- 1). Select a flat, wide kayak for wildlife photography.Whitewater kayak or other sports kayaks tend to be less laterally stable and increase the chances that your photographs will show camera shake or that your camera will suffer water damage.
- 2). Wait for a calm day and kayak in bodies of water that are as free as possible from waves and other turbulence.
- 3). Stay away from boats or other people. Not only will their activities scare away wildlife, they may also cause turbulence in the water that will disrupt your shots or damage your equipment.
- 4). Place your camera body in a waterproof shell if you have one. While it is not necessary, a plastic shell will protect your camera from water damage if it gets splashed or dropped into the water. If you do not have a waterproof shell, keep a hand towel ready to remove any water droplets that might splash onto your equipment.
- 5). Wear your camera strap around your neck or wrist at all times so that it will not fall into the water if you lose your grip.
- 6). Attach a fast telephoto lens to your camera. Animals will be less skittish if you approach in a kayak, but you will be able to take more pictures if you can shoot from further away.
- 7). Use a circular polarizing filter to reduce the effect of reflections off the surface of the water.
- 8). Choose a shutter speed faster than 1/[the focal length of your lens]. For instance, if you are shooting at 500mm, choose a shutter speed faster than 1/500th of a second. This will help reduce the effect of camera shake.
- 9). Attach a monopod to your camera. A tripod will not fit in the kayak, but a monopod positioned between your legs will help to steady your camera. Your knees can also be used for support if your lens is physically long.
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