Getting Photos While Riding

A lot of people post photos taken during their rides and some appear to be on the bike shots. My parents bought me a digital camera for my birthday, I feel like I have joined the 21st century. :p It is so small and thin it could easily stash in a jersey pocket but I had pondered mounting it to my road handlebars so I don't miss a good shot. Do you photo junkies just stop for a shot? Good thing I have been working for some time on riding with no hands. ;)

I am not sure the model would matter but it is this one.

I usually have to stop because I don't ride one handed well. If you could stand it , could you have the camera fastened to a lanyard on a neck strap or something? I can't always conveniently retieve stuff out of my back pocket.

My husband gave me a Nikon Coolpics last Christmas (2007) I have yet to remember to bring it on a ride. Knowing myself too well, I would not be able to take a pic while riding. I would also have to stop and take a pic.

I also just opened a photobucket account so I can reformat pics to post when I begin taking them.

~ JoAnn

I can ride a long time with no hands, but I wouldn't do it while staring through a camera lens. I have snapped camera-phone shots while riding one handed, though. If you want a good shot, stop the bike.

Karen

On the bike shots can be really cool.

http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...7-06/mv-05.jpg

Thom got this one shooting over his shoulder while we descended. You do have to figure out what your camera sees without looking through the lens. The nice thing about digital - if you don't like the picture you can just delete it. :p

http://www.tandemhearts.com/coppermi...e/P1000350.jpg

He got this one while riding beside me. Obviously, he is much better at on the bike shots than I am.


I don't know how many shots have been of the ground, or a knee, half a foot... Some of those unintended shots can be really interesting too though.

If it's scenery, you want to shoot, than stop the bike, so you can get the framing you want.

Veronica

Yeah this camera is one of the point and shoot types, no view finder like a traditional camera. It has a big screen like a lot of digitals have gone to.

Maybe I need a handlebar bag to keep it handy? My handlebars are only 38 cm, there isn't much real estate. After the hoods and cables I not sure you can get anything and then on a 47 cm frame the wheel is like rightthere. I guess what I was thinking of it some of the spots in the hillier areas the best shots were in action or it was hard to stop. DH is great at the on the bike shots.

And now V has made me jealous, you do realize you live in spectacular country? I love the mountains, I fell in love with the northern Bay Area. :( Why are they all coming to Texas?

I keep mine in a bento box on my top tube on long rides. I don't prefer to keep food in there - so it's nice for the camera (or cell phone).

CA

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

I keep mine in a bento box on my top tube on long rides. I don't prefer to keep food in there - so it's nice for the camera (or cell phone).

CA

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Which bento model do you have? The only one I have seen at the LBS doesn't seem like it would hold chap stick but we have about 568 tri shops around town.

This looks like the same size I have: http://www.polardiscount.com/scripts...?idProduct=109

I think most LBS's can order, but I'm not sure....

CA

I'm impressed by the clarity of those shots Veronica. Your hubby has a steady hand. ...

In my fantasy would be a super light camera that could be mounted on top of helmet and attached would be a cable that would have finger tip control to shift the lens up and down..to take shots as I look around. Or mount the camera backwards on top of helmet.

Whoever invents this..would win big in patent for cycling world

Tiny cameras have a existed for several decades....in medicine for our body parts, for engineering sector to determine mechanical problems in wirelines, engines, industrial surveillance & spying.. they put cameras in sprinkler heads,etc.

Mine is in my bento box too. And easy to access. I take photos while riding, and have even done video. I'm still working on my technique and a lot of video begins and/or ends with pictures of the road and my voice saying - better hold on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np5lj3kd0Y8 It looks way better on the computer, I've yet to really understand how to get the best quality on youtube.
I used the video I shot along with lots of pics by me and mostly my brother in law (he's the one you can see riding with no hands and snapping pics) and put them all together with music and made a 12 minute video of our ride. I love my new Mac. :)

I usually just have mine in my pocket and I stop to take pics... I'd somewhat worry with it mounted to the handlebar in case I crashed... but there's still that worry when it's just in my pocket.

If I'm riding with a pack, I just put the camera in it's case on my shoulder or chest strap of the pack.

I have a Canon point-and-shoot that I keep in my back jersey pocket. I let the wrist strap hang out so I can grap it (securely) and take pictures on the move. You get much more dynamic pictures that way (as you can see...I'm usually at the BACK of the group! :rolleyes:).

Pics while riding:

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/IMG_0445.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/IMG_0637.jpg

Versus pix while hangin' out (of course...pictures while mtb'ing I think will be tough while moving anyway):
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/IMG_0623.jpg
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...s/IMG_0143.jpg

When DH and I are riding tandem, I'm designated photographer. We have an Olympus that is waterproof, crush proof and drop proof (1.5m). Haven't tested the drop proof part (thank goodness) however I just stash it is his jersey pocket in front of me and I take photoa all around- very funny in a paceline looking backwards!

