Posts by Marek

Car Photography Session on the South Platte River

I started my winter paddling season on the South Platte River in the middle of November. It was a short trip, rather a photo session. The goal was to photograph old cars on the river shore at the Patterson Ditch dam.

My Collection of Pentax Optio Waterproof Cameras

April, 2005.
I had been thinking for a longer while about taking a camera for Texas Water Safari, 260 mile non stop race down the San Marcos and Guadelupe Rivers. My first digital camera, Canon PowerShot S40 in its waterproof case was just too heavy to carry it through all portages and logjams of the race. So, I bought Pentax Optio WP, the first waterproof compact digital camera, as soon as it was available.

Canon PowerShot G10 with Waterproof Case for Paddling?

I am quite happy to paddle and shoot with Pentax Optio “W” cameras as long as producing pictures to be displayed online. They are waterproof, compact, easily accessible in any conditions. The image quality is OK for a blog or website, but usually there is just too much of digital noise for some commercial applications. So, for my stock photography, I am carrying my DSLR camera, Canon EOS 40D. It may be a rather challenging task if I paddle a racing boat like my Thunderbolt-X kayak.

In the search for some alternative solutions I have been watching evolution of Canon PowerShot G series cameras. Canon offers waterproof cases for them.

Are My Paddling Days Over?

I posted this little photo story in December 2006. It happens again! Beaver Pond is frozen, but Horsetooth Reservoir is still open and the South Platte River is flowing as usual.

Some posts from winter paddling:

Winter Dusk on the South Platte River

Winter Afternoon on South Platte River with Thunderbolt-X Kayak

Winter Canoeing on the South Platte River in Northern Colorado

Climbing Snowdrifts on the South Platte River with Thunderbolt Kayak

Paddling during Duck and Goose Hunting Season on South Platte River?

My First Paddling on the South Platte River near Greeley

On the Icy South Platte River with Pentax Optio W10 Camera and Thunderbolt Kayak

Sea Wind, the Icebreaker – Paddling Video Clip from Northern Colorado

Sea Wind on the Horsetooth Reservoir – Colorado Winter Paddling Video

My Favorite Kayaking Self Portrait

September 2006. Lonetree Reservoir in northern Colorado. Kayak: Sisson Nucleus 100. Camera: Pentax Optio W10 mounted with the sticky pod suction cup of the side of a kayak bow and set in an interval mode.

This Is the Sea 4 by Justine Curgenven

Featuring 3 fascinating expedition stories Haida culture & humpback whales around British Columbia s Queen Charlotte islands; island hopping from Australia to Tasmania across the Bass Strait; & a 2400km trip around the stunning South island of New Zealand complete with intimidating surf & a helicopter evacuation. Rough water rolling, Greenland rope gymnastics & commando kayaking with DUBSIDE, Kayak fishing in San Diego, Rock hopping in Baja, kayak games with father and son in Norways stunning fjords, paddling the Dead Sea in Israel, Seakayaking the Grade 4 Ottawa River, Lake Superiors Apostle islands, and more ..

This is something I would like to get as a Christmas gift.

I bought all three previous movies from the “TITS” series by Justine Curgenven and I am returning to the them quite often. I am watching not only sea kayaking in great presentation, but I am exploring how these videos were shot and what can I implement into my own attempts in making paddling movies.

This is the Sea 1
This is the Sea 2
This is the Sea 3
This is the Sea 4

Thunderbolt-X Kayak Portrait

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.

That Damn Noise in Video Recording from a Digital Camera

Pentax Optio W60 is making a ratcheting type sound while taking videos …

Good news: Your camera is not broken! Bad News: It is normal, unfortunately. These little cameras are very good in recording noise from lens mechanism/motor when zooming or autofocusing.

Olympus 1030SW, 1050SW, Pentax Optio W30, W60 – Comparison of Waterproof Cameras

Pentax has released 5 models in their Optio “W” line of compact waterproof cameras: WP, WPi, W10, W30 and W60. I have been using three of them: the original WP, then W10 and W30. Number of models in Olympus Stylus SW line of waterproof and shockproof cameras is equally impressive: 720, 770, 790, 1030, and 1050 (models available on US market).

Below, I tried to compare selected specifications of the newest models from Pentax and Olympus. Pentax Optio W60 seems to be a progression from earlier W30 while Olympus Stylus SW 1050 is adding some new features (a tap control) but at the same time is packed in less robust case than the 1030SW.

Related posts:
Poll: Your Paddling Camera
Waterproof Digital Cameras for Paddling and Water Sports – A Shopping Guide
10 Reviews of Pentax Optio W60
10 Reviews of Pentax Optio W30
3 Reviews of Olympus Stylus 1050 SW
3 Reviews of Olympus Stylus 1030 SW