Comments on: Escape to Islay

By: Argyll News: National Geographic's March 2009 issue majors on Islay, sea-kayaking and whisky | For Argyll

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:55:30 +0000

[...] and already has two hundred members. They rave about the opportunities and they are evangelists. Islay has its own Canoe/Kayak Club that attracts a lot of attention for the experiences the island offers to the [...]

By: pamf

pamf — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:35:30 +0000

Wenley, you were missed! You would have loved it, I’m sure. We’re back to “auld claithes and purridge” now (trans: old clothes and porridge), meaning we too must work for a living. Sigh …

By: Ignacio Wenley Palacios Iglesias

Ignacio Wenley Palacios Iglesias — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:52:07 +0000

You and Alan in Frenchman’s Rock as I grunt and sweat under a weary life…

By: pamf

pamf — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:41:31 +0000

Hi again Armin – Yes I often visit Douglas Wilcox’s site. He is the master kayaking photographer without a doubt, and his photos provide real inspiration to get out there and get snapping.

By: Armin

Armin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:35:30 +0000

Thanks for the explanation Pam, really appreciated!

I do a lot of photography on dry and usually mostly steady land, so it’s interesting to read about how to do it when things around you are moving. Come to think of it, I’ve struggled quite a bit taking pictures with a big lens when standing on an exposed cliff buffeted by fairly strong gusts…

Good luck with perfecting your skills, I’m sure you’ll master it soon!

PS: Do you know Douglas Wilcox seakayaking blog? He’s been to Islay a few weeks ago and also just went round the Mull of Kintyre.

By: pamf

pamf — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:48:10 +0000

Hi Armin – Thank you for your comment. The camera used on this blog is a waterproof one – it is a Pentax Optio W20, so you don’t need to keep it dry. I place it in my buoyancy aid pocket, and it is also secured by a cord tied to my BA. I then grab it when I see a photo opportunity. I usually need 2 hands, so the paddle sits on my lap while I power up etc – hence the need for stable conditions. In time, I hope to perfect my ability to use one hand only and get some better “action” shots.

By: Armin

Armin — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:38:14 +0000

Reading your addendum brought back a question I had in my mind but never asked after reading another blog with kayaking pictures from Islay:

How do you actually keep the camera dry in a kayak and how do you take the pictures? Is it in a waterproof housing and you somehow balance it in one hand while the other holds the paddle?

(I’ve only been in a kayak for a few weeks at school, more than 25 years ago)