Wildlife Photography from a Kayak

Kayak for Photography

I make a regular Summer trip to Maine. My wife’s family has property on a lake (or technically it’s a pond) in the middle of nowhere. I’m an early riser, but everyone else in the house is not, and I don’t want to disturb their sleep, so I often get into a kayak to paddle around the lake as the sun rises.

There is always at least one loon pair on the pond. I’ve gotten into the habit of taking my camera along so I can photograph the loons or whatever other wildlife I see (bald eagles, great blue herons, belted kingfishers, beavers). Camera gear in a kayak, what could go wrong?

Actually, it’s not all that risky.

I’ve been paddling every summer for 20+ years. I’ve dropped my camera or phone exactly zero times. I’ve fallen into the water exactly zero times. I don’t use a camera strap or dry bag.

So, what’s the secret to this streak of good luck? It’s not luck. It’s recognizing how to minimize risk.

First, I paddle on relatively calm water. That lake, like most lakes in Maine, is usually calm. If it’s windy, then there can be waves and spray, but nothing significant. I’m not running rapids or plowing through big waves. I choose lakes with calm water. I choose rivers with gentle currents. I’ve even gone out in light drizzle; I protected the camera, while not shooting, by placing it in a garbage bag.

Second, the kind of kayak matters. The sit-in kayaks I’ve used are stable because I sit low to the water; my center of gravity is barely above the water line. My old kayak is made for paddling, not for running rapids. My new fishing kayak is, for all practical purposes, impossible to flip. I can even stand on it.

Why not use a camera strap? I tried. When I’m paddling, the camera rests awkwardly in my lap, sometimes getting in the way of the paddle. I eventually concluded that I don’t need it anyway. While shooting, I’m always holding the camera with two hands; the risk of dropping is almost zero. When I’m shooting other subjects on land the only reason I even use a strap is to allow me to let the camera go so I can use my hands; in the boat I just put the camera down to paddle. A strap adds no security and just gets in the way.

Put the camera down while paddling? Where? I put a square life-preserver on the floor of the kayak between my legs. Then I rest the camera on that. There’s always a water puddle in the bottom of the kayak; having the camera on the life preserver keeps it out of the water and provides a cushioned place to set it down.

Keeping the camera available and dry

What about splashes? Or drips of water from the paddle? If I’m worried about that, I take a towel and drape it over the camera while I’m paddling. But realistically, a little spray won’t harm the camera.

So what’s the biggest risk? The camera could get dumped into the water while I’m getting into or out of the kayak. This is the most awkward phase of the whole outing. I usually have the kayak on the ground at the start, so I put the camera in first, then drag the kayak into the water, then turn my back to the kayak, then I just sit. When I bring my feet in, they’ll drip, but a little water isn’t a problem. I reverse the process at the end when I get out.

What’s the benefit of using a kayak for photography? The boat is very quiet and it has a shallow draft. Sitting so low, I get a nearly-eye-level look at just about anything in the water, which makes for a very nice perspective. Often I can get reasonably close to birds or other animals without spooking or stressing them. Sometimes they even get curious and approach me.

A curious common loon approaches my kayak

What Kind of Kayak is Good for Photography?

As long as you can comfortably get in/out and have a place for your camera, it doesn’t matter. There are some trade-offs.

• Short, sit-in kayaks don’t track straight. While paddling this isn’t a problem; when you put the paddle down to shoot, with any wind you’ll weather-vane, often turning you away from the subject.
• Sit-in kayaks are less expensive than fishing kayaks.
• Sit-in kayaks have a shallower draft than fishing kayaks. The pedal-drive of a fishing kayak extends down into the water below the kayak, precluding its use in very shallow water.
• Sit-in kayaks weigh less than fishing kayaks, making them easier to transport.
• Fishing kayaks track straighter, and some have pedal drives so you can keep your hands free. They also tend to be more stable and have higher weight capacities.

