I regularly see and photograph wildlife while I am kayaking. It is the best of many worlds for me - my need for nature, being on the water and my passion for photography. Keep reading for everything you will ever need to know about the subject.
Growing up with a sailboat and all of the harbors around Boston to explore, it was very hard to move to Maryland and not know the area. Having lived near the Chesapeake Bay now for half my life, I've had plenty of time to find cool places. But living near the bay and being on the bay are not the same, so a decade ago I decided I wanted to be back on the water but in the simplest way possible, so I bought a kayak.
Ten years later and countless hours in my kayak from Maine to Georgia, I know how to find and photograph the wildlife I have the opportunity to see.
A Little about Water Safety First
We all know the weather can be unpredictable so it's important to make sure you are always prepared before you set out on the water. Always check the weather before planning to go out. A few "Must Have's" in my kayak include:
A life jacket
A dry bag (a large one for my camera but a small one will do for keys, phone, etc.) But in a pinch an ordinary resealable bag will also do. https://bestreviews.com/sports-fitness/water-sports/best-dry-bags
A whistle or air horn
Some rope (less than 10 feet should be enough)
Water and snacks
Sunscreen, bug spray, hat, weather appropriate clothes and/or change of clothes
My cell phone - for multiple reasons!
Any other essentials you never leave home without
Nature: Do your homework first
This article is about finding wildlife to photograph while kayaking. So, you need a kayak then! While it is possible to rent one, you are typically confined to the rental area boundaries so that can limit how much wildlife you see since rental areas are often in more populated, touristy areas which usually means fewer animals.
There are many reasons I love my kayak. They are quiet so they don't scare the animals off easily. They don't require much water, just a couple inches, so you can go into the shallower, more secluded areas that motor boats aren't able to get into, where the animals tend to be found. They are lightweight so they are easy to handle. They come in a couple different kinds, the main two being sit-in and sit-on-top. My personal preference for kayaking with my good camera is a sit-in, because summer in Maryland is hot and my camera battery can overheat if not kept in the shade when I'm not using it. But the sit-on-top are great for rougher waters as they are designed to keep your kayak from building up water in it. For additional information on the differences between the two types click here: https://www.watersportsbay.com/sit-on-top-vs-sit-in-kayaks/
Now, for the homework part. Where do you go to kayak and see lots of wildlife? Well, a good starting point is asking anyone you know who kayaks, or joining a Facebook or even a MeetUp group. These will give you ideas on where people go but may not be the most wildlife-friendly places.
One thing I do is check out my state's list of Public Boat Ramps. Many of these will also have a small kayak launch beach. Then I go into maps on my phone and check out the area around them. What I look for is green. Green is typically non-residential. Wildlife typically prefers wild areas
over residential areas. So, what appeals to me is the area in this map called Shallow Creek. It has a nice big cove that looks primarily wild. Then I decide how to get there. Both North Point State Park and Fort Howard Park have public boat ramps so either of them can work.
Winter is a great time to scope out places out for next spring/summer. Make a list of possible places. Drive to them to check them out if that makes you more comfortable. Not every place I try turns out to be as good as I expected but then other places really surprise me.
Photographing Wildlife: Don't Scare the Animals
We all know animals can be flighty! You come around a corner and there they are and then there they go! You didn't even get a chance to get your camera out.
There really isn't a special trick to getting the perfect opportunity. Animals are animals so some are mellow and seemingly uninterested or bothered by people while others never give you a chance. So don't get discouraged.
But there are some things you can do to increase your chances. Choosing where to kayak is a good starting point. If you are kayaking with others, being more spread out rather than bunched together is less intimidating to animals. Being quiet also helps. Something else I do is stop as soon as I see something that I want to shoot. Then I move closer to them slowly. Paddle a few strokes then coast. Paddle a little then coast. I usually like to get as close as they are comfortable with.
This next point I can't stress enough - be observant. That means look in the water, in the trees, and in the woods or marsh surrounding you. Wildlife is everywhere and they usually see or hear you way before you see them. Sometimes they are quietly lounging almost in camoflauge right in front of you.
Sometimes the weather can make it even more challenging especially if you have a strong current or a good breeze. Both will have a significant impact on your ability to get good photo opportunities.
But sometimes the animals themselves will be too distracted to care about you at all. In this example, it was dolphin mating season so despite me sitting there near them for 30 minutes I am not even sure they saw me!
Another thing to remember is that you can't go out with one animal in mind that you are looking for photos of. Shoot what you find and be happy with what you see! Another example is this clearwing hummingbird moth. It isn't what I was going for but it's what I saw. So, I'm happy with it. I learn a lot that way.
There are a few other things to take into consideration when choosing a kayak location such as what time of day you go, what season of the year it is and whether it is high or low tide. But you can see wildlife at any time of day and almost anywhere so don't let that stop you from going when you can.
So, while there is no magic method to getting wildlife photo opportunities, the more you try the more successful you will be!
Experiment: No Matter How Much Wildlife You See or Don't See, it was a Good Day on the Water!
Hopefully you are now motivated to get out and enjoy nature! Summer isn't over quite yet and it is perfect for kayaking! I hope you found my methods for finding wildlife helpful.
As a reminder, nature and wildlife photos make great gifts! So, feel free to check out my shop and get in touch if you are looking for something specific! I will be adding lots of photos this fall! https://www.enlightenimagesllc.com/shop
All photos in this article were taken from my kayak. Your comments are welcomed! #natureblogger #enlightenimagesllc #seeitoutdoors
I love your passion for photography! This is a great blog to read if you’re someone who is interested in doing photography or love photos of wildlife! I am looking forward to seeing what you capture through your lens!
Very informative post. You can tell you love what you do and are excited to share with others. I really appreciate how you incorporated beautiful photos throughout the post which represented the subtopics. I look forward to next Friday’s post.