Eastern Colorado - 30+ mile paddling near Fort Morgan

Ducks Unlimited and Paddling on South Platte River, Colorado

2006

Boedecker Reservoir in Loveland and Front Range of Rocky Mountains

Colorado Division of Wildlife Habitat Stamp and Paddling

Boedecker Reservoir, Loveland, Colorado (State Wilderness Area)

What to buy together with your new camera? … 6 Tips from a Paddler Perspective

Shooting paddling movies with Pentax Optio WP and W10 and Sisson Nucleus

Review of 10 Compact Digital Cameras from BeHardware - In Search for a Perfect Paddler’s Camera

Pentax Optio W10 as a Helmet Cam - Inline Skating along the Cache la Poudre River

How to Activate the Shutter on a Camera Mounted on a Kayak Bow?

7 Pictures under Stormy Sky - Paddling Lonetree Reservoir in Colorado

Interval Shooting with Deck Mounted Pentax Optio W10 Camera

Rocky Mountain Front Range, Devil’s Backbone and Boedecker Lake

2007

Paddling Boedecker Reservoir in Thunderbolt-X kayak

Springtime Paddling on the Boedecker Reservoir at Loveland

Paddling in the Rain and Wind on the Horsetooth Reservoir

Photo Kayaker Top 5 Tips for Shooting Paddlers

Lichen Rock Art from Old Horsetooth Sandstone Quarries

Sticky Pod Review - A Suction Cup Camera Mount for Kayak Photography

3 Frames from the Horsetooth Reservoir - Mullein and Sandstone

More on the Sticky Pod and Two Suction Cup GPS Mount

North Platte River at Eagle Nest 36 Miles Downstream from Saratoga, Wyoming

3 Days on the North Platte River in Wyoming: from Treasure Island to Fort Steele

Paddling Pinewood Resevoir in Larimer County Parks, Colorado

Kayak and Canoe Storage Racks in my Boathouse Formerly Known as a Garage

Horizontal or Vertical? Two Pictures of the South Platte River at Wildcat Mound

Horizontal or Vertical? Two Pictures of Sunset over the Horsetooth Reservoir

Thunderbolt-X Kayak on the North Platte River, Wyoming - Video Clip

Dismal River of Nebraska Sandhills, Carhenge and Dobby’s Frontier Town

Searching for New Angles in Kayak Photography and Video

Would You Prefer a Wireless Sunset?

6 Sunset Pictures from 10 Minutes of Paddling on the Boyd Lake, Colorado

2008

North Platte River in Wyoming

Can I Fit the Sticky Pod Camera Mount on a Deck of My Kayak?

Temporary Lens Hood for Pentax Optio W30 Camera - Ugly, but Works

North Platte River from a Bow of Thunderbolt Kayak

Paddling North Platte River from Saratoga to Fort Steele

A New Shooting Angle - Camera Video Mast on Thunderbolt Kayak

Pentax Optio W60 - A New Waterproof Camera with More Pixels Is Coming

Paddling Workout with a Dog - Pixel in Sea Wind Canoe

Kayak and Water Photography by Jock Bradley

Canon EOS 40D, Programmable Selftimer, Sticky Pod and Sea Wind Canoe

Pixel, the Water Corgi, in Sea Wind canoe on Beaver Pond near Fort Collins

Paddling with Pixel, the Water Corgi

marek — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:54:11 +0000

I spent the Memorial Day weekend together with Connie and our two dogs at Saratoga, Wyoming. I raced in the Wyoming Outback Challenge, 44 miles on the North Platte River, on Sunday, but I also did some river runs before and after the race. In these two trips between Treasure Island and Pick Bridge I was accompanied in my Sea Wind Canoe by Pixel, our water Corgi.

Pixel has grown up with our Newfoundland girl, Dax, and is real water dog. We paddled together on my local lakes in northern Colorado and on the South Platte River. The North Platte was his debut on a bigger river with some waves and splashes. We paddled with a spraydeck on (except of posing for pictures below). These were short trips below 2 hours on a very fast river. Pixel was just sitting very calmly between my legs. Without a spraydeck he has tendency to walk around and climb to the deck.

