What makes a GOOD paddling photo?

Follow these simple suggestions to make sure your pictures turn out great.

Tips & Tricks

-Be aware of the Lighting. In general, the midday sun shines very bright and leaves many otherwise great photos washed out or over exposed. Mornings and evenings often provide the best lighting situations. Always be aware of the direction the light is coming from. It's hard to see faces in the shade or in a back lit photo.
-Crop and Zoom. A digital photo can always be zoomed in or cropped to a certain size later. But if you chop the top of Jimmy's head off in the initial snap shot, it's hard to fix.
-Get Creative. Don't get stuck taking the same type of shot over and over again. On the water shots are always great, but don't be afraid to capture the whole experience. Snap pics in camp, on a portage, at home, at the car, in the snow, etc.
-Perspective. You don't always have to take a picture while you're standing up looking down on the subject. Get low to the water, get high above, take the photo at an angle, etc.
-Be Prepared. You never know when the perfect photo opportunity will present itself. Some of the best photos we see are unplanned, spur of the moment shots. Always have your camera within reach.
-Keep your equipment safe. An air tight dry bag is a must if you're taking your camera out in the boat with you.

What we look for in a great cover shot photo:

First things first, the photo needs to be of great enough resolution to achieve a quality print. Cameras of 6 megapixels or greater should be used. Contest photos can be submitted at low resolution, but in order to win the grand prize, you must have a high-res version upon request.

-Take Vertical shots. Unless extremely high resolution (RAW) horizontal shots cannot run as full pages.
-Is the photo clear and in focus?
-Interesting subject? Although nice, we rarely choose pure scenic shots. Having people in the photo is an almost must for a cover shot.
-Can we see your face? you don't neccissarily have to always look directly at or pose for the camera, but nobody really wants to see the back of your head.
-Smile!!! Paddling is fun, relaxing, and enjoyable. Go ahead and show it.
-Life jackets? Safety first.
-Is it somehow unique and different? Will it grab the attention of someone walking by?

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