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 (light chop) 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 the hundreds of 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.