Inflatable Kayak Blog

Taking pictures from a kayak isn’t really much different than taking photos on dry land, except for the fact that you’re not on a stable surface and it’s a little harder to steady the camera. Whether you’re paddling down a beautiful waterway or standing on dry land, the principles of good photography hold true.

Here are some basic rules to keep in mind when framing your ‘shots’. Try as best you can to keep the horizon level. Luckily there are some software adjustments available for adjusting the horizon on some photo editing software, but it’s always better if you can keep it level when taking the picture. Also remember the ‘rule of thirds’. For example, the horizon should be in the top third or bottom third of the photo, never in the center. Any other points of interest should also be placed off center by about a third for a more pleasing look. You don’t necessarily always have a focal point in every shot, but having one gives the eye of the viewer a place to rest, so do your best to include one.

Many natural elements can be integrated into the framing of your photos, too. Something like an overhanging tree limb could be positioned in the top of the frame with your subject in the area below. Fallen trees and branches or blades of grass and bushes can add ‘lines’ of interest in your photo. For example, a fallen tree that runs diagonally along the bottom of the photo, or even the front of the kayak pointing in a diagonal across the frame can add a nice dimension to the picture.

The silent tracking of a kayak will help considerably when approaching wildlife. The quieter, the better. You’ll have the most success approaching from upstream, letting the kayak drift into the area slowly so that your subject can adjust to your presence. The best close up photos are usually taken with long zoom lenses, but even with a super strong distance lens, it still helps to get in where you can actually make eye contact with your wildlife subject. At this point you’ll need to move very slowly to keep from ‘spooking’ your photographic prey. Obviously you don’t want to put your self in danger if your subject is a potentially dangerous animal. For extra stability, Bob Wall, a friend of ours uses the stock of an old rifle base and runs a short shutter release cable down to the trigger guard from his camera and lens that he mounted on the stock.

Even though I like taking wide views of flowers and vegetation while looking at the shore from inside our inflatable kayak, I like to move into the shore and get some close ups of plants growing in and by the water. These macro shots from a distinctively different point of view can be very interesting, especially when the occasional bug or bee gets into the frame or natural drops of moisture on the plants become the focal point of the photo.

The best time for outdoor photography is at dusk or at dawn. That’s when the light is the best. It has a soft quality. Also, the longer shadows will tend to add nicely to the texture of your shots. Dawn and dusk are also the times of day when wildlife is usually the most active, increasing your chances of paddling into a great photo!

Although it might be obvious when taking photos from a kayak, in the water, I should mention that it’s important to keep your camera equipment dry. You can buy one of the many types of dry bags that are available. You can also use a simple zip lock bag to store your equipment while not in use. If you go this route, be careful not to allow moisture buildup inside the zip lock bag when exposed to the sun and realize that “it is what it is”, a zip lock bag, not a true dry bag. When you are paddling, you should have your camera strapped around your neck at all times; in case you need it for a quick shot and because that’s probably the safest place for it.

Taking photos from a kayak is a great way to save your memories of your paddling adventures amidst the natural beauty of the great outdoors.