Pike photography with a self-timer

Pike photography with a self-timer

by Denis Moules

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A few months ago I read an excellent article by Jim Gibbinson on fish photography, in a carp magazine, particularly regarding self-portraits.

I was pleased to read that Jim used and recommended a similar camera that I use - the Olympus MJU II for portraits and the Olympus MJU II Zoom 80 for slides.

Both are designed for the outdoor person, are waterproof and both can be operated with an electronic remote control, much easier than the old remotes of air bulb type.

Setting up is simple, and once you have done it a few times it becomes second nature. All you need is a small tripod and a Gardner bank-stick/tripod converter to accept the camera. Pike are easier to photograph by self-timer in a vertical position, as opposed to horizontal. I have converted my tripod by bending a standard bank-stick 90^oand fitting it in my tripod, thus tilting the camera into a vertical position .

Place a tall bank-stick in the ground for central point and set the top of the frame on the bank-stick top. Place your unhooking mat on the floor, directly in front of the bank-stick and move it so its front edge is at the bottom of the frame.

While you are setting up keep your Pike in a tube – (ET and Fox are fine) or if you are really confident of catching, set up cameras on arrival at water. Set the timer and with your Pike kneel or crouch with the bankstick centrally behind you – you can feel it on your head. Hold your Pike in a vertical position by ‘chinning’ it and supporting behind the body in general position of the dorsal fin – keeping its tail back from the mat end. Have the remote on the unhooking mat in front of you. It is then a simple matter to remove your bottom hand and pick up the remote, activate it and drop it on the mat, returning your hand to support the Pike. These cameras can take a photograph every 3 seconds and a remote control will activate both cameras. This is much more satisfactory than cameras with a 12 second delay, and giving one shot only before resetting.

Approximate costs:

Olympus MJU II £75

The Olympus MJU II Zoom 80 £140

Remote Control £25

Tripod £10

Bank-stick Converter £3

So all in all it is not an expensive set of kit and the photographs taken are of good quality.

Films used:

Kodachrome 200 for slides

Fuji 200 Superior with 4^th colour layer

I hope this short piece is of assistance to those of you who have problems with photography when alone.

Denis Moules 02/03/03