Shooting high quality pictures while paddling can be a challenge for many. Several years back the Go Pro became all the rage with outdoor enthusiast. I recently decided to acquire a waterproof camera to take both still image files and well as movie files. I opted for the Nikon AW120. I was not a big fan of the GoPro codex – that file format embedded in files. So I looked around for a better alternative. The AW120 allows me to shoot and edit in many programs straight away without additional file conversion. The camera is good down to 59 ft; a depth I don’t plan on taking it to. The video is full HD quality and a test of it’s quality can be seen on my YouTube channel or here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ek6fpe-sNU which is paddling on Lake Umbagog or here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYj4SLyXlHY which is a quick look at the new paddling trail that the North Texas Paddle Trails Association have help bring into being.

The Nikon AW120 allows me to tag my photos with GPS information and using a program like Adobe’s Lightroom, map out where the photo was taken later. The shot of the Houston Street bridge in Dallas was shot while working with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shooting a video for their programs that air on Saturday mornings here on KERA. It’s about the size of a pack of playing cards and uses the SD card to capture images.

I look forward to capturing many more on the water images with this camera in my bag now. It is also able to be used with wifi so the smart phone can be used to trigger it. I can mount it with my quick release that it’s pictured with, onto my tripod and start shooting with it at the front of my boat with me at the back. It does however require that both phone and camera be on prior to hitting start. I am hoping that’s enough time to get a shot started before I hit the rapids or I’ll be doing a lot of shooting backwards.

I can hear a bit of the motor noise when zooming in or out so that might be an issue if I was tracking something that I wanted to keep the sound from the camera. The GPS unit also includes a map which is quite detailed. All in all I am happy with the purchase. $289 via B&H photo.

You’ve heard the name, and everyone says, “Oh my, that’s a great place”. So you make a plan to go because the excitement of the crowd makes it sound  like fun. However, you’ve never been there and really really don’t know where it is that you’ll be going. So you plug in the name or address to your GPS or map program. It gives you directions. You put in a bookmark and start packing.  What you fail to do is confirm that it got it right. You just start following the little voice and NOT the one in your head but the little one from the GPS, “ turn left in a 1/4 mile onto State Route… “ You arrive and no one is there? Well 80 other people just didn’t get it wrong.

Before you go out on an adventure you should get a real paper map of the area you are going and get a rough idea where that is. Know the basic roads to  your destination and the main exit off the highway. If you are to meet people there it is a good idea to talk to them before you leave and confirm your route if you have not been there before. Ask about road side markers and road side  attractions that will tip you off to when to turn. Google earth is a great way to check on these things and while it doesn’t have all the roadways in America on street level view, it does have many of them. Let it show you what you might see when you get there.And if not there, somewhere before you get there; big red Barn or road side businesses.

You should get and keep with you, phone numbers of other participants and find out if they are on a text plan or smart phone before you go. Texting will many times get through even if a phone call doesn’t. Give yourself time to make mistakes in turns and for road side mishaps.

The US Forest Service has maps of the many areas. AAA is a good resource for maps. Stop at visitors centers when you enter new states as many of them will have free maps, and guides to things to do. 

http://www.google.com/earth/download/ge/agree.html

http://www.google.com/earth/explore/products/

http://www.fs.fed.us/maps/

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/08/27/2524501/hydro-pumped-storage-climate-change/