Taking the Plunge into the New Year

Well 2011 has arrived and it was an eventful day. Hundreds of Chicoans gathered for the annual Polar Bear Swim across the Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area. I was assigned to cover the event. I decided to shoot both video and photos. It was quite challenging being that the swim last no more than 20 seconds. How did I shoot both?

People brave the chilling cold water in Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area for the Polar Bear Swim Saturday, January 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Wearing a "Happy New Year" headband, Kelly Nokleby laughs with friends after she and other people brave the chilling cold water in Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area for the Polar Bear Swim Saturday, January 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

I just set up 5 different cameras. I had one remote camera on the west end of the pool and a second remote camera on east end. They were both point and shoot cameras shooting video. I also placed a remote camera with a fisheye lens looking over the middle of the pool that was going to shoot a timelapse of the event. I carried the fourth and fifth cameras on me to shoot both video and photos.

It was a hectic scramble. What made it difficult wasn't shooting both the video and photos at the same time, but rather the large crowd that had gathered. Both sides were filled with people who gathered to take the plunge on one end, and to watch on the other.

People leap and dive into the chilling cold water in Sycamore Pool at One Mile Recreation Area for the Polar Bear Swim Saturday, January 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Two remote cameras were placed in the trees for the Polar Bear Swim Saturday, January 1, 2011 in Chico, Calif. The one on the left was shooting a time-lapse and the one on the right was shooting video.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Next year, I will probably try some different angles to switch things up a bit.

See video....