Actually, I had two short paddling and photography workout on Horsetooth Reservoir during the Thanksgiving Day weekend. In both cases I launched Thunderbolt kayak from Lory State Park at North Eltuck Cove. The water level is very low right now, so it required 0.25 mile walking to reach water from a parking spot. It was much longer walk than showed by my video clip from April 2007, but still only about 7 minutes.

Weather was great, sunny and warm during day, and getting pretty chilly after sunset. These deep coves on western side of the Horsetooth are going into shadow of mountains at least one hour before official sunset time. There was some snow on northern slopes and a little of coastal ice.

I did some self shooting with my new Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera with 24-1045 mm zoom lens mounted on a tripod with a time controller. Pictures from a kayak were taken with Pentax Optio W30.

Related posts:
Paddling Horsetooth Reservoir in Winter Scenery (March 2009)
Launching Thunderbolt Kayak on Horsetooth Reservoir from Lory State Park (April 2007)
Paddling Horsetooth Reservoir (River) 6 Years Ago
Paddling and Photographing the Horsetooth Reservoir in Northern Colorado (March 2007)
A New Shooting Angle – Camera Video Mast on Thunderbolt Kayak (June 2008)
Paddling and Photographing the Horsetooth Reservoir near Fort Collins, Colorado (November 2007)
Paddling in the Rain and Wind on the Horsetooth Reservoir (May 2007)
Paddling the Skeleton Coast (April 2007)
Horsetooth Reservoir paddling photography at Mountain Wayfarer (2000-2004)

In November 2007 I started to sell my pictures through microstock agencies. In addition to a waterproof Pentax Optio W30 camera I often carry my DSLR camera, Canon EOS D40, with a tripod 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. I am also trying to mount my camera on a kayak deck with the sticky pod.

Here are examples of my stock paddling photography from Kayak and canoe collection at Dreamstime, one of my microstock agencies.

My paddling pictures do not sell so well on microstock, at least, in comparison to my table studio production which actually brings me some money. However, is so much more fun to shoot outdoors, so I will keep paddling with a camera.

I am describing my experience with microstock photography including monthly earnings reports in Pixels Away microstock blog.

Canon EOS 40D Camera on the Bow of a Racing Kayak
WSBS Thunderbolt-X Kayak on the Lonetree Reservoir
My microstock referral links for photographers:
Dreamstime, ShutterStock, BigStockPhoto, 123RF, FeaturePics, Panthermedia, CanStockPhoto

Here is a little picture gallery featuring Jeremy in his wildwater kayak from the recent paddling on the South Platte River (Sunday, March 15).

My WSBS Thunderbolt-X kayak shot after sunset at Beaver Pond in Arapaho Bend Natural Area in Fort Collins. Camera: Canon EOS 40D on a tripod.

Jock Bradley is considered to be one of the finest kayaking photographers in the world. His images have appeared in countless magazines such as Canoe and Kayak, Paddler, Kayak Session, Men’s Journal, Outside, National Geographic Adventure and Sports Illustrated. A few years ago he published “Torrent” – a coffee table book collection of his finest whitewater images.

Dusk on the South Platte River below the Plumb Ditch Dam near Greeley. The picture was shot during a short evening paddling workout with Thunderbolt kayak starting at the Mitani-Tokuyasu State Wilderness Area (open till the end of February only) above Kersey.

I often use a paddle to stabilize my Pentax Optio camera, especially, when paddling rather tippy boat like Sisson Nucleus or Spencer X-treme. It serves two functions: 1. To have your paddle ready for bracing. 2. To avoid shaking the camera when pressing a shutter button.