Commuting - Who carries a camera when commuting?

After last night I have a reason to start, and for once it's something positive. The rain of yesterday was clearing up just as I rode home. As I rounded the pretend "corner" at narrowneck to put me back on the beach front, I chanced a glance over the South Pacific, and saw two huge rainbows lighting up the sky over the ocean. This was reflecting off the remaining clouds, making for one of the most spectacular skies I've ever seen in these parts!

The only downside, is that I don't have a permanent reminder of it.

Cameras that you would carry on your bike hardly ever capture the depth of rainbows... ;)

Perhaps, but I saw plenty of people trying last night, it really was spectacular. In anycase, I'd rather try and fail myself than sit here wondering about it.

i sometimes bring my digi cam. its bulky, but i know ill find a nice scene to snap if i don't bring it anyhow.

I will be carrying a camera when I go anywhere now....I just got a digital camera for my b-day. Yippee!!

Congrats, Vicki! I must have missed the announcement on the main page. I'll refrain from asking that question. Hope you had a good one.

I don't carry mine all the time. It is simply to big to carry easily. Perhaps Santa will bring me a new smaller one for Christmas. :D

I often carry mine, especially with panniers, or my messenger bag. As has been said, you never know when the picture will be there. I would like to upgrade to a better digi, like a 4 or a 5 megapixel. My 35 mm are too bulky to carry. I did find a small REI tripod that has worked great for me. And since a lot of what I shoot I post, digital is what I use.

You know, I have been lugging the work digital camera (Canon A70) backwards and forwards with me for months, and only once have I used it... to get a shot of how workmen should set up warning signs, cones and bunting when they work on an arterial bike path. The rest of the time, it remains in the pannier, batteries winding down, unused. I just cna't be bothered stopping. I suppose if I fit up the handlebar bag (I just bought another Topeak one that looks like it's really the goods), and keep it there, I might use it more.

FWIW, I think memories are things that stay with us for a long time. And with a bit of imagination... well, they get better and better. Photopraphs, on the other hand, tell it as it was, which can be a bit ho-hum.

I took heaps of pictures in Europe last year, but I haven't really shown anyone because, who'd be interested? The stories that I tell, on the other hand, I don't have trouble repeating!

Cameras that you would carry on your bike hardly ever capture the depth of rainbows... ;)

True... This is one of the better ones I've managed to shoot but it still seems muted compared to real-life.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/rainbow_searching/PICT0003_001.jpg

Someone should make rainbow colored bibs ala "Mork and Mindy" or "Linux geek" style.

Congrats, Vicki! I must have missed the announcement on the main page. I'll refrain from asking that question. Hope you had a good one.

Her birthday isn't till the 17th, so it must have been an early birthday present!

Now we want some pictures, you guys!

I have been wanting to carry a camera along, but have it in a very accessible place. I've thought about some sort of handlebar bag/holster. I want to just reach in a grab the camera, but also have it secure enough that it does come out on bumps. It just slows things down to have to stop, fish the camera out of the pannier, take a few shots, then stow the camera back.
Too many nice views...like this one this morning.
http://monarch.gsu.edu/jeff/commute/atlanta_sept10_04.jpg

I see some of the keenest things when riding, but when I carry my camera, it's like an insurance policy - nothing exciting or out the ordinary, but I carry it whenever I can remember to stuff it in the crumpler.

I've seen chest straps that hold cameras, but I always forget to pick one up when I have the extra cash to spare, so I'll probably rig one up out of old camelbacks or something...

The photo, if it shows up, I took on the way to work a few weeks ago when I was lucky enough to catch keen sunrise. Not the best composition or anything, but only had a second to grab it before a car ruined the moment :D

I try to take mine. I often see something that I'd really like a photo of... like a freak snowfall in some inappropriate month:

http://thechrisproject.com/images/snow1/snow1.jpg
http://thechrisproject.com/images/snow1/snow2.jpg
http://thechrisproject.com/images/snow1/snow4.jpg

I have one (single-use), but it's for the cynic in me. It's in case someone decides to sideswipe or otherwise hit me. I have one in my glovebox of my car in case of an accident. That way I can document it on the spot (their car and mine).

Nice snow photos! Esp the one w/the bikes. I love bikes in thesnow.

I try to take mine. I often see something that I'd really like a photo of... like a freak snowfall in some inappropriate month:

http://thechrisproject.com/images/snow1/snow1.jpg
http://thechrisproject.com/images/snow1/snow2.jpg
http://thechrisproject.com/images/snow1/snow4.jpg


Hey I recognize that! I just started carrying my digital. I love the shots with this thread. We have tons of wildflowers that bloom along the bike trails. Now I just have to make the time to get off and take the photo.

Diane

I have been wanting to carry a camera along, but have it in a very accessible place. I've thought about some sort of handlebar bag/holster. I want to just reach in a grab the camera, but also have it secure enough that it does come out on bumps. It just slows things down to have to stop, fish the camera out of the pannier, take a few shots, then stow the camera back.
Too many nice views...like this one this morning.

My camera is pretty compact so I stick it in my jersey pockets and can whip it out ninja-style one-handed, turn it on, take a shot and replace it in the jersey all in one sweeping motion. Another option is to use a Bento Box.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/bento_box/PICT0002.jpg
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/bento_box/PICT0003.jpg

I don't carry a camara while commuting but sometimes on long road trips I'll take a weather resistent disposable camera instead of my own to prevent possible damage to a good camara.

My camera is pretty compact so I stick it in my jersey pockets and can whip it out ninja-style one-handed, turn it on, take a shot and replace it in the jersey all in one sweeping motion. Another option is to use a Bento Box.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/bento_box/PICT0002.jpg
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/albums/bento_box/PICT0003.jpg

nice set up. i should make one for my cam. but theres some gunk on your NICE bike.

Hey I recognize that! I just started carrying my digital. I love the shots with this thread. We have tons of wildflowers that bloom along the bike trails. Now I just have to make the time to get off and take the photo.

Diane


What a moron. Sorry for the duplication of the pictures. sigh.

but theres some gunk on your NICE bike.

Yeah... that'll happen when riding in the Pacific Northwest. ;)

Hey I recognize that! I just started carrying my digital. I love the shots with this thread. We have tons of wildflowers that bloom along the bike trails. Now I just have to make the time to get off and take the photo.

Diane
I find myself procrastinating with the photos. I'll see something beautiful and think, "Ah, it'll be there on the way home" and then "it'll be there tomorrow" and, well, eventually, "Spring will come again next year."

My Palm Zire71 PDA has a camera in it... so I do ride to work with a camera, I guess.

I find myself procrastinating with the photos. I'll see something beautiful and think, "Ah, it'll be there on the way home" and then "it'll be there tomorrow" and, well, eventually, "Spring will come again next year."

I do that too. So far, zero shots. My dang digital has batteries that need to be charged every other day too. But I put it in my bag, so that's the first step. What's the hurry to get home anyway? Life's about the ride.

Your commute is different from mine too, if you live east and commute west. I've got the sun in my eyes in the morning and the evening!

I don't but I should.

See: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=66088

I ALWAYS have mine with me on my bike. I've taken thousands of pictures of my commute so far. There's just too many times that you see a perfect picture opportunity on the commute, so I just keep it in my bags.