Archive 2014 · Shooting from a Kayak

workerdrone
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p.2 #1 · p.2 #1 · Shooting from a Kayak

I don't want to move forward; I want to stay in one spot and not spook my subject. If I could pivot left and right depending on how I move the pedals, that would be neat.

I can do what I want with the trolling motor since it rotates 360 degrees, but it requires a hand to do it and isn't easy to master since it's offset at the rear of the boat.

But, the canoe is very stable and I'm all in for $400, boat, motor, paddles, jackets, mount, and battery

Aug 07, 2014 at 11:40 AM

m.sommers00
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p.2 #2 · p.2 #2 · Shooting from a Kayak

These are the ocean kayaks I've used and bungied my pelican case to the top. No crazy waves while shooting though, would be too scary to drop my gear or get serious spray!

DSC_8232 by msommers00, on Flickr

Orcas 12x24 by msommers00, on Flickr

DSC_8411 by msommers00, on Flickr

Aug 07, 2014 at 11:49 AM

Wayne Willison
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p.2 #3 · p.2 #3 · Shooting from a Kayak

A lot of good info in this thread.

I’ve been researching some more and have pretty much narrowed my choice down to the Watercraft Ultimate 12 Angler ( http://www.nativewatercraft.com/m.boat.cfm?id=9 ). Any small craft that a fisherman can stand in and cast from would no doubt satisfy a photographer’s need for stability; and this kayak is capable of that. And it only weighs around fifty pounds.

I have looked at the Hobies mentioned by mitesh and Nick , and thought about the peddle systems. It seems to me the peddles would keep me from very shallow water, and my need to get into shore so that I can exit the boat, set up my tripod in the sand or mud to shoot landscapes. As far as shooting birds I have no problem with a little motion, after all, the bifs we shoot are all moving. And someone made a good point about a rudder keeping the boat straight while drifting. I like that idea a lot because you can also move the rudder up out of the way when you don’t need it.

I can’t see the point of setting up a tripod in a boat. If it is something to take the weight of the camera/lens combo, then maybe; but it won’t do much for stability, not when the boat is already slightly in motion. Besides, in the sitting position a person can effectively hold and shoot a much heavier combo than from the standing position.

Nick and mitesh, you mention the Wilderness Systems Commander models. How do they compare in terms of stability to the Watercraft I mentioned?

Wayne

Aug 07, 2014 at 12:03 PM

mitesh
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p.2 #4 · p.2 #4 · Shooting from a Kayak

Wayne,

No issues with the stability of Wilderness- although the model I tested was Ride 135. If I hadn't gotten the Hobie, I most likely would have gone with Wilderness. My recollection is that Wilderness, Native and Hobie were all very equally stable and I had no concern about tipping or dunking my gear.

Regarding your point about Hobie and shallow water, you're right that the pedals won't work, but they can easily be stowed and the traditional paddles used. That said, it would be a minor hassle if you need to do so very frequently.

One advantage of the Hobie that I didn't mention before is that it rides low to the water and gives you a lower perspective, if that matters to you. For waterfowl and birds flying over water, the lower angle gives you better ability to isolate the subject and throw the BG out of focus.

The Native looks great, though, and the lighter weight is a big plus

Aug 07, 2014 at 12:39 PM

Nick Dakota
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p.2 #5 · p.2 #5 · Shooting from a Kayak

Wayne..Both are very very similar. The reason I chose the Wilderness Commander was they have a unique seat system. That folds down and slides under that middle. Then you can sit up higher on the middle. Wilderness refers to it as a perch. I would sit in the seat when paddling places and when I found a spot that I wan't to stock at, I would slide it under and sit on the perch. Sometimes I would even take the seat out all together. Look at the attached pic (not mine) to get an idea.

Also, there was a thread about this a few years ago. Here is the link...You can see there is a FM using the Commander for photography...

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/959940

Like I said...I have been serious kayak fishing for the last 5-6 years...I have tried a lot...and the Commander wins for me. The Native is just as good, but I like the WIlderness perch seat. Hobie is awesome and I need that for the ocean, as it is a sit on top and can't sink...sit ins can take on water...

And no. Canoes are not the most stable thing, unless you are an experienced paddler, you can easily take a dip.

Aug 07, 2014 at 04:34 PM

Nick Dakota
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p.2 #6 · p.2 #6 · Shooting from a Kayak

workerdrone wrote:
I don't want to move forward; I want to stay in one spot and not spook my subject. If I could pivot left and right depending on how I move the pedals, that would be neat.

I can do what I want with the trolling motor since it rotates 360 degrees, but it requires a hand to do it and isn't easy to master since it's offset at the rear of the boat.

But, the canoe is very stable and I'm all in for $400, boat, motor, paddles, jackets, mount, and battery

Anything you use is going to drift, the only way to stop that is an anchor. They have nice systems that with ease you can drop a small mushroom or claw anchor quietly and lift it back up with no effort.

Aug 07, 2014 at 04:53 PM

Dragonfire
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p.2 #7 · p.2 #7 · Shooting from a Kayak

Native Watercraft has an excellent kayakish solution. The hull is a kayak but the interior is deeper and open.

http://www.nativewatercraft.com/article.cfm?id=10&category=photography

View the videos at the bottom.

Aug 08, 2014 at 02:30 PM

jcolwell
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p.2 #8 · p.2 #8 · Shooting from a Kayak

I'm currently switching from a DIY dry bag (see links) to the Outex system. That'll work fine for a 6D + 24-105/4L IS, and I think I might get a second Outex for an SL1 + 70-200/4L IS. The Current Designs Storm GT sea kayak that I currently use is great for small photo gears (like the two mentioned earlier), but I wouldn't want to use my 500/4L IS on it. Can you say "instant dump"? So, I'm compiling a database of likely kayaks for this, see table below. I'm currently leaning towards the Feelfree Moken 10, which I can get locally.

Links,

weather-resistant and waterproof stuff I use, https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1305343/0#12454063
DIY camera dry bag, https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1195187/0#11585641
Outex, http://www.outex.com/

Aug 08, 2014 at 03:11 PM

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