You have to love all the new advances in camera technology. New camera modes and capabilities are changing how we shoot. I’m getting ready to present at the KelbyOne Outdoor Photography Conference, and I will be talking about POV adventure sports photography. Point of View, or POV, is a great perspective for photographing adventure sports. This angle puts the viewer in the driver’s seat…whether it is paddling through whitewater, ice climbing or mountain biking. Many viewers will never participate in these extreme sport activities, but it is terrific to show them what it looks like while you are participating in them.
The challenge has always been how to trigger your camera during the activity. I normally use a fisheye or 14mm to photograph POV images, and while an electronic release is nice, sometimes I can’t let go of my paddle or ice axe to actually hit the shutter trigger. But with today’s cameras, I have a new option; self timer.
Now if you are thinking self timer is something you set for 10 seconds and one frame, think again. On my new Nikon bodies I can choose up to 9 frames, and space them up to 3 seconds apart. That equates to nearly 30 seconds of shooting. Instead of using a cable release or wireless trigger with my POV images, I just use my self timer. I set it for 9 frames a few seconds apart, press the shutter and start paddling, hiking or biking. The camera just clicks away and my hands are free to hold on to the handlebars. Interested in taking selfies? Want to photograph yourself hiking down the trail into the redwoods? Don’t forget about the expanded options on self timer mode…