As you can tell, I’m a fan of this activity. It’s good exercise and gets me close to wildlife to watch and photograph. Try it yourself!

Rocket Launches

I love a photography challenge. Rockets!

The first time I witnessed a rocket launch was September 7, 2013 in Chincoteague Virginia. I drove my family several hours to see the launch of the LADEE mission from the MidAtlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS). It was a nighttime launch that could not have been more amazing. Launches were still a new event there, so the town directed visitors to park at the school and they provided buses to take people to the circle on Maddox Blvd. From there it was a short walk to the causeway that links Chincoteague and Assateague Island. It was a beautiful night, with no wind. From the causeway there is a clear view of the launch pad, looking over the marsh. We watched the rocket light the sky up and rise, followed by the noise that arrived about 20 seconds later. I was hooked.

Over the years I've made several more trips to watch launches from MARS. Launches are now a routine event and the town no longer requires parking at the school. I've been able to park on the causeway several times for Antares launches, which are missions that resupplied the International Space Station. Daytime launches are still cool to see, but are unexpectedly harder to shoot than night launches. Heat haze is bad, even on cold days. The shot below shows a launch on November 2, 2019, with lots of distortion.

Antares Launch: CRS NG-12

After that rocket climbed, it was clearer, but of course also farther away, making for disappointing photos.

CRS NG-12

We got super-lucky with that first trip to Chincoteague because the launch actually happened. We've made about a dozen trips for launches; about half the time they get scrubbed because of technical problems, weather, or boats in the prohibited area.

I've gotten better gear and now I've had some practice. I was able to watch the Artemis 1 launch from the Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022. I did a ton of homework about how to set my camera up ahead of time; I couldn't afford to be fooling with settings during the launch because I had only one chance to get it right. This one was incredible as the rocket lit the sky and flew downrange, visible for a LONG time. The sound was incredible. The ground shaking below the stands was incredible. This was an amazing experience.

Artemis 1 Launch

My wife and I happened to be in California when the SpaceX Transporter 17 mission launched from Vandenburg Space Force Base in July 20206. This was another incredible night launch. The cloud ceiling was low so we had only a few seconds to watch before it disappeared.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch

And it's usually a good idea to photograph the pad after the rocket is gone.

After the Launch

So, like anything worth doing, it's difficult and rewarding when it works. Now I'm always looking for chances to do this again.

Antarctica: Deception Island

An overview of the entire trip is available here.

I awoke as we approached Deception Island. This is an active volcano with a large caldera that has an opening to the sea and is flooded, creating a C-shaped island. We spent the day there. This place was unlike any other that we had visited: it was mostly free of snow and ice.

The land at the entrance is very colorful, and we entered just as the sunrise was casting great light upon it.

Deception Island

The volcano is dormant, but still giving off heat. The beach is warm and steamy.

Volcanic Steam

There were several fur seals hanging around Whaler's Bay as we went ashore.

Fur Seal

After walking around among the ruins of the whaling station, we went back aboard and the ship repositioned to Telefon Bay, still within the flooded caldera. The wind picked up as we walked around the volcanic features at that location. The landscape is barren.

Deception Island

And thus ended our time in Antarctica. We sailed out of the bay, turned north, and soon entered the Drake Passage. The swells were about 3 meters for the whole crossing, so constant pitching and rolling but nothing too dramatic.

Deception Island

Antarctica: Cuverville Island and Neko Harbor

An overview of the entire trip is available here.

We went ashore among nesting Gentoo Penguins on Cuverville Island in the morning. This was the best landing by far, with great weather and active penguins all around.

Gentoo Penguins

The ship in calm water, among icebergs, with the mountains in the background made for a marketing-material-worthy shot.

Silver Endeavour

A pair of Chinstrap Penguins came ashore and hung around with the thousands of Gentoo Penguins.

