What’s more fun than messing about on the river – photographing on the river of course! Here’s our latest quickfire guide to photography from the water.

Few things beat wildlife-watching from the water on safari – apart from photographing that very same wildlife. Game drives are exhilarating, but there’s something serenely special about being on a river or large dam with your camera for company.

Quietly floating close to a shy, diminutive kingfisher balanced on a reed or a resting leopard that’s watchfully tolerating your slow, silent approach really is something else. On the water your senses appreciate the vast array of wildlife pulled to the river in the African dry season; elephant and buffalo feeding nearby, the swoosh of a goliath heron flying overhead, the splosh of a fish eagle grabbing her takeaway dinner, the soothing, doo-doo-doo of a coucal  hidden in the grass and the gruff, mocking bark of a distant hippo.

Beautiful, but isn’t it a bit choppy for photography on a boat?  Won’t camera shake be an issue? Not if you opt for a specially-adapted vessel designed for photography, like the shallow draught photo boats we use on Botswana’s mighty Chobe river. These boats have super-sturdy camera supports built in. Otherwise you can usually manage okay with a small tripod, or handholding if the light conditions are nice and bright.

A boat’s ability to drift quietly often allows a closer approach to subjects than a vehicle on terra firma. The angle of view is lower (mostly at eye level with subjects or beneath them, which can be very dynamic for shooting larger mammals). And when you want to linger it’s often possible to beach a boat and hold position for long periods if you require.

Only a boat is going to get you close to superb photogenic subjects like swimming elephants, fighting hippos, playing otters or skimming African skimmers. And don’t get us started on all that lovely reflected light you get on your subjects from the water’s surface…

Our top tips for photographing on boats

• Apart from being a tranquil experience, it’s the fabulous low level that makes photographing on the river so attractive and addictive. Exploit it to the full when photographing from a boat – especially for subjects in the river whose watery world you are venturing into. Notice how subjects above you on the higher banks look dramatically dynamic looming above your lens and how they pop so well when set against the sky. Don’t be shy of leaving your seat and getting down low to really make the most of this. We’ve got some of our best shots from boats by sitting on the floor or lying prone at the bow or stern.
• The abundance of diverse wildlife on the water ranges from bee-eaters to buffalo, malachite kingfishers to massive elephant bulls, so when it comes to choice of lenses you’re probably going to want a broad reach.  The photo boats we use are well set up for super telephotos if you have one, making the river a big treat for bird photographers. But that said we can often get close to even the smallest of subjects so relying totally on a 500mm/600mm lens may hamper you. We have our trusty 500mm lens with us on the boats but also like our 100-400mm zooms for flexibility as they’re great for hand-holding where you need it.
• A bean bag can be useful on boats where there’s no room for a tripod or there are no special camera mounts, so you can support your lens on the edge of the boat. On the shallow draught boats we use there’s a padded section of waterproof cloth we can flip over the low rim of the boat which is great to rest a long lens on when photographing subjects in the water such as jacanas feeding on the water lilies.
• A wide angle lens is a must given you can approach many quite shy subjects closer on a boat. Wide angle lenses give your wildlife shots a powerful 3D perspective – particularly handy when photographing elephants at close quarters. On top of which you will probably want to shoot a few ‘animalscapes’ showcasing the scenic beauty of your destination at distance, if only to show the folks back home where you were.
• Maximise your shutter speed whenever you can – even on the most stable boats like the ones we use. That way you won’t sacrifice sharpness to vibration or the boat’s motion, or miss any unexpected bit of action that comes out of the blue. You don’t want to fluff that shot of a hovering pied kingfisher or a heron catching a fish. Ballpark speeds of 1/800 sec to 1/1,000 sec are your starting points for slower moving subjects all the way up to 1/2,500 sec and higher for things like fast-flying birds. Remember to keep your eye on your available shutter speed as light levels fall and be ready to adjust your ISO accordingly.
• Using wide apertures will help you get faster speeds for nailing sharp shots on the water, but that’s not the only benefit. Shooting at f/5.6 or thereabouts also allows you to pick subjects out beautifully from the background, especially when photographing subjects in the water at low angle with a longer lens. The foreshortening effect means the background will be rendered pleasingly out of focus; just what you’re looking for.

• Don’t forget to keep looking around you; paying particular attention to what’s happening behind. The action goes off 360 degrees around you on the water which is where swivel seating is a boon. You might be happily focussed on one subject, but there could be something more interesting developing on the opposite bank.  Check what’s going on in the distance too. If you see a herd of elephants emerging from the trees further along you can then choose either to ‘bookmark’ them on the chance they’ll still be around later or abandon what you’re photographing currently and head in their direction.
• There’s lots of lovely added value to be got for your pictures when photographing from boats. Keep your eye out for mirror-like reflection shot possibilities on still days, or ways to use the colourful abstract patterns of rippled reflections when it’s not perfectly calm. Flotillas of blooming water lilies or interestingly-shaped dead trees poking out of the water are all extra bits of visual interest you can weave into your compositions.
• Sunsets are a special time on the water. The colours provide a double whammy for photography as those rich oranges and golds fill the sky and the water too. Use the low angle the water gives you to maximum effect for making silhouettes of subjects against the sky/water backdrop. Bear in mind animals above you on a high bank can look really good silhouetted against a sunset sky too – although you may need a bit of manoeuvring to get everything just how you want it.
• Make sure your camera and lens, if attached to a special mount, are secure between bouts of photography for the safe protection of your kit, and, as a courtesy to other photographers, dip long telephotos fixed to special mounts when not using them so they don’t get in the way of others.
• Be careful to keep your gear bag closed to prevent any occasional water spray from getting on your gear (this generally only happens when travelling to and from the best areas for photography at speed when we’re on the Chobe) and pack an absorbent cloth to dry off any splashes just in case.
• Develop a good relationship with your boat guide/driver, as they are experts on navigating the water and know the local wildlife better than anyone. They are the key to your success when photographing on the water. Let them know what you’re interested in and what you hope to photograph. The best guides are invaluable – brilliant at positioning a boat and with a sound knowledge of the photographer’s needs.
• The same rules about staying quiet apply when you’re on the water as on dry land; doubly so where you’re getting extra close to the shyer stuff. Game drive etiquette and ethical wildlife photography practices are as important on the river as they are in the bush. This includes following your guide’s instructions which are there for your safety.
• Finally enjoy the experience – and don’t forget at coffee time to pinch yourself as a reminder of the amazing place you find yourself in!

Reed cormorant with fish, Chobe, Botswana

Be ready for action all the time on the water. Photographing from boats is as much about swiftly locking on to a bird when it suddenly flies past while the boat is moving, as it is about cruising up to subjects you’ve spotted on the banks, where you have the time to drift toward them and prepare your photographic approach.

Canon EOS 1Dx, EF500mm, 1/2500 sec, f/7.1, ISO 1600