{"id":8559,"date":"2025-06-13T06:28:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T05:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simonday.com\/news\/?p=8559"},"modified":"2025-05-26T12:51:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T11:51:16","slug":"from-fishing-boat-to-fast-rib-a-wild-7-hour-sea-safari-photography-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simonday.com\/news\/from-fishing-boat-to-fast-rib-a-wild-7-hour-sea-safari-photography-job\/","title":{"rendered":"From Fishing Boat to Fast Rib \u2013 A Wild 7-Hour Sea Safari Photography Job"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When you work as a photographer, you get used to things changing last minute. Timings, locations, lighting conditions, it\u2019s all part of the job. But every now and then, you get a shoot that starts as “just a quick two hours on a gentle fishing boat” and somehow turns into an unexpected 7-hour high-speed marine adventure. This was one of those<\/em> days!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Original Plan\u2026 and the Twist<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The brief sounded straightforward: A local company needed updated website images for their two types of boats; a small mackerel fishing boat that hosts up to a dozen passengers, and a larger sea-life tour boat designed for bigger groups. The shoot was initially going to be a relaxed couple of hours aboard the fishing boat, cruising around Torbay, capturing lifestyle images, details of the boat in action, and a few shots of the coastline. It was also important to cover every aspect of where people embark and disembark, so they know exactly where they need to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as I pulled up (prompt as always) with my Sony A9, my trusty 70-200mm f2.8 V2 and 24-70mm f2.8 V2 lenses, and a zip lock freezer back to keep the camera and lens dry from the waves, I get a “We\u2019ve changed plans,” they said. “We\u2019re using the rib instead. We\u2019re going further today. Is that okay?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, that was no problem at all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rib in question? A high-speed rigid inflatable boat capable of skimming the waves at rather enthusiastic speeds. A very different vibe from the gently bobbing mackerel boat I was mentally prepared for. But, hey, I\u2019m adaptable! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gear Check and Challenge Accepted<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, I\u2019m no stranger to shooting in unpredictable environments. My camera set-up allowed me to switch seamlessly between my longer lens for distant sea life and my 24-70mm for wide, scenic shots of the boat, the crew, and the coastal views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One unexpected challenge? The electric viewfinder. While it\u2019s normally a godsend in bright light, something about the combo of choppy water, high-speed motion, and staring into a tiny digital screen gave me a wave of nausea like I\u2019ve never experienced. I\u2019ve never<\/em> been seasick before, and I’ve been out on the water a lot of times. But the viewfinder this time got me close!<\/p>\n\n\n