The Anatomy of a Group Jump

Group Jump Picture, Tenaya Lake, Yosemite National Park

One of the fun things we do whenever we wanted to make fun memories in our travels and hikes, is to take jumping picture. Somehow, just the action of taking jumping picture alone already provides us a lot of fun. There is teamwork and group coordination too, as you could see obviously in the first picture above.

However, the picture above was just one of the many, and it does not really show the fun trials and more fun errors behind. :) Let us start with camera settings.

Setting: Shutter Speed Priority ( Tv mode for Canon users )

Shutter speed: 1/1250 ( because it is in shutter speed priority, the aperture is set by camera automatically as we perform the action )

ISO: 100

Shooting Mode: AI Servo, high speed continuous ( this will do burst shots capturing several frames per second, the speed is dependent on camera specs and also the lens )

Here was how it went (in 2 trials):

Trial 1:

Photographer ( KTL, my hubby): One of you will count 1, 2, 3. At 3, I will press shutter continuously as you all jump. Okay?

US ( 4 ): Okay. 

The four decided the front counts 1, 2, 3 loud enough.

Front: 1, 2, 3!

 Did everybody jump at the same time? Let us see! ( there were more frames, but I purposely did not upload similar pics to limit pictures in this post )

 Front jumped first, followed by 2nd

 first and second in line were already on air, the other 2 at the back just got the message

 the front was on the way down, the 2nd was at the peak, the two at the back were still on the rise

the front already landed, the 2nd was able to hold up above longer (though on her way down) while the two at the back were still rising

The burst shots showed the domino effect. :)

When everyone had landed, here was what the photographer said:

KTL: You were not coordinated. I could not remember you all were on air ( it went in a fraction of second, so he may not have noticed we were all on air at one time, but not very high). 

US: Oh, that's okay! We jump again! ( then, burst into laughter). 

KTL: Okay, same procedure. ( went back to his kneeling position)

Trial 2:

As usual, front counts 1, 2, 3 loud enough. 

 How was the 2nd trial compared to the first trial? Let us see.....

 looks better, though the first two in front jumped higher first, but the two at the back started their ascent already

 now they are all on high, though the front is on her way down

the front is already down, the 2nd and 3rd on the way down, while the back as always, just got the message :)

What was the verdict of the photographer?

KTL: Better than the first time, but you 4 were not on air together long enough.

US: Can we take a look at the pictures?

....we reviewed the pictures! 

US: Yes, there is one picture with all of us on high! We are good!

Though contented with our group jumping picture, but each one was not getting enough yet of fun. 

Cousin Running on Water Like Cheetah :) ( on high, not from jumping, but from running )

Poor Photographer, he had to endure kneeling on the sand to take each and everyone of us a picture. :) But anyway, he had his turn too. :)

KTL's turn :)

Ahhh, what joy it was indeed to celebrate the gift of outdoors with family and friends. There's no day I am not thankful for how simple the joys of hubby as well. As simple as a jump, a gangnam style dance, a run, a hike, a walk, a photo and many more simple joys in simple life. :) Thank you dear, always, for all the simple joys!

♥♥