He didn’t care about waves or wildlife. We were passing very close to geese, pelicans, a bald eagle, and deer. However, he growled at cows.

Horizontal or/and Vertical Format in Kayak Photography

marek — Sun, 17 May 2009 21:59:29 +0000

Like most paddlers I have a tendency to shoot pictures in a horizontal (landscape) format. It is more tricky to shoot in a vertical format from my tippy kayaks, especially, when I have to use a paddle to stabilize my camera.

Some subjects simply require the vertical (portrait) format. Sometimes the choice is not so obvious. Of course, the best solution is to shoot several pictures in both formats.

I posted below a few couples of pictures shot from the same spot in both vertical and horizontal formats. In all situations the traditional horizontal format work pretty well. However, the vertical framing allows me to show better an interesting sky or something dramatic in a foreground. Older pictures (2007) were shot with Pentax Optio W10, while newer (2009) with Optio W30 camera.

Horizontal or vertical? Which image version do you prefer in each case?

Sunset over the South Platte River at Wildcat Mound below confluence with the St Vrain Creek. June 2007.

Sunset over the Horsetooth Reservoir near Fort Collins shot from Thunderbolt-x kayak. June 2007.

Calm evening with Sea Wind canoe on the Lonetree Reservoir near Loveland. May 2009.

The same location and spot as above, but shot blind from over my head. I would prefer to place a horizon lower or higher in the vertical picture. The horizon exactly in the middle of the frame may work better in a more static horizontal composition. May 2009.

Jeremy Rodgers in a wildwater racing kayak below the Plumb Ditch Dam on the South Platte River. March 2009.

Paddling through Forest and Irrigation Ditches

marek — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:03:38 +0000

Lonetree Reservoir southwest of Loveland belongs to my favorite paddling waters in northern Colorado. You can always enjoy a nice view of Rocky Mountains Front Range. It is a great spot to shoot sunsets over mountains:
A Peaceful Sunset after a Heavy Gun Fire on the Lonetree Reservoir
5 Pictures in 1: HDR Image of Sea Wind Canoe and Colorado Sunset
Sunset Is Not Always Spectacular over the Front Range of Rocky Mountains
3 Pictures from Sunset Paddling in Northern Colorado

However, in springtime when reservoir is full it’s time to explore some hidden treasures - submerged cottonwood forest in different lake corners. Please note that the heron rookery is a restricted area.

During last few weeks I paddled different boats on the Lonetree Reservoir: Surfrigger (outrigger canoe), Thunderbolt-X kayak, and Sea Wind Canoe. I cannot take Surgrigger into tight passages between cottonwood trees.

There is a lot of floating debris after recent heavy rains. So, Sea Wind is the best choice for my exploration.

7 years ago I was training here with Spencer X-treme canoe for my first Texas Water Safari. I couldn’t find any other place in my vicinity to practice portaging over fallen trees and log jams.

At this high water level you can even escape the lake and explore some irrigation channels.

You can easily find the inlet of a supporting channel to the lake. It is a little water cascade over headgates when the lake is low, but at this time it was the same water level in the reservoir and channel. However, there is also another entry to that channel hidden in woods which I discovered this year. No portage.

Paddling away from the lake across farmland. Deep water, big fish, water foul.

How far can I go? County road 14 bridge.

About 0.5 mile from the lake - another headgate and my turning point

All pictures from a boat were shot with Pentax Optio W30 camera. They turned pretty good, especially, during the last paddling with overcast and a drizzle or rain. Paddling selfportraits were shot with Canon EOS D40 DSLR camera on a tripod with aid of the programmable self timer.

Returning back to the lake.

Paddling Photography in April (2005-2008)

marek — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:21:13 +0000

I am trying to return back to my older articles through “Paddling Photography a Year Ago” series. However, I am running this blog for over 5 years. So, today, I offer a look at selected April posts over the recent 4 years. I am writing a similar post in my Fitness Paddling blog as well.

Big Thompson River below Loveland

2005

Paddling and Exploring the Big Thompson River below Loveland, Colorado
Big Thompson River from I-25 to Hillsboro Dam
Paddling Upstream Can Be Faster than Downstream - Hail Storm on the Big Thompson
First Impressions of New Waterproof Camera - Pentax Optio WP
Big Thompson River with a New Pentax Optio WP Camera

North Platte River above Seminoe Reservoir in Wyoming

2006

No Viewfinder? 10 Tips on Shooting Pictures without Viewfinder
North Platte River in Wyoming above Seminoe Reservoir

Dear skull on the shore of Horsetooth Reservoir

2007

Ez-Vee Roof Racks from Kayak Pro - Review
Anybody Remembers C1 Canoe Racing on the South Platte River near Greeley?
Launching Thunderbolt Kayak on Horsetooth Reservoir from Lory State Park
20 Paddling and Photography Destinations - Wayfarer Trip Index
Paddling the Skeleton Coast
10 Tips How to Avoid Blurry Pictures when Shooting on Water
Blue Paddle from New Belgium through a Pinhole
Racing Kayaker and a Paddle Stroke - 4 Pictures by Björn Olin

Quarry Cove of the Horsetooth Reservoir

2008

Springtime Paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir
Paddling the Horsetooth Reservoir and Looking for the Past

Canon EOS 40D Camera on the Bow of a Racing Kayak

marek — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:47:03 +0000

I always carry one of my waterproof Pentax Optiocameras attached to a life jacket to document my paddling trips and races. The image quality is fine to display pictures on-line, but it may be not sufficient for commercial applications. Pictures shot with compact digital cameras usually show a lot of digital noise when examining at 100% view.

In November 2007 I started to sell my pictures through microstock agencies. It forced me to carry a DSLR camera for paddling trips. It is a little bit tricky in the case of a low volume racing kayak like my Thunderbolt-X. Most often, I just pack a camera with a tripod and shoot from land. However, I am also trying to shoot from a kayak cockpit or from a decked mounted camera.

This is the original my sticky pod, a camera mount with 3 suction cups, modified by adding a 1/4″ bolt. It is the same platform I am using for my telescoping video camera mast.

Now, we can add a tripod head. I am showing here my old 3-way Manfrotto/Bogen head great for shooting video. It provides much smoother controls and more solid mount than a simple knuckle coming with the sticky pod.

Canon EOS 40D camera with EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lensmounted on a front deck of my Thunderbolt-X kayak. This is my favorite lens for paddling or any shooting restricted to a single lens.

A wing paddle can be really wet… To protect the camera from splashes I am using a rain coat with a front glass from Ewa Marine. I bought it years ago for my camcorder and it fits pretty well my DSLR camera as well. I was not able to use the original lens hood inside this cover without vignetting, so I improvised a temporary paper hood.

Canon TC80N3 Timer Remote Controler attached to the camera also fits under the rain coat. It allows me to shoot pictures automatically with a desired frequency and delay.

This camera setup is pretty heavy and affects stability of the tippy Thunderbolt kayak! It is even more challenging if I move it forward to a narrow kayak bow. I would not leave it alone mounted on an empty kayak.

One of the pictures shot from the camera mounted in the front of the kayak cockpit on the Beaver Pond near Fort Collins. The light and scenery is not so great, but the camera setup work as expected. This picture is available for purchase from Featurepics.

Another shot looking backward from the kayak bow. Of course, this camera setup can be used only on calm water. The rain coat doesn’t protect a camera from waves or splashes coming from below. This picture is available for purchase from Featurepics

I am not really recommending it for use with racing kayaks, but it is not so risky with more stable and drier boats. I used this camera setup even without the rain coat on the front deck of Sea Wind canoe.