DH is also very good at taking photos one handed while riding on his own.

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Originally Posted by Possegal

Mine is in my bento box too. And easy to access. I take photos while riding, and have even done video. I'm still working on my technique and a lot of video begins and/or ends with pictures of the road and my voice saying - better hold on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np5lj3kd0Y8 It looks way better on the computer, I've yet to really understand how to get the best quality on youtube.
I used the video I shot along with lots of pics by me and mostly my brother in law (he's the one you can see riding with no hands and snapping pics) and put them all together with music and made a 12 minute video of our ride. I love my new Mac. :)

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What a GREAT PATH!!!!

and great pics from the others!!



~ JoAnn

I have an Olympus that fits nicely in my jersey pocket but I think I am going to try a bento box for the next long ride. I took these while riding:
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...nifer/HFH3.jpg
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...nifer/HFH7.jpg

On the rare occasions when I have brought my camera on rides, I kept it in my handlebar bag along with my cell phone, ID, keys, and other stuff. But I like the bento box idea. I'm planning to bring the camera with me more in the future, and since I always stop in order to take a picture, it will be faster if the camera is easier to access.

The Bike Doctor bike shop in Vancouver BC has a "tripod" one can attach to the bike's handlebars to attach a camera. Most cameras have a threaded hole to attach to a tripod.

Google bicycle camera mount to find interesting ways to build one yourself!

I have a small cannon that I can pull out of a jersery pocket while riding. It's ok, but the shots can get blurry if the road isn't smooth. I'd love a more expensive point and shoot with a stabilizer built in (I'm not even sure they make one!).

One problem with the jersery pocket is that during the summer, my body heat often fogs up the lens. :o That's when I started using my bento box! (plus, I'm faster getting it out of the bento box than I was the jersey pocket).

It really helps to practice and take LOTS of photos. The photo of me in my avatar was taken by someone who takes TONS of on bike shots - 1/3 of which don't come out and 2/3rds of which are amazing!

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Originally Posted by arielmoon

I think I am going to try a bento box

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I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Even though a small camera like that doesn't have a lot of optics to get jostled out of place, it could happen. Keeping your camera in your pocket gives it a smoother ride.

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

I have a small cannon that I can pull out of a jersery pocket while riding. It's ok, but the shots can get blurry if the road isn't smooth.

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I really hope it's a Canon you're talking about, otherwise those "blurry" cannon shots could hurt innocent bystanders!! :p

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Originally Posted by Grog

I really hope it's a Canon you're talking about, otherwise those "blurry" cannon shots could hurt innocent bystanders!! :p

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Why...I'd love to take out a small cannon against bystanders sometimes! :D:cool:

Grog- I thought about a Gorillapod they sell at REI because the camera does video but again the tiny handlebars. :( I still want a Gorillapod for hiking so I might just try it on the bike too.

GLC- This camera has image stabilization. That was the number 1 priority for my mom when shopping since I have a neurological tremor. Hopefully since Texas is the chip seal capital of the world it will help with that too. The purple was icing on the cake! :D

Zen- I wonder if I lined the Bento Box with foam to absorb shock if that would help? With our 90 degree weather arriving late March and staying until October I hate sweating a bunch on the camera from it being in my pocket. I was kinda liking the Bento idea but I do wonder about bumpy and jostling. This isn't a super pricey camera but still I can't afford to break it being careless.

My bento is made out of foam. I usually just put it in there in a baggie. Hasn't bothered it yet (Canon SD 400).

CA

I would think if you line the bottom of the bento box with foam, it should be fine. Those little cameras don't weigh that much. Then you could tether the camera to your handlebars or top tube, just make sure the tether isn't so long that the camera will go into your front wheel if you do drop it!

Craft stores usually have foam rubber... in a variety of densities including a density to match the foam that lines Pelican and Halliburton cases that protect heavy camera equipment worth tens of thousands of dollars.

The way I sweat, I'd never put a camera in my jersey pocket. Once my Ziploc bag has gotten a little bit of wear and a few microscopic holes in it, I'll typically soak through whatever cash is in there. I haven't fried a phone yet <touch wood> but I keep waiting for it to happen.

Lightweight helmet cams (that can also be mounted to frames etc.) are widely available, just Google. I know the Aerostich catalog has at least one. AFAIK they only shoot video, but it's easy enough to capture still images from your video.

Oh yeah, helmet cam is going on my anniversary or Christmas wish list so I can record my mountain biking shenanagins and debacles. :p;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Grog

I really hope it's a Canon you're talking about, otherwise those "blurry" cannon shots could hurt innocent bystanders!! :p

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Yes, yes...the Canon is for the photos...the cannon is for the crazy drivers. Duh! :p

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Originally Posted by Possegal

Mine is in my bento box too. And easy to access. I take photos while riding, and have even done video. I'm still working on my technique and a lot of video begins and/or ends with pictures of the road and my voice saying - better hold on.

I used the video I shot along with lots of pics by me and mostly my brother in law (he's the one you can see riding with no hands and snapping pics) and put them all together with music and made a 12 minute video of our ride. I love my new Mac. :)

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I love my Mac too! I prefer to stop and take pics, but my husband sets down a blistering pace and doesn't like to stop. I learned out of necessity, how to take pictures on the roll (we've ridden many miles on the Katy Trail in Missouri and I didn't have one pic to show for it). I used to keep my camera in my handlebar bag, but digging around in there while moving was by far more hazardous than the picture taking. Now I keep my camera in my back jersey pocket. I just got a Bento Box at the end of summer last year, and I think that will work great. I'm careful to only take pics on trails with no oncoming traffic--and have also taken lots of pics of the road, my feet and the occassional video--on accident (they're pretty entertaining).

My family knows when I ride ahead or drop to the back, the camera is coming out. As any photog knows, the best shots are gone unless you keep that camera handy.....

I wish I didn't need a PC to tap into work, I used Macs through high school (1st gen of the colored ones) and college. I really would love to have one at home. :rolleyes:

Taking photos solved part of the speed difference issue between my husband and I. (He's the fast one, not me.)

On long, scenic rides, he's responsible for the camera, and has to take so-many pictures an hour. So he has to stop. He will also ride ahead and catch me on an uphill or downhill or with some nice background.

Now and then I pick up the camera so there can be some pictures of him, too.

I don't like taking that many photographs, but whatever it takes to even our speed up works for me.

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Originally Posted by GLC1968

One problem with the jersery pocket is that during the summer, my body heat often fogs up the lens. :o

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I second that. I carried a camera at the Hotter n hell hundred and all my pictures during the ride had a big fog spot right in the middle! Really ticked me off that I carried the extra weight for nothing!

The only thing I want in my jersey pocket on a hot summer ride is a sandwich bag full of ice.

Getting pictures can be tricky in winter (due to heavy gloves) but in summer I just pull my very old canon from the back pocket and snap picture either forward or over my helmet back (those often are quite crooked :p ). I always make sure to put the camera back with the lens facing out (not towards my body). I actually trained to take the camera out of the pocket and put it back so it would be always exactly in position as I want to.

Here are some of my pics I took while riding:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/...59b62b57_b.jpg
( I like this one because one can see the motion on the side of the pics but the center is somewhat sharp )

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/...0d5ece1598.jpg


And of course, one can take pictures of herself (so vain!) :o
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/...fe1e281432.jpg

There are many helmet cams - mostly advertise on motorcycle forums - which do take pictures (remote control) or videos. They are sold as a whole setups and the last time I looked, it was around $300 for helmet cam, wires, the actual camcorder and everything else.

Martina

I've tried to take photos whilst riding but it never works!

Ian has a helmet cam & if i can ever figure out how to post them on photobucket, i'll link it here.

Martina,

Great pics!!! what path is the first pic since you I think you are from NYC, I am from LI and have ridden the Putnam Rail to Trails in Westchester. Is that the path?

Thanks
JoAnn

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Originally Posted by Jo-n-NY

Martina,

Great pics!!! what path is the first pic since you I think you are from NYC, I am from LI and have ridden the Putnam Rail to Trails in Westchester. Is that the path?

Thanks
JoAnn

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Yeah - I am from Manhattan :) and I love the Putnam Rail to Trails in Westchester ... We usually take train to Brewster and ride all the way to NYC or ride from NYC to Yorktown Heights and back (about 90 miles roundtrip to Columbus Circle).

However, the first pics is from MS bike ride and it is taken on the River Road (cross the George Washington Bridge), turn left and descent to an access road to all Hudson river marinas. It is an awesome road (a bit hilly) which joints 9w at Alpine Police Station. If you want, I can send you more info.

JoAnn, are you from NYC? We should ride together ...

Martina

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Originally Posted by Tuckervill

I can ride a long time with no hands, but I wouldn't do it while staring through a camera lens.

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That's impressive! I still won't/can't ride without hands. I have a knack for falling. ;)

Martina,

I am from Long Island. My husband and I drive to Pleasantville and park in a lot down the road from one of the Pace Univ campus's. We have stopped at Yorktown and the last time we rode we went to the end which was 25 miles one way. It is a wonderful path.

It has been about 2 years since we road this path and knew that they were extending it. Are you saying it now goes to Brewster?

We am hoping to ride this trail again this year. My husband is going through some medical issues and I am hoping they will be resolved so we can get on with what we enjoy most.

Thank you for the info and when I will let you know when we plan on riding the Putnam trail.

~ JoAnn