This niche type photography is probably something you haven’t given much thought, especially if you don’t live near the coast and aren't surrounded by boats often. These images can be very impressive – and challenging – testing your skills as a photographer.

Here’s a selection of tips to get you on the right track for photographing boats, whether big or small.

It’s all about timing

The best time of day to capture boats is early morning and late afternoon as sunrise and sunset offer the best lighting for boat photography. These times give the light that helps to illuminate the deeper recesses of the boat’s hull.

The colour balance is also warmer in the early morning and late afternoon compared to the harsher light of the midday sun.

Another variable is wind. This is also better at these times as you can be more confident of still waters and better-defined reflections. For fishing boats, canoes etc. this is an ideal setting but if you are shooting sailboats, wind is needed to get the sails going.

Balance

To get excellent boat photographs you need to maintain a balance between boat, water and sky. The method to do this will change depending on whether you are shooting from a fixed position of a boat at rest, or following a boat in action from a chase boat. For the former, fixed focal lenses will be fine and a tripod is recommended. For the latter, a zoom lens will give better results.

You can photograph a boat from several platforms including:

• The shore
• The dock
• Jetties
• Chase boats
• And… a helicopter!

If you are shooting from a non-rigid dock, you will need to try one of two methods: your camera’s image stabilisation system and 'gimbaling' – using your body’s sense of balance by countering the motions of the boat.

Out of control

When you are dealing with natural elements such as the weather, you have very little control on the outcome. What you can control is the cameras you use, the lenses you choose and the platforms to shoot from. You have to work with the cards you are dealt and be able to adapt to changes that can occur.

Who knows? One of your perceived photography failures could end up being something beautiful that you turn in to a canvas print.

Sometimes, the beauty of boat photography is in the finer details. A close up shot of the curve of the bow, the boathouse or even the name on the boat could be the way to go, as well as images of the boats reflection, especially at sunset or sunrise.

Also, check out the Parrot Print post on coastal photography to really take advantage of the seaside setting.