Check the wind and the forecast the day before, and agree a plan with the skipper. A boat deck is a small, moving set, so everyone needs to know where they can stand and when the boat will turn.
Plan around the light
Low sun behind the subject gives a bright rim of light on hair and shoulders. Time the trip so the best light arrives when you are already out on the water, not while you are leaving the harbour.
A polarising filter deepens the sky and cuts glare from the water, but turn it slowly, because the effect changes with the boat's heading.
Settings for a moving deck
The boat moves even when it looks still. I keep the shutter speed at 1/500 of a second or faster and use a slightly narrower aperture than on land, so a small sway does not throw the focus off.
Protect the kit
- Use a neck or wrist strap at all times.
- Keep spare lenses and batteries in a dry bag.
- Change lenses below deck or not at all.
- Wipe salt spray off the front element often, and clean everything properly once you are home.
Most of all, keep the shot list short. On a boat you get fewer chances, so decide on the three pictures you must have before you leave.
