Tips for Amazing Bird Photography From a Boat

^{Note: This tip comes from Audubon’s article - Six Tips for Photographing Birds from Boats}

If you’re looking to photograph water birds approaching them by boat is one of the best—and sometimes the only—way. Here’s how to get your shot.

Tip #1 – Choose the right boat.

In general, for almost any kind of wildlife situation, the closer a photographer can get to eye level when taking a picture, the more engaging the image will be. 

A longer lens can give you great in-flight shots from a large boat or even a ship.

Smaller boats that sit low in the water, such as kayaks, canoes, flatboats, pontoons, and inflatables, are your best bet for getting face-to-face with birds floating on the water’s surface.

If the boat has an engine, turn it off once you get in the vicinity of your subject. Then, switch to an electric trolling motor or a paddle.

Tip #2 – Stay Dry!

Any water is terrible for camera gear, but salt water is particularly damaging to equipment.

If there’s any chance of splashing waves or rough seas, it’s a good idea to protect your camera and lens with a waterproof sleeve, available from companies like LensCoat.

While en route, keep your gear in a waterproof sack, such as an NRS dry bag, which folds flat or rolls up and doesn’t take up room in tight quarters.

Don’t forget about yourself. What is the air and water temperature? If you get wet, how long before hypothermia might set it? Staying dry and having an emergency backup plan is essential, especially if you are out in the ocean. I suggest carrying a portable VHF radio for emergencies.

Tip #3 – Leave the super telephoto lens at home.

While professional bird photographers prefer super telephoto lenses, such as the 600mm f/4 or 500mm f/4, they are huge, heavy, and expensive.

A small boat bouncing around in the water can be a bit unwieldy and nerve-racking. Besides, the purpose of using a boat is to get close.

Compact zoom lenses, mirror telephoto lenses, or optical telephotos of 300mm or less work best for reaching out some distance on a boat.

Tip #4 – Remain steady!

Tripods and monopods aren’t an option on a small boat. Instead, rest your lens on the boat’s side to stabilize it if possible, or cradle the camera and lens on your knees.

Ensure the boat engine is off before you start shooting so the vibrations aren’t transmitted to your camera.

Tip #5 – Mind your settings!

Photographing birds in the water from a boat requires patience since both the photographer and the bird are simultaneously moving in three dimensions and often in opposite directions.

Any difficulties with capturing a sharp picture are amplified in this situation and will undoubtedly test your camera handling skills.

To minimize sharpness problems in your photos, your exposures should favor higher shutter speeds. 1/1000th of a second or, preferably, even faster will give you the sharpest shots.

To compensate for the constantly changing distance between the camera and the bird, set the camera to the fastest frame rate possible and the autofocus to continuous mode.

Take a burst of shots and decide later which is the best and sharpest photo.

On cameras where you can move the autofocus sensor position, moving it above the center of the viewfinder will help place the bird correctly in the frame.

Want more? If you want to learn more about bird photography, and capture beautiful shots of your own, we recommend downloading and printing out Photzy’s 10 Bird Photography Cheat Sheets (Special bonus available now!)