Photography from a Canoe

[KurtM]

Greetings, All: I'm wondering if anybody takes their gear out in small boats to get wildlife shots, and has any hints, tips, recommendations, warnings, etc., etc. to offer a realtive n00b.

By that I mean that I'm a newcomer to DSLR's - since Sept '11 - but not a noob to photography; been more or less shooting as a hobby continuously for 40 years. I'm also a longtime sea kayak and canoe paddler, and ACA Certified Instructor so I know how to handle a boat as well as anyone. For the first time I find myself merging my passions for boats and expensive and delicate camera gear, so am looking for ..... what? Waterproof gear bags, maybe? "Raincoats" for lenses, perhaps? Insurance for the gear? I don't know what all is out there, and thought it wise to "go fishing" for anything and everything I can learn on the subject. Thanks!

[Elmo]

Best thing is do not get wet.

Seriously most of the people I am antiquated with who shoot from kayaks use out riggers or stabilizers. This reduce the dunking risk and gives a much stabler platform from which to shoot. Most take little if any additional precautions. However it should be noted that these folks take little more than a single body and one long lens mounted on a tripod attached to the boat and possibly a waterproof P&S.

[Krusty79]

Didn't sk66 lose his Nikon body when his "dry" bag got submerged and caused much photographic angst?

[dlambert]

The outrigger is a great idea. I went on a ten-day canoe trip w/ my son last year, and I brought a P&S along. Based on a pretty small body of experience, I think one of the things to be aware of is that when you're shooting, you're not paying attention to the boat, so if you can take steps to make your platform more inherently stable, that's probably a good thing. That goes for handling the boat, too -- it's easy to get wrapped up shooting and not be aware that the canoe is drifting.

The insurance seems like a no-brainer. My camera fit in a gallon-sized ziplock, so I used that when I wasn't shooting, but in your case, I think I'd look at a dry bag of some sort. Again, though, while you're shooting, the camera and lens(es) are going to be out of the bag, so you're sort of exposed there.

Elmo, the "tripod mounted on the boat" seems interesting. It seems like the little movements of the boat itself would pretty much cancel out the benefits of mounting the camera, doesn't it? Certainly, if there's the least bit of chop, the boat's going to be moving, isn't it?

[Elmo]

Originally Posted by dlambert

Elmo, the "tripod mounted on the boat" seems interesting. It seems like the little movements of the boat itself would pretty much cancel out the benefits of mounting the camera, doesn't it? Certainly, if there's the least bit of chop, the boat's going to be moving, isn't it?

Consider I said most people I know shooting like this shoot long glass and hand holding would be even less stable. Like wise most I know shoot wildlife from small boats and avoid heavy water. The ones shoot pictorial generally are in larger more stable craft when shooting from the water

For carrying gear through "White" water, using strong waterproof cases with added flotation seem the best solution.

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by Krusty79

Didn't sk66 lose his Nikon body when his "dry" bag got submerged and caused much photographic angst?

Yeah.. He lost his D3.. Still waiting on the D4 to be released before he replaces it.

[sk66]

Yep, I drowned my D3 when the kayak capsized in whitewater....
Luckily everything was insured.

I do all sorts of stupid stuff with my gear...like take it kayaking or rock climbing. Insurance would be my #1 recommendation. Then a top quality dry bag and don't overstuff it...it seems the number of folds is critical .

[Krusty79]

You can use your kayak for foreground interest also:

Mono Lake Winter Kayaking2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Jonbar18]

+1 to everything above, but I'd also recommend that if you use a dry bag (you should), to tie it to the boat, or at least to a floatie-thingy. It may be waterproof, but that won't stop it from tipping and sinking.

[jprime84]

When I fish or kayak I just bring the Canon D10. Its no DSLR, but with 12.1 MP and the DIGIC 4 image processor its not bad. Plus, its waterproof and shock resistant so it can splash and bump around with my mind at ease.