Once you own a pontoon boat, you may find yourself uncovering passions you didn't know you had. Before you know it, you could become an avid fisherman, a hardcore watersports enthusiast, an unorthodox camper or your neighborhood's most creative party-planner.

You also may discover your inner artist.

As you spend time on the water, either cruising or on the hook, it's inevitable that you'll catch a glimpse of local wildlife — a shy deer, a colorful songbird, a soaring eagle, a snuffling muskrat or beaver, perhaps even an elusive fox or black bear. Wouldn't it be wonderful to capture that special moment to share with family and friends? And just think: You could incorporate your very own wildlife photography into family albums, online slideshows, holiday card projects and even framed wall art!

Unfortunately for most of us, at the moment we spot a bird or an animal, one of two things tends to happen. Either we curse ourselves for leaving the camera at home, and the opportunity is lost; or we scramble to dig the camera out of a bag or coat pocket and, in our haste, capture now-empty space or a multihued blur that instantly turns the image into the photographic equivalent of an Impressionist painting.

It doesn't have to be that way. For the novice photographer, a few simple pieces of advice can mean the difference between a dazzling image and "the one that got away."

• First of all, incorporate your pontoon boat into each photography excursion! This type of boat is the perfect platform for point-and-shoot adventures, given its broad, flat deck and overall stability. Plus, all your gear moves with you; when you're ready to move to a new location, just fire up the engine, pull up the anchor or cast off the docklines, and GO. There's no need to pack up gear, load up the car, drive, park, unload, set up, and then repeat the entire sequence when you're ready to move again.
• Be patient. Wild birds and animals are snarky when it comes to showing up on demand; you'll need to allot plenty of time for each location, and be prepared to wait. You'll appreciate having so much storage for gear, snacks and beverages, lots of comfortable seating and a Bimini top for shade if you're going to spend several hours on the water. Bring along foul weather gear, a warm jacket and an extra set of dry clothes in case the weather heads south.
• Try to be part of your environment, and remember to be quiet. Tie up the boat or drop the hook, depending on your location, and turn the engine off. If you're with companions, keep conversation to a minimum; if you'd like to listen to music, ear buds for your iPod or MP3 player are a beautiful thing. Local wildlife isn't going to appreciate friendly banter or your favorite playlist nearly as much as you do.
• Purchase an affordable set of binoculars to aid in wildlife spotting. In particular, binocs will help you zero in on any birds in the area so you can identify them and assess the possibilities for getting a good shot. Wildlife watching is more fun this way, too. Sometimes you'll just see a smudge of color or a rustle of movement; the binocs will give you a sneak peek at what's really going on. This editor spotted a black bear in a tree thanks to a trusty pair of camping binocs.
• As you become more experienced, consider using a tripod. Even if the tripod moves along with the boat, it's a steadier hand than yours, and it's going to improve all but the most active of action shots.
• Choose the right camera. For most of us, this means don't choose a camera that's far more complex than you need. There are a variety of affordable digital point-and-shoot cameras available on the market; you can adjust settings if you wish, but you'll get a good shot even with the automatic settings.

• Make sure your images will be high-resolution. Nothing is worse (except maybe missing the shot entirely) than capturing the perfect shot, putting it on the computer and preparing to make a large print for framing... and then realizing that the image was shot on its lowest setting for resolution. That's fine on the computer, but it won't reproduce well in print. So before you even leave the dock, check your camera to make sure your images will have the highest resolution that your camera will allow. You can always downsize the images for e-mailing or Facebook. You can't go the other way.

And remember to contact us if you get any great shots... we'd love to see them and share them with the Pontoon Boat Guide community!

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