I’d catch twice as many fish if my camera stayed home.
As a hardcore kayak angler, shooting pictures of fish or just the sun slipping over the horizon dramatically cuts into my fishing time. But the decreased catch rate is nothing compared to the fond memories those images ignite whenever I scan through my computer files or my kids’ fish pictures on the office wall.
My best pictures and memories were made possible because kayaks excel at sneaking up on nature. Or maybe it’s because I’m more likely to notice a dive-bombing eagle at four knots than I do when zipping past at forty.
Like kayak fishing, photography doesn’t need to be complicated. My tackle fits in one pocket, my camera in the other. Mirroring the recent explosion in kayak popularity, photographers can choose among an expanding array of compact, relatively inexpensive submersible digital cameras (Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Fuji and others) that shoot large-megabyte, magazine-quality pictures.
Submersible is the key word there. Everything aboard a kayak eventually gets wet. And salty, if you live on the coast. Either can be a death sentence for ‘land’ cameras. Companies such as Storm and Pelican offer hard waterproof cases, but the big boxes clutter already limited space, take time to access, and always show up in the shot if you leave them on deck. However, if you routinely take an expensive, non-waterproof camera for a kayak ride, buy one. The inconvenience and expense trump the inevitable mishap. I can name at least four fellow outdoor writers who have sacrificed high-dollar cameras while photographing kayak articles.
Outdoor photographer Sam Root frequently utilizes a kayak in his work, and when he requires a longer lens, he protects his DSLR inside an Ikelite housing. However, according to Root, who has the advantage of working out of a roomy, ultra-stable Hobie Pro Angler 14, “The housing is probably too bulky for practical use by the average kayak fisherman. Especially if you want to shoot underwater, a waterproof camera will end up being cheaper and a better option for most people.”
No matter which model you choose, there are a few basics that may speed up your learning curve if you’re new to chasing Nature on the water.
First, keep a soft, dry cloth on board, and frequently check your lens for smudges. That may seem elementary, but paddles and trout are incredibly adept at flipping an inadvertent drop of water precisely where it will ruin an otherwise great shot.
Until camera technology allows them to point and shoot themselves, you’re gonna have to do it the old-fashioned way.
Foot-driven kayaks offered by Hobie® allow photographers to maneuver while keeping hands free (and dry) to concentrate on the shot. Visit a knowledgeable retailer such as to figure out the best system for you.
If possible, shoot early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The filtered low-angle sun enhances photos with a warm, golden glow, and minimizes the glare reflecting off wet, silvery fish. When shooting in the middle of the day, carefully angle fish so their shiny sides don’t reflect the harsh overhead sun into the camera. Use a flash if necessary to reduce shadows from hats.
The downside to using most small point-and-shoot cameras is that resolution suffers when shooting distant targets. Whenever possible, get in close, and fill the screen with the subject. When the subject is fishing, do it immediately. Both the fish and your kid are never going to appear more colorfully lit up than right after the catch. Don’t wait until you get back to the dock. The only thing less interesting than a picture of lifeless, gray fish being hoisted by tired anglers at the end of the day is a cooler full of dead fish.
If near the shore, find a colorful backdrop and position the kayak so the sun is behind the camera. Add some action to the shot by clicking as the fish is lifted out of the water, water cascading from its fins.
If releasing the fish, avoid hanging it by the jaw (many outdoor magazines no longer display fish held vertically). Fish live in a gravity-free environment and lack an internal support structure. Hanging them can fatally displace organs and stretch spines. Support the fish by holding it horizontally, and don’t keep it out of the water longer than it takes to shoot a picture. Done right, everybody wins: The fish gets to swim away; you get to take it home in your camera.
