Category "photo tips"

Paddling CLC Patuxent Kayak with a Telescoping Camera Mast

April 2010. Paddling CLC Patuxent 19.5 kayak with Canon Powershot G11 camera mounted on a telescoping mast assembled from a monopod and sticky pod platform.

Related post:
Paddling with Canon PowerShot G11 Camera on a Monopod Mast
Kayak Video Camera Mast – Sticky Pod Combined with Monopod
A Bird’s-Eye View of Kayaking with GoPro Hero Camera

Paddling Photography in April (2005-2008)

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.

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

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.

Kayak Video Camera Mast – Sticky Pod Combined with Monopod

A mast for kayak photography and video combining the sticky pod suction cup camera mount with a telescoping 50′ monopod.

Wildwater Racing Kayak on the South Platte River

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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 – New Waterproof Camera with Optical Image Stabilizer

Panasonic is entering a market for compact waterproof cameras represented by popular Pentax Optio W and Olympus Stylus SW series.

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.

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.