When award-winning adventure photographer Michael Clark visited Vancouver Island in 2013, he noted the stunning views and varied wildlife made for the perfect location for a future shoot. It was not long before Michael got his chance to realise this ambition and soon he would embark on a sea kayaking expedition just off the northern tip of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
The idea for this expedition was to create unique images of sea kayakers in one of the world's most iconic paddling locations. He wanted to convey the visceral feeling he felt on his prior trip – that of being at one with the vast ocean, the overwhelming scenery and the ever-present wildlife. Michael had just weeks to put this expedition together and his first call was to Tony Hoare, a good friend and expert sea kayaker. Fortune had it that both Tony and another friend Joe Nodeland, were available and very keen to be part of the shoot.
“For two weeks I spent eight hours a day setting up this expedition, rounding up the necessary gear, tracking down sea kayaks, and discussing which islands would make for the perfect location.”
The day before they were due to set off, the weather suddenly shifted and put the expedition in doubt. Knowing that they had to move fast, the team quickly phoned in a favour and chartered a boat to take them out to the islands as soon as possible.
Michael and his crew had only two days to get the bulk of the images. The weather on the first day was perfect for last light shots and day two offered a mixture of mystical looking fog and filtered light. Day three, however, brought with it dense fog and limited options. The crew could either head back in or ride out the storm.
Running low on battery power and water, the crew opted for the first option and paddled back, fighting wind, rain and waves over two days.
In the end, the variable weather was a blessing in disguise, helping Michael capture a wide variety of images.
“I am blown away by the images we were able to create and I am indebted to the crew for all of their hard work to make this expedition a reality,» says Michael. «It was truly an exceptional experience.”