EXPEDITION PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOS by ERIK BOOMER | WORDS by VIRGINIA MARSHALL LEARN THE LANGUAGE [1]
The language of photography, that is. Photo- graphs can be either evocative or narrative, and the best documentary shooters capture elements of both. Evocative images create an emotional response in the viewer—in this im- age, the tension and challenge of paddling in wind and waves contrasts with the relief of a lifting storm—while narrative pictures depict the subject in a more literal way. “On an ex- pedition, I set out to capture images that will tell a story visually—showing the challenges and also the beauty of the landscape that I am traveling through,” says Arctic adventurer Sarah McNair-Landry. Baffin expedition partner and professional photographer Erik Boomer agrees. Before your trip, he suggests, “Take the time to write out a photo plan.” Capturing those critical moments, says Mc- Nair-Landry, is all about keeping your camera handy. “When it’s cold and you’re tired, it pays off. My favorite shots have been during those tough times or stormy conditions.”
COPE WITH THE ENVIRONMENT [2]
How do expedition paddlers keep cam- era equipment working while shooting in freezing, wet, salty conditions for weeks at a stretch? “The two biggest difficulties are keeping the cameras safe from the water, and keeping the batteries charged in the cold,” says McNair-Landry. The team stored their camera equipment in Watershed dry bags, which they clipped to the kayaks’ decks or stashed in their cockpits for easy access. A veteran of expeditions in frigid environments, McNair-Landry says the secret to extending battery life is ensuring the batteries are warm before use. In cold weather, store spare bat- teries in a pocket next to your base layer so your body heat keeps them warm. On a long trip, purchasing a compact solar charger may make more sense than buying more batteries. “Since we were traveling for two months, we used solar panels to charge not only our cam- eras, but also our other electronics,” she says.
CONNECT WITH OTHER CULTURES [3]
Learn as much as you can about local culture and customs before you leave and when you
50 | ADVENTURE KAYAK
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arrive. McNair-Landry and her teammates spent four weeks in Nunavut building their own traditional skin-on-frame kayaks to use on the expedition. As their crafts took shape in the woodshop of the local high school, the paddlers also worked with schoolchildren and teachers to build scale kayak models, sharing their learning and discovery with the
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community. “It’s important to know your subject,” says Boomer, “I try to spend time with people, really get to know them and at some point, if I am lucky, I earn their trust to set up a good photo.” McNair-Landry agrees, “Be courteous—some people don’t like their picture taken, and that needs to be respected.” Get permission first, says
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