There was a time when photography and sports were mutually exclusive. You could either pedal or shoot photos, but not at the same time. And if you tried, the result would be a very blurry photo and a pair of badly bruised knees.

But in recent years, wearable technology has become all the rage. From wearable computers with optical head-mounted displays, such as Google Glass, to smart watches and rings that transmit your finger gestures to the device of your choice, technology has become an essential part of our wardrobe.

You want to get on with practising your favourite sport rather than having to stop every couple of minutes to fuss with the camera settings

If you’re a sports enthusiast, you can have a field day with wearable point-of-view cameras. There are various models to choose from, including ones that are waterproof and shockproof – this gives you the opportunity to take photos and videos of various sports, from your paragliding adventure to your weekly football game with the boys. If you’re going diving, there are even goggles with built-in cameras.

The main advantage of wearable point-of-view cameras is that they add to the drama of sports by allowing you, and others, to relive your sports action through your eyes. Of course, you don’t need to engage in extreme sports in order to use one of these cameras. A pleasant Sunday hike, biking or even riding a roller coaster are all great subjects to shoot.

However, the main focus is your sports activity rather than the art of photography – you want to get on with practising your favourite sport rather than having to stop every couple of minutes to fuss with the camera settings. In fact, most point-of-view cameras have few buttons and controls, while exposure and focus are set automatically. To shoot single shots, you can also set your camera to shoot one still photo after another according to the timing of your choice. This continuous mode is great for capturing several shots of fast action.

Simplicity is key – the whole idea of a wearable point-of-view camera is that you put it on, fire it up and then forget about it. That will render the end footage more natural.

There are various ways of using a point-of-view camera. If going for a bike ride, for instance, you can mount it on your helmet or on the bicycle handlebars. Other cameras have holders that you can strap to your wrist or chest. And if you’re racing or touring with a car, you can mount one on the dashboard.

Many point-of-view cameras have a Wi-Fi feature which enables you to connect to a smartphone. By downloading a dedicated app, you can then control your camera remotely through your smartphone.

If you want to step up things, you can also engage a director. Of course, we’re not talking of getting Martin Scorsese to join you on a night ride to Buskett. Get a friend to join you, give them your smartphone, and let them choose the best shot from the sidelines.

The results can be quite stunning. Most point-of-view cameras can shoot HD video as well as 12MP or 16MP photos, which means crisp, sharp images are guaranteed. That way, you can enjoy your sports adventure all over again while planning your next one.