Kayak Photography FAQs
Here are several questions I have been asked over the years...
Q. Do you have special equipment to mount your camera on the kayak?
Yes, I have a converted 'Scotty' fishing rod holder, an added extension, and a camera mount onto it. The camera is right in front of me, within reach, and easily lifts off the mount. It sometimes does slow me down though and I find that I keep my camera and waterproof bag right between my legs for quick access. Never use a neck strap! A bad situation can turn worse with a strap around your neck. I use a hand strap whenever the camera is in my hands. You definitely want to have some type of strap on the camera to prevent a worst-case scenario from happening.
Q. Do you use waterproof cameras?
Not at this time. Protecting my camera is a number one concern and that involves kayaking experience and confidence, making sure the camera has a watertight case/bag. Also, I bring microfiber towels for drying off splashes or water drops. I do have a GoPro with a waterproof case and presently use that to take underwater shots as well as above-water video. It is very important to look ahead and anticipate situations to be prepared to act quickly to protect the camera.
Q. Do you find that the kayak is stable enough for photography?
Very much so, although if it is windy and choppy on the water it may present some problems for steadiness, not having a tripod. Most of the time I am using shutter speeds that can compensate for most movements, but there are times I have to make adjustments in my camera settings to compensate. A big key in kayak photography is getting the feel for your kayak and knowing what kind of body movements you can trust yourself to make without compromising the stability of the kayak.
Q. How do you choose your lenses?
Depending on what I am shooting, where I am at, and the light conditions. I recently purchased a Sigma 18mm-250mm zoom lens and this has become my prime lens. Zoom lenses are traditionally not as sharp as a fixed-length lens, however, as an amateur photographer, this zoom lens does cover a lot of ground from 1.5' to infinity. I like it a lot. The main drawback is in low light conditions it gets tricky to get sharp handheld shots in a moving kayak. For those low-light conditions, I use my fixed-length Nikon 35mm 1.8 lens, which handles low light very well.
Q. How is your kayak set up to store and protect your camera equipment?
I have plenty of storage space right in front of me for my camera. I keep it and my lenses in a 10L Seal Line Baja Dry Bag when it needs protection and then I usually have it ready to shoot in a 'Scotty' camera mount right in front of me. When not using the camera mount I keep the camera right between my legs, covered, to protect from water and sun. If I know I won't be shooting for any length of time, the camera goes into the Dry Bag. There is definitely always a risk when using expensive photography equipment in a kayak and I have decided it is worth taking the risk and being as aware and cautious as I can be.
Q. Do you have a particular photography style?
With kayaking photography, I like to give the viewer an interesting take on their viewing experience. I make use of textures, close-ups, and reflections, capturing my subjects from different points of view.
Q. Do you shoot in RAW or JPEG mode?
I always shoot in RAW mode as this gives me the maximum information captured by the sensor, and allows me more control of the final product in post-production. In jpeg mode, the camera makes the decision on what information to delete and compress. It is a matter of personal preference and I prefer RAW.
Q. What shooting mode do you use most often?
I probably use manual mode the most often, though there are always times I will go to Aperture Priority Mode and even Auto. If I know there will be a lot of movement, such as a heron getting ready to take fight I switch to an action mode to freeze the movements as it flies.
Q. Do you post-process your images? If so, what programs do you use?
Yes. Post-processing is a big part of my workflow. By shooting in RAW mode, I make the final photo adjustments rather than having the camera make those decisions which is what happens when shooting in JPEG mode. My photos are imported into Adobe Photoshop to make highlight and shadow adjustments. The software is also used to handle any imperfections such as dust spots, lens glare, stitching panoramas, etc.
You can read more about my kayaking photography techniques on Florida Paddle Notes
I love photography and always have. In fact, I still have my original Kodak Tourist II camera from when I was 8 years old! I have since graduated to the digital age, which I totally love, and now use a Nikon D5100. With a love for photography, I am pleased to share some of the better photos I’ve taken over the years…James
