Whitewater Rafting Photography

Outfitters, Manufacturers, Stock Photos, Photography Services

Whitewater Rafting Photography - Photo Boating

This collection of whitewater rafting photographs primarily comes from my time as a photo-boater. In case you’re not familiar with the term, it’s simple. A photo-boater (or photo-kayaker) paddles ahead of a rafting trip, finds a location on shore, pulls a camera out of a Pelican case, and captures images of the rafts as they pass by.

Once the last raft passes, the photographer quickly hops back into their kayak, sprints to the next location, and repeats the process. It’s like a combination of leapfrog and Olympic biathlon—except with a kayak and camera.

Whitewater Rafting Photographer, Scott Blankenfeld on The South Fork American River

What's it take to be a River Photographer?

Generally, with smaller groups and low water, the job is relatively simple. However, with larger groups or high water, it can become physically demanding. Imagine a group spread across a mile of river, with the next shooting location another 1.5 miles away. In this case, a full-on kayak sprint is required to reach the next spot, with little time to spare before the first raft arrives.

To be a successful photo-boater, speed is key. Not only do you need to be quick at getting in and out of your kayak, especially in tricky, wet, and slippery spots, but you also need to be fast at paddling, adjusting camera settings, and, where many aspiring photo-boaters falter, working quickly on the computer. I carry a laptop in the back of my kayak and can sort and prepare over 2,000 images from 20 boats and 5 or 6 shooting locations—all ready for marketing in less than 30 minutes. And that’s while changing from river gear to street attire. Why? Because this job is 100% commission-based, and no one wants to wait.

Copyright Notice
All photographs in this collection are copyrighted. If you are interested in using any of these images, you must obtain proper licensing. Please contact the photographer for licensing details and permissions.

Image Licensing

Book a Photographer

South Fork American River - Chili Bar - California

Whitewater Rafting Photography of: Maya Rapid, Meat Grinder, Trouble Maker, African Queen, Swift Water Rescