paddling with a camera

Tag: Fort Collins

  • Blue Stand Up Paddling in Arapaho Bend Natural Area

    Blue Stand Up Paddling in Arapaho Bend Natural Area

    paddling in blue: blue sky, blue paddleboard, blue paddler, blue leash ...?

    Paddling in blue: blue sky, blue paddleboard, blue paddler, blue leash … Happy accident or conscious color selection? I am not sure.

    This picture in from my morning paddling in May on Beaver Pond in Arapaho Bend Natural Area, one of many natural areas in Fort Collins along the Poudre River. It was shot with Sony RX0-2 camera from a water level. The camera was probably partially submerged. This low angle gives very nice reflections, but the result is always quite unpredictable.

    small waterproof action camera in a rugged cage

    The paddleboard is not recognizable above, but it is 17.6’x24″ Mistral Stealth, my favorite board in 2020.

    You can find more of my recent pictures from paddling on instagram, but I will try to share some stories here.

    Related posts:

  • Paddling Horsetooth Reservoir (River) 6 Years Ago

    During two years, 2001 and 2002, the Horsetooth Reservoir near Fort Collins, Colorado, was drained to just few % of its capacity to allow repairs to the main dam. The 6 mile long lake was reduced to three ponds connected by long narrow channels with some whitewater. The flow was supported by water diverted from the Colorado River within the Big Thompson Project.

    Paddling was very interesting, but quite challenging in these narrows channels with a strong current. It was quiet, no motorboats since boat ramps didn’t reach water. Low water uncovered many structures at the lake bottom.

    Below you can find 10 selected pictures from these dry years on the Horsetooth. For more pictures and stories visit Mountain Wayfarer: Horsetooth 2001 and Horsetooth 2002. I believe that all pictures were shot with my first digital camera, Canon PowerShot S40.

    Horsetooth Reservoir winter

    stone fence posts

    paddling Horsetooth Reservoir

    Horsetooth Reservoir

    whitewater at Horsetooth Reservoir

    Horsetooth Reservoir

    Horsetooth Reservoir

    Horsetooth Reservoir


  • Less Paddling, More Photowalking, Shooting, and Experimenting with HDR

    I haven’t paddled much during last weeks due to a tendonitis in my right wrist. I believe the problem is more related to the overuse of a computer mouse than paddling. The wrist does not really bother me when paddling – I completed the MR340 Race in July without a problem. Nevertheless, it seem that paddling does not help in recovery. So, less or no paddling, but more biking, inline skating or just walking with the camera.

    Here is a little gallery of pictures shot during my recent photo walking. They are all HDR (High Dynamic Range) images combined from multiple frames with a different exposure. They were shot with Canon EOS 40D camera and Canon EFs 17-55 mm lens on a tripod and saved as RAW. Multiple exposures were processed into HDR images with Photomatix software using detail enhancer for tone mapping.

    The last sunset image comes from my paddling on the Lonetree reservoir, but was shot from a shore with my DSLR camera. I haven’t had much success in an attempt to use my Pentax Optio W30 camera for HDR. It is difficult not to shake this little camera when changing exposure time even if it is mounted on a tripod.


    Miller Block at historic old town of Fort Collins
    Miller Block at historic old town of Fort Collins, Colorado, just after the sunset. 3 exposures +/- 1.5EV


    Union Pacific boxcar, Fort Collins, Colorado
    Union Pacific boxcar covered with a colorful graffiti on the siding track near Harmony Mill, Fort Collins. Abandoned? A home of homeless? 3 exposures +/- 2EV

    grain elevator, Pierce, Colorado
    Old abandoned grain elevator in Pierce, Colorado after heavy rain. 3 exposures +/- 1EV.


    Lonetree Reservoir, Colorado
    Sunset over Rocky Mountains Front Range and Lonetree Reservoir. 5 exposures +/- 1EV.

    It is the same sunset as in 5 Pictures in 1: HDR Image of Sea Wind Canoe and Colorado Sunset. The above pictures can be ordered as royalty free from FeaturePics (different sizes and license types including free thumbnails for blogging).