Paddle Photography With Emmanuel Schnetzler
Today we’ve invited one of our founding club members Emmanuel Schnetzler to have a conversation about photography on the water. You may have seen his posts in the club or visited his stunning instagram with his wife Greta: INSTAGRAM
You can see Manu paddling the waters of the Central Waterfront most mornings before sunrise. His commitment to his craft is inspiring, yet he is not a professional photographer. His work captures the raw beauty of the Bay, both in its’ industrial grit and natural essence.
We asked Manu to share some information to help other paddlers improve their own photo experiences on the water. At the end you’ll see a stunning gallery of some of Schnetzler Photography’s work:
Q: How did you get your start in professional photography?
A: I am actually not a professional photographer! I started making photos when I was a teenager and have not stopped since. My wife Greta and I really got into it seriously right after we met and have continued working together for the last 24 years. It has always been a serious hobby, and we are showing regularly and are very involved in the San Francisco art community. We participate in the Open Studio event every year in San Francisco and currently have a show with about 20 prints in a gallery in the South of Market area, up until February 20th: SHOW, open Saturdays noon to 3pm and otherwise by appointment.
Q: What are your favorite subjects to shoot?
A: Greta and I really love night photography, whether landscape or urban. We particularly enjoy working together on light painting images at night, but we always like to explore new ideas.
Q: What gear do you use when you’re shooting on the water?
A: I take my mirrorless Nikon with a couple of lens to cover a range of images, from wide angle to capture the city or the bay to a telephoto lens for the bids and seals. I like to have options even if it means having to change lens while on the kayak. While it's a risk to take expensive equipment on the kayak, it is rewarding to get good quality images we can share but also print large like we have for our gallery show.
Q: How do ensure the gear stays safe and dry?
A: I keep the gear in a dry bag when I'm not shooting and take it out to take photos. I am not so worried about getting a few drops of water on the camera but dropping in the bay would be a bummer... A kayak is pretty stable so I am not so worried except when seals are close by as they seem a bit clumsy and I am sometime worried they might surface right under the kayak. That would be a problem!
Q: What techniques do you use to get the best shots on the water.
A: I like shooting very low to the water with a wide angle. That is a good way to balance the water and the sky in an image. From a technical point of view, shooting when it's dark and the water is choppy can be challenging so I tend to take several shots of a scene to be able to find a good one. I often get rid of 4 out of 5 images when the conditions are rough.
Q: Are there any suggestions you can offer to amateur photographers who want to get the best shots possible when they are on the water? (Particularly those shooting with phone cameras).
A: I would start shooting during the day and on calm water. Mornings after the sunrise tend to have nice light and be calmer than later during the day. Make sure you are fully comfortable on your paddle board or kayak before worrying about taking photos. As for any photography, think about composition and try to include interesting elements such as piers or other boats, as shots with just water and sky can feel empty.