Chinstrap Penguins

Midday, we entered nearby Neko Harbor under stunning mostly clear skies. We had an afternoon zodiac cruise among the icebergs. This was easily the most beautiful part of the trip, in a protected bay, with light winds, blue skies, calm water, icebergs everywhere, mountains, glaciers, porpoising penguins, and our only leopard seal sighting.

Neko Harbor

Leopard Seal

Cuverville Island (Circled) and Neko Harbor

Neko Harbor and Cuverville Island

Antarctica: Prospect Point and Fish Islands

An overview of the entire trip is available here.

After reaching the southernmost point of our trip on the previous day, we turned north again overnight. We arrived at Prospect Point in the morning under partly cloudy skies. We had a landing on the continent in the morning, with no wildlife nearby. This was just about scenery. There were some nearby mountains that were tantalizingly partially revealed through the clouds and I was hoping all morning that the sky would clear enough to shoot them.

Icebergs

Enormous Icebergs

Prospect Point

By the time we left, the clouds had cleared enough to shoot this panorama, stitched from several shots.

In the afternoon, we had a zodiac cruise in the same spot among the Fish Islands. There were filthy Adélie penguins and Antarctica cormorants nesting everywhere. The mountain that I’d been hoping to see finally cleared enough to make some stunning shots.

Filthy Penguins

There was a single Weddell Seal among the thousands of birds, trying to nap.

Weddell Seal

Antarctica Cormorant

The cormorants were very active, swimming all around our zodiac.

Juvenile Antarctica Cormorants

Mountains Finally Revealed After Waiting All Day

Icebergs

Prospect Point

Antarctica: Detaille Island and Hanusse Bay

A trip overview can be found here.

Overnight we left the relatively calm waters along the peninsula and entered the ocean. The ship was back to pitching and rolling all night. In the morning, we reached Detaille Island, having crossed the Antarctic Circle. We had a zodiac cruise around the island, observing penguins and cormorants.

Detaille Island

Antarctica Cormorants and Adélie Penguins

Adélie Penguins

In the afternoon, we repositioned to Hanusse Bay for a zodiac cruise. There the highlight was the many whale visits.

Humpback Whales

Humpback Whales and Mist from Exhaled Breath

Detaille Island and Hanusse Bay were the southernmost points on our trip.

Hanusse Bay

Hanusse Bay

Antarctica: Lemaire Channel and Petermann Island

An overview of the trip is available here.

Gloomy Lemaire Channel Transit with a Humpback Whale Blowing (Lower Right)

In the morning we arrived off Cape Renard to do an excursion. This was cancelled because of ice blocking the approach. We then transited the Lemaire Channel southbound in intermittent fog, low overcast and drizzle. This was an amazing place that I was looking forward to seeing, but sadly it was shrouded in clouds. I stood on deck in cold drizzle. I underdressed; my shoes, pants, and gloves got soaked. Even with the clouds and fog, I didn’t want to run back to my cabin to get better clothing because I was afraid I’d miss something great. I shot a few landscapes, but ended up rejecting all of them. I did enjoy watching a group of three Humpback Whales that stayed with the ship during the transit, repeatedly surfacing as a group. At one point they surfaced directly in the ship's path, which caused the crew to suddenly throw the propellers into reverse, with the ship briefly shaking as we slowed down.

Two Humpback Whales, Scars Visible on Left Whale's Back

Humpback Whale Trio

The Lemaire Channel transit was all too brief and unsatisfying in the poor weather. We spent the rest of the day off Petermann Island. Initially we were to make a landing, but there was too much brash ice clustered at the landing site, so we had a zodiac cruise under overcast skies and intermittent drizzle. There we visited a Gentoo Penguin colony and saw the only 2 other ships of the whole peninsula cruise.

Gentoo Penguins

There were a few Adélie Penguins mixed in with the Gentoos.

Adélie Penguin

A Chilean icebreaker passed by while we were out on the water, a rare sighting of another ship.

Icebreaker

Intended Landing Site on Petermann Island

The Lemaire Channel is shown in red below; Petermann Island in Yellow.

Activity Locations