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Prince Rupert Bay Pano
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Prince Rupert Bay Pano

by Luke Ormand

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted April 23, 201388 views4 comments
This is a pano comprised of four shots stitched together in CS5. The location is Prince Rupert Bay in Portsmouth Dominica. I took the images with my D300s and an 18-200mm zoom lens hand held from a kayak, not really intending to do a pano but the photos overlapped well enough and I was able to make it work.

I think some people are afraid to try photography from a boat because they think they won't be stable or something like that - but you can be more stable sitting in a kayak than standing on dry land believe it or not. Additionally, I was apprehensive at first about taking my gear in a kayak - but after awhile you gain confidence and realize just how hard it is to tip over (try getting in a kayak with no gear and doing your best to rock side to side and purposely flip yourself, it's not as easy as you would think!). A dry bag is a must so you can quickly tuck the camera away in case things start to go wrong (or while you are paddling) but it's a risk worth taking.

Comments

4 comments
Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on April 24, 2013 at 11:43 AM
This would be a very special sight to see. And then to capture it so cleanly for not just one but four images! Great balancing of the elements with the island to the right and the rainbow on the left. Personally, I would like to see the left side, especially the rainbow, enhanced a bit more. The rainbow is really special to capture but the island tends to pull the attention as it is now.

I've been wanting to try kayaking for picture-taking but am also apprensive about taking my equipment out on a little boat. Thanks for your input from your experiences. . . good to know. :smile:
Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on April 24, 2013 at 10:54 PM
Wow, that's a nice scene, and it's great that you were able to stitch four exposures to maximize the pixels, too.

Good hints about photography from a kayak. One other thing that's a good idea is insurance. :smile:
I shot from my kayak for several years, holding my dry bag between my knees. It worked very well, but I sometimes missed the ability to carry more gear than I could fit in a drybag in the cramped cockpit. Two years ago I bought a lightweight canoe, and it solved all the problems I had with space limitations to keep more gear accessible.
Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by John Clulow on April 25, 2013 at 7:34 AM
I love the contrast between the etherial rainbow decending from the clouds balanced by the Gibralter-like rock.

Don't think I would ever have the courage you did to take my camera gear on a kayak. In fact, I don't think, I know! :smile:
Registered on November 1, 2012, 155 Posts, 1079 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Lockhart on April 26, 2013 at 9:49 PM
Totally agree with you Luke; I wouldn't be without a camera while out in my kayak. Besides wildlife, even things on shore look different from the water. This was really a nice catch and deserving of a pano. The mid-ground cliff dominates the right side, but the distant hills, clouds, and rainbow provide a nice balance to the whole scene.
Jim
Registered on February 19, 2013, 91 Posts, 500 Comments