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Photos and texts by Pascal Sauvé (Kitchener, Ontario)
http://timestop.zenfolio.com

Tips for photographing on a boat cruise in Tobermory Fathom Five Marine National Park

- Best time of the year for it I suspect would be in early Sept. - after the kiddies and their touristy parents shove off - besides it's when the water is at it's warmest and visibly is best since the air temp. is cooler - less haze is good for shots on the water. I also suspect better cloud formations for dramatic sunsets.
- Arrive for a midday cruise if you're really keen on seeing/diving for the wreck - the deeper the wreck, the more light it needs to be seen properly but if you're cruising around the island, go for a supper/sunset cruise - superb light for the shots.
- Watch your speed on the road, plenty of OPP
- The Tobermory street signage and directions are horrible and lotsa one way streets.
- Parking is nuts - during tourist season, it's a freaking zoo.
- Take meals off rush hours otherwise good luck getting a table and or drinks.
- Sadly It's super touristy so you will pay a big premium if you book your hotel there. Stay in Wiarton instead and drive up to Tobermory. Same for food and drinks. The choice of restaurants is not a problem - there are plenty and they all do good business.
- Stick together - it's crowded or you'll lose your group.

When on the boat:

- Right off the bat : If you have mobility or sea sickness issue, i'll be honest, sit it out since it's not exactly mobility friendly to the climb up and then down to the top deck much less getting onto the boat in the first place. Oddly enough, throwing up on your fellow passengers is not very endearing and as bizarre as it seems, dry nose/nosebleeds will occur when exposed in continuous dry wind conditions over one very wet lake so if you're a nose bleeder, best to stick instead to a bar on the shore.
- Wear jeans, shirt with wind breaker in mid-July - you can experience a temperature difference of 20 degrees on the exposed top deck. Tourists used to warmer climates from outside the country bolted for the warmth of the enclosed lower deck - they shivered even when wrapped with the cruise ship thick wool blankets. Fine by me - more space for me to roam and shoot without running bumping into people.
- Sunscreen and hat are mandatory or you'll look like me after a while : a human lobster. Hold on tight to your hat - it's windy when the boat hauls ass and it's worse with a base wind to begin with. Bring bottle water but don't throw your garbage in the water or you will be severely yelled at (I mightly approve of this I might add)
- When getting close to large islands, they will often create a wind shadow that fools people to take off many layers - only to freeze and struggle to put them back on when the ship clears the island minutes later.
- Get in the line for the boat 30 mins before leaving otherwise you won't get a seat or spot on the crowded upper deck. Be ready to stand in the sun - no shade the whole time you're waiting in line and not many seats to relax while waiting to board the boat.
- Get to the top deck fast and stay at the back of the boat on the right side and watch where the sun is at all times so you proper illumination - never fight against the sun when taking photos - you will lose. Oh and stick to your spot if you're taking photos - even if you're a pain in the ass. Why ? First come, first served.
- The back of the boat is noisy - worse if you're on the bottom deck. You will raise your voice a lot.
- When going in the shallows, the water swells more and faster so hold on to the railing when you are not taking photos or you will fall down on a very hard deck and smash up your camera.
So grow your sea legs quickly or sit down and forget the photos - Get your hips and bend your knees and legs a bit too so you go with the swell - not against it and let go of the rails when you're ready to take your shot(s) and grab back the railing when done. These cruises last for hours on end and I stood up for 95% of it in order to get the shots I needed - no regrets but my legs and core got a very serious workout - you will want to sit for hours or lie down after a hot shower and an Advil afterwards.
Why not lean on a railing to stabilize your shots ? 1. You will rock as hard as the boat thus not be as stable, when you roll with the ship and shoot during at the peak of the up or down movement, you seriously increase the chances of a sharp shot. 2. The vibration of the diesel motor of the boat is worse on your body when you sit down or lean on a railing - again can't get a sharp shot.
-For shots taken while cruising on the water, bring a camera (SLR) with a superb image quality lens based image stabilization otherwise even your wide angle shots will be ruined because of the swell of the water - not to mention having to deal with haze during hot/humid days.
-Don't bring an umbrella, monopod, tripod or selfie stick - you'll look stupid and draw the ire and unwanted attention from people who can take a proper photo and poking your fellow passengers - chances are you will get told off and other people will rightfully applaud your embarassment.