MichaelBagleyPhoto's Blog

We are asked the question often: “How do you do that?” The truth is that nautical photography is not altogether tricky. Perhaps the hardest part for most people is access – finding a boat and a race and good weather all at the same time. But if you can put those things together the rest is fairly straightforward.

Today’s cameras are amazing. Whether you’re using the latest and greatest DSLR with an equally pricey lens or the family point-and-shoot camera, you are ready to take great pictures on the water. The light meters in use today are incredible, and even less expensive models can make well-exposed images. Plus, with sunshine, reflective water, white sails, and bright decks, the light on the water is often excellent for photography. Autofocus has come a long way in the last decade, and even small units will have the ability to discern focal areas and make your photos sharp. Obviously, the higher end DSLRs will enable you to change lenses appropriate to your circumstances, shoot faster in repetition, and take advantage of numerous other advanced features. But if you have the eye and the desire, any camera will do.

So you have the boat (and hopefully a good and safe driver!), the wind is blowing, the regatta is starting…what are the Top 5 things to think about while making images on the water? Here are our suggestions:

1. Keep your horizon straight. – It’s easy to stay focused on the subject (a boat, a sailor, etc.) and lose track of the way your own boat is rolling. Practice keeping an eye on the shoreline or horizon while you click away. It gets easier and easier with time. And if you get a great shot with a boat going slightly downhill? Fear not – a little work in a photo editing program and you can usually fix the problem.

Ooops! A little tilt on the horizon.

Nothing a little work with the mouse can't fix!

2. Shoot with fast shutter speeds – Pointing a camera at a moving boat while standing on a moving boat increases the chances of making a fuzzy picture. If you’re using a DSLR you can shoot in Shutter Priority mode and keep your speeds above 1/500 second. On rougher days crank it up to 1/1000 or higher. Most of our images were shot between 1/1250 and 1/3000. Again, regattas are often in great light, so dialing in a fast shutter speed does not require taking the ISO too high to affect image quality. Even if you’re using a point-and-shoot, many of them now will offer either a Shutter Priority option where you can choose your speed, or an “Action” setting where the camera will set the shutter speed for you.
3. Know what the boats are going to do. Great wildlife photographers are often very good animal behaviorists as well. They know the habits of their subjects and can use that knowledge to make outstanding photographs. So it is with boat photography. Odds are that if you are interested in marine photography you have spent some time on boats before. Knowing how a sailboat uses the wind, tacks and jibes, and some of the limitations of a sailboat can help you capture better images. If you don’t have any racing experience and want to shoot regattas, getting on board a boat as crew can help you learn the way a competition works. Often the sponsoring yacht club of an event will post a Notice of Race (NOR) online that will include start times, start sequences, course information, and other useful details about a regatta. Check out all you can before things start and you’ll be better prepared to shoot.
4. Look around alot. – It’s very easy to get locked in to the scene in the viewfinder or to the cluster of lead boats. But there is action everywhere on a race course. Every so often take a good look around and see what’s happening – you may find the shot of the day. Last week we didn’t follow this advice and just missed seeing an A Cat lose her mast in a strong wind. Today we were out and caught a great sequence of an E Scow going over because we kept a good watch. Look around!

This is one of a sequence of five images we grabbed because we looked around!

5. Don’t affect the race! – Hopefully, this goes without saying, but…we know it need be said. As photographers we want to capture all of the action, and often there are opportunities to get close to it in order to make strong images. We want to make certain, however, that whatever we do does not in any way influence the way the racers do their thing. Watch your wake, and don’t make waves that could slow down a sailboat. Don’t become an obstruction. If you’re in a medium or large boat, don’t get between the wind and a racer. Don’t get so close that you become a distraction for the skipper or crew. Use common sense and good manners. Most of the time sailors are happy to have photographers making images, as they will enjoy seeing themselves later on. We all have an obligation to help maintain that sentiment.

Have tips of your own? We’d love to hear those things that have helped you make great nautical images.