Anyone use a kayak or canoe for your wildlife photography?

We have a lot of small lakes in our area, the kind that are just fine for canoes or kayaks as they don't get rough, even with a pretty decent wind. Lots of the wildlife that I see, you can't get good access for photos from the bank, either because of noise or they are on the other side etc.

We have a couple of inexpensive "sit in" kayaks but it seems that the fishing type of "sit on" kayaks are more commonly used for photography from the water.

Does anyone have any experience/suggestions that they would like to share?

i have a fishing sit on kayak that im intending on doing some photography from in the near future, ive seen a few post of guys using them also. Just make sure you have a drybag with camera sitting in it that is easy to access but will be waterproof in the event of flipping it over would be my only advice.

here's a great thread on the subject you expressed interest in...
https://photography-on-the.net …read.php?t=1091​924&page=1
I picked up an inflatable intex excursion pro kayak to explore photography on some of our 10,000 lakes & maybe a couple rivers
The reason I went inflatable is I drive a MINI Cooper and can fit it in the boot easily, so no roof rack needed.
So far so good, been focusing on birds in flight...
this is a link to my kayak photography results:
https://www.flickr.com …/albums/7215771​9116078649
highly recommend giving it a try!

Photo from jimmy_racoon's gallery.

Yup see the above linked thread; several of us post (or posted) there, its pretty extensive. But kayak photography is a great way to get close to all kinds of wildlife. I like it for its simplicity here in Florida, we have lots of water ways, and everything is so large that a short tele lens is usually way more than enough. I use a sit on kayak (ocean kayak, 13 foot). I just like it so I can use my legs to brace. None of my equipment is water proof, I just keep it in a waterproof pouch/bag and take it out to shoot and put it back in when moving, etc.

Very best,

Thank you for the linked thread above. That should answer some questions! I will have to get started looking through all 69 pages or so.

It seems like the sit on versions are better and maybe more stable then the sit in versions like we have already. Like the versions set up for fishing as they are more geared to be stable with the movement of fishing and casting?

They are very stable, I’ve tried to roll mine intentionally just to see we’re the limits we’re. Extremely hard to, I can stand and cast with little to no movement

What brand/model of fishing kayak to you use? I am thinking of a 10 foot version so that I can haul it simply in the back of my pickup

One thing that I have noticed when just taking the kayak out for fun is that water drips from the paddle as I stroke from side to side, some of this water ends up in my lap, where potentially my camera would be sitting. Maybe my paddling technique is wrong?

I've only done it from a Canoe. No issues, just keep things in a reasonably watertight container.

A regular kayak seems like it would be tricky, but I know people do it.

The fishing kayaks, particularity those with pedals, look like a great solution!

I have a couple of friends who live on lakes locally, they have some kayaks as well but not sure if they are the fishing type or the sit in versions like I currently own.

I have a feel free lure 11.5, I know what you mean with getting little bit of water in the lap from paddle tho, not sure if that’s wrong technique or not. I just got a big enough waterproof bag for camera and lens that’s easy to open havnt gotten to try it yet will be able to Saturday morning

Clough wrote in post #19385740
I have a feel free lure 11.5, I know what you mean with getting little bit of water in the lap from paddle tho, not sure if that’s wrong technique or not. I just got a big enough waterproof bag for camera and lens that’s easy to open havnt gotten to try it yet will be able to Saturday morning

That Feelfree kayak looks really nice. Is the storage compartment for the sonar large enough for camera gear, like a second body or lens? It appears that it would be waterproof...

Gator's is what stops me from wanting a Kayak living in gator territory, I know most of the time they go in the opposite direction. To many stories of gators & kayaks over the years.


I prefer a Gheenoe or River Hawk with 25hp motor.

Ya it’s pretty sweet I’d like to upgrade to peddle and or add trolling motor but we will see. Once I get it down out of storage I’ll have a look and see if my 90d would fit with lens, I currently have it converted to hold a fish finder and battery