paddling with a camera

Tag: water

  • Water in Red Mountain Open Space – Fat Bike Exploration

    Water in Red Mountain Open Space – Fat Bike Exploration

    As a paddler I am always looking for water. Anytime! Anywhere!

    In November 2017 I made several visits to Red Mountain Open Space north of Fort Collins with my new Salsa Mukluk fat bike. I covered all possible trails. Technically, they are easy except some soft gravel and sand (many trails are going simply on dry stream beds or washes). I also did two loops in Soapstone Prairie Natural Area next door. You can check Red Mountain trails on MTB Project.

    And, I’ve found some water – not enough for paddling, but plenty for my photography. Here is a little picture story which includes also some images from earlier hiking.

    Sand Creek flows across the entire Red Mountain Open Space. You cannot ride a bike through this spectacular canyon. The Bent Rock Trail is for hiking only.
    Crossing the Sand Creek at high water may be a challenge, especially, along the Ruby Wash Trail where there are no stepping stones.
    Above the canyon, there is a little retention reservoir which turns into marsh in a dry season. Birds love it.
    If you ride the K-Lynn Cameron Trail you have chance to cross the Sand Creek twice and a few more times a smaller creek.
    Why not to ride along the creek? Well, let’s stay on the trail.
    It is difficult to catch water in Red Mountain in the form of snow since the area is closing for winter (December-February). I also believe that this area is getting less precipitation than Fort Collins. Anybody has some data?
    In the middle of November I had patches of snow in the Ruby Wash and some drift snow along the Cheyenne Rim.
    My favorite drinking hole at the top of Salt Lick Trail. I just cannot pass it without shooting some pictures. A sunset photo session means a crazy ride down on soft gravel of the Ruby Wash with a falling darkness. A fat bike is doing a pretty good job in these conditions. There are more water tanks for cattle in the area which is an active open range.
    A little bit of liquid gold – a stream disappearing at the bottom of Ruby Wash
    Of course, water shaped all canyons, arroyos and washes here, but that’s another story.
    Here is my Salsa Mukluk bike on slickrock at the upper Ruby Wash
    All pictures were shot with the mirrorless Sony A7R2 camera with Sony 24-70mm lens. The camera is mounted on a light Gitzo Mountaineer Tripod. This is my minimalist camera set for biking. I carry the camera and tripod in MindShift Rotation 180 Trail backpack.

    For hiking I usually take a heavier tripod and, perhaps, one more lens (wide angle or telephoto) in the same backpack.

    I am still trying to figure out how to carry the tripod on a bike. Handlebar, perhaps? In my other bikes, the tripod travels on rear racks.

    Related posts:
    10 pictures from Fat Bike Riding in Northern Colorado
    Searching for Paddling Water in Southern Colorado – Part 1 and Part 2
    Where to buy and license my pictures and video footage

  • Kayak and Water Photography by Jock Bradley

    I am just reading Kayaking for Fitness book by Jodi Bigelow. I am going to write a review of this book, but the first thing which grabbed my attention was a great photography by Jock Bradley. Certainly, it is inspiration for my picture shooting.

    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. You can see his portfolio dominated by kayaking and water themes on his web page: Jock Bradley Photography.

    Here is a quote from his professional bio:

    Early in my career it was clear that my eye was attracted to water. I found that I loved both the graphic power and the tranquil serenity it offered. Paying bills and raising a family led me along a more financially stable path of doing corporate assignments until about seven years ago. It was then, as a kayaker I decided to finally succumb to my true calling.

    At first it was just about athletes kayaking over waterfalls that captivated me. The graceful synergy of the kayaker as he avoided bodily injury or death while plummeting over a sixty-foot waterfall was fascinating. For a few years, I immersed myself and explored the creative depths of this genre. To celebrate this photographic chapter of my life I recently had a coffee table book published showcasing some of my favorite whitewater images.

    My vision has evolved from high-risk adrenaline activities to equally graphic and enduring images of people interacting with water. From kayaking, to yachting, to snow sports, anywhere there is water, you will find my camera focused on the activity.

    His pictures appear in several recent books on kayaking including Kayak Fishing, Sea Kayaking Rough Waters, and Canoe Camping. I am sure he is involved in more books, but it is not so easy to find them since the photographer is not usually listed as a book co-author.

    Related post: Kayak Photography Links – Tips and Hints for Paddling Photographers