On The Cover - Wild #182
Learn the backstory of the awesome image that graces Wild #182’s cover
(This piece originally featured in Wild #182, Summer 2021)
“As it turns out, sea kayaking photography is hard. It took a few days to figure out a system where I could actually capture some of the beautiful coastlines. I spent most of this sixty kilometre paddle trying to get ahead and photograph the group, constantly imagining—well in advance—compositions that would do the coastline and other paddlers justice, and all the while considering where the wind, swell and backwash would take me by the time my SLR was out of its waterproof bag. It was a constant game of cat and mouse: Getting ahead; taking a photo; then falling behind.
When we reached Tasman Arch, it was mid-afternoon. We’d just paddled forty kilometers. A stream of golden light illuminated the salty haze at the entrance. It was magic. The mixture of confused turquoise water, rolling swell and wind made staying upright in the kayak difficult, particularly with my field of vision narrowed to the tiny viewfinder. “Paddle in front of me!” I yelled to Josh as he exited the arch. When Josh, Ari and I were at the same height at the top of a swell I let off the shutter. Click. I knew it as soon as I took the shot. I was stoked.”
Read more about Stan Meissner’s Tasmanian sea kayaking adventure in “Are You Really Ready?”, P56 of Wild Issue #182.
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