paddling with a camera » digital archive

10 Minute Double Suction Cup Camera Mount for a Kayak Deck

marek — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:47:03 +0000

I discussed applications of suction cups from Sticky Pod in numerous posts in this blog – mounting different cameras or GPS units on a kayak deck. A single suction cup works usually pretty good for small waterproof cameras like GoPro Hero or Pentax Optio. However, things are getting a little bit awkward if your kayak has a steep deck with a ridge in the middle. It is the case of JKK Supernova kayak where it is not so easy to level and center a camera on a front deck. I also wanted to set up the camera a little bit above the deck.

The problem was solved with the two suction cup mount. I used the following basic ingredients:
- two suction cups (you can order then directly from Sticky Pod or from Amazon.com, for about $3 each)
- aluminum flat bar (1/8″ thick, 1″ wide) from your local hard store, the length depends on your design
- three 3/8″ bolts, two 3/4″ long and one 1/2″ (or you may need some spacers) and one nut
- a piece of some cord for a tether
It took me about 10 minutes to cut the aluminum bar, drill 3 holes, smooth sharp edges and bend it to a shape.

I added a small knuckle (ball head) to my mount. It provides easy way to control the camera position and is really useful for Pentax Optio or a similar camera. I needed a tripod mount adapter for the GoPro Hero. The knuckle is really not necessary in this case since a hinge allows for up and down camera adjustment, but it is still helpful. The picture shows the knuckle from Sticky Pod. I am also using a smaller and cheaper one made by Giotto.

Here is the GoPro Hero camera mounted on the front deck of JKK Supernova kayak (shot from a cockpit with Pentax Optio W30) and some pictures from a January paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir. The mount worked fine in very windy conditions. The camera mounted about 12″ above the deck is less likely to be hit by water splashes from my paddle.

During another paddling workout on the Horsetooth I set up the GoPro Hero a little closer to the cockpit, see picture examples here and here.

Paddling with Pixel on the North Platte River in Wyoming

marek — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:30:47 +0000

Paddling with Pixel, the “water” Corgi in Sea Wind canoe on the North Platte River below Saratoga, Wyoming (near Pick Bridge). May 30, 2009.

That was the weekend of the last Wyoming Outback Challenge, 44 mile paddling race from Saratoga to Fort Steele. The race was organized in 2007, 2008 and 2009, see the summary of results

The North Platte in Wyoming is one of my favorite rivers. I paddled the river from Benet Peak campground to Seminoe Reservoir and shorter section below Glendo and Guernsey Reservoirs.

Pixel is often my paddling companion when I have a chance to paddle Sea Wind in a more recreational mode.

Pentax Optio Camera in Action on the Horsetooth Reservoir

marek — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:27:45 +0000

Pentax Optio W30 camera in action during winter paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir near Fort Collins, shot with GoPro Hero camera mounted on a front deck of JKK Supernova kayak. January 29, 2012.

How to Operate a Remote Camera Mounted on a Kayak Bow or Mast

marek — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:15:17 +0000

I often shoot movie clips or still pictures in an interval mode (time lapse) with a camera mounted on a kayak deck or bow or on a mast, so out of reach from a cockpit. I am often asked how I am turning my camera on and off.

I am using two “paddling” cameras right now, Pentax Optio W30 and GoPro HD Hero, and I don’t really have a solution for a remote control.

I have to stop to turn a camera on/off. Since, I am usually paddling on small lakes or rivers it is my typical situation.
A camera is running until the memory card is full (not so difficult for shooting video).
A camera is running until a battery dies like in my 2010 Missouri River 340 race.
I have a paddling partner to help.
Or, you can build a folding mast which would allow you to reach a camera like Mark Sanders did.

Turning the camera on/off is a more problem when you are shooting video. You can shoot a huge amount of still pictures. From hundreds of pictures shot during a 1-2 hour paddling workout I can only select a few which I am ready to show here.

Remote Control

Pentax is offering a waterproof remote control which works with the newest models from their line of waterproof cameras: Pentax Optio W90 and Pentax Optio WG-1. It is fairly cheap at ~$20. If my Optio W30 dies I am going to upgrade to WG-1.

Are you using that Pentax remote control? Please share your experience!

A remote controller, Wi-Fi BacPac and Wi-Fi Remote. will be available for GoPro Hero cameras in February 2012. I’ve bought LCD BackPack for my GoPro – really helpful in setting the camera on a kayak and reviewing pictures or video. I believe that the new Wi-Fi BacPac is interchangeable with the LCD display.

Occasionally, I am mounting my Canon DSLR camera on a kayak deck, but that’s a different story and I don’t really recommend that.

3 Pictures from November Paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir

marek — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:07:11 +0000

Evening paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir with JKK Supernova sea kayak – warm and calm with a beautiful sunset.

I did about 10 miles from the South Bay to Orchard Cove and back. There was a construction going on a hill slope in the South Bay. A helicopter was carrying a load of concrete from a highway uphill. If these are residential houses they will not be cheap … And, a surprise: I met a sea kayaker in the northern part of the lake . He was paddling from the Satanka Cove. All boat ramps were closed, so no power boats.

All pictures were shot this time with Pentax Optio W30 which remains my main paddling camera. I am a few models behind the new developments in the Pentax line of waterproof cameras. Certainly, the newest addition, Pentax Optio WG-1, with GPS and waterproof remote looks interesting. There is also a cheaper version without GPS.

Windy Paddling with JKK Supernova Kayak and Sawyer Loon Canoe

marek — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:47:35 +0000

November 12, 2011. A very windy afternoon on Beaver Pond in Arapaho Bend Natural Area in Fort Collins. There were wind gusts up to 50 mph. I paddled JKK Supernova sea kayak and Rob Bean his Sawyer Loon canoe. Most of the time were hugging the west shore to get some protection from the wind.

All pictures were shot with GoPro HD Hero camera set in an interval mode (a still picture every 30s). The camera was mounted on a telescoping mast and Sticky Pod suction cups nn the stern deck of my kayak. The mast was extended to about 50″ above the deck. The camera was looking forward first, then I turn it 180 degrees to look back. Unfortunately, the camera was collecting some water splashes due to high wind.

A Bird’s-Eye View of Kayaking with GoPro Hero Camera

marek — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:44:39 +0000

A bird’s-eye view? Well, it’s more like a low flying goose perspective.

I am testing GoPro HD Hero camera mounted on a telescoping mast a few feet above kayak deck. My camera mast remains the same as described a couple years ago in this blog. A reversed Gitzo monopod is mounted on My Sticky Pod platform with three suction cups. I am using a toy table tripod at the top end of monopod as a tripod mount for a camera. I used plastic ties and gaffer tape there, so no permanent modifications or damages to my carbon fiber monopod were made.

The pictures come from a recent paddling on Beaver Pond (Arapaho Bend Natural Area, Fort Collins) with JKK Supernova sea kayak. The camera mast was set up on a back deck of the kayak. I cannot mount the sticky pod platform on the steep front deck with a center ridge. I would have to figure out some more creative approach. I mounted the GoPro Hero with a single suction cup in my recent paddling with this kayak.

GoPro LCD Bacpac, a detachable LCD screen is really helpful in setting up the camera and reviewing shots.

The camera was setup on a fully extended mast, i.e., about 60″ (152cm) above the deck. The stability of Supernova was not really affected. It was a different story with a more tippy Thunderbolt kayak. I wish I could place my DSLR camera, Canon 5D, that high in a kayak.

The camera was automatically shooting pictures every 30 seconds. It’s possible to select some decent shots from 700 frames. Of course, had also my Pentax Optio W30 handy. I am getting ready to shoot video.

The same position of the mast, but the camera was lowered by 4″.

The last frame with a 0.5s long exposure: finishing my paddling after the sunset.

South Platte River with GoPro Hero HD Camera and Thunderbolt Kayak

marek — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:29:46 +0000

I just started my 2011/12 cold season of paddling on the South Platte River. On October 14 I took the Thunderbolt kayak for upstream/downstream paddling workout starting at Kersey. I did a little bit more than 3 miles up river just passing the confluence with the Poudre River. It was a beautiful summer weather and the river had a good flow > 700 cfs.

I was testing my new GoPro HD Hero camera. I didn’t shoot video, but I started from my favorite interval mode taking still pictures every 60 seconds. I did a lot of this kind of shooting with my Pentax Optio cameras. GoPro Hero was mounted with a suction cup from Sticky Pod on the front deck of my kayak. A detachable LCD screen makes it much easier to position the camera and play back there results of your shooting. I will be reviewing features of the GoPro camera and different mountain options, especially, the GoPro Hero suction cup mount with my own based on Sticky Pod product.

The pictures turned to be pretty good. Of course, the pictures shot in full sun were in general too contrasty. For this post I choose pictures shot in a partial shadow or after sunset. The initial shot under the bridge, not particularly scenic spot, is quite interesting. The concrete bridge structure acted as a huge reflector. Well, it’s all about light.

During that trip I tested my new GoPro® HD Helmet HERO™ Camera

9 Pictures from September Paddling in Northern Colorado

marek — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:48:57 +0000

My September paddling near Fort Collins in northern Colorado: three lakes and three different boats. All pictures were shot with paddling camera on duty – Pentax Optio W30.

I am a couple version behind the newest Optio models, but my W30 is still working perfectly. It’s always tethered to my life jacket, so I cannot lose it. I wonder if somebody has experience with the newer waterproof cameras from Pentax Optio W90 and Optio WG-1 Adventure Series, and, especially, with the waterproof infrared remote control. It looks interesting and is quit cheap (~$20).

Beaver Pond in Arapaho Bend Natural Area in Fort Collins. The pond is pretty low right now.

I paddled my WSBS Thunderbolt kayak there recently.

There are a lot of geese and other birds.

Horsetooth Reservoir Sunrise Area with access from the Centennial Road just south of the Soldier Dam.

This swimming beach is my recent launching spot. It’s pretty rocky at the current low water level and I wouldn’t recommend it for launching at strong wind conditions,

Arthurs Rock at Lory State Park as seen from the board of my Sea Wind canoe at Quarry Cove.

My Patuxent 19.5 kayak at the Gross Reservoir west of Boulder. Patuxent built from CLC kit 12 years ago deserves a new layer of paint and varnish.

Inlet of the South Fort of Boulder Creek into the Gross Reservoir. The last weekend of boating season there.

Getting a little closer – almost whitewater paddling. The reservoir is pretty high for this time of the year.

Sea Wind Canoe on the Loveland Pass

marek — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:53:33 +0000

Last Sunday, when returning from the Colorado River Race in Glenwood Canyon, I drove over the Loveland Pass to avoid delays in the Eisenhower Tunnel. It didn’t help much. I was still stuck in a traffic below the tunnel. However, I enjoyed a few stops at highway 6 at and below the Loveland Pass. It was foggy, cloudy and mysterious. Time to time I could see the slow traffic on the Interstate 25 below.

This year, I paddled my Sea Wind Canoe in the Colorado River Race. I got a really good workout there. The race was dominated by SUPs (stand-up paddlers). You can find some pictures from the race and more commentary on the Fitness Paddling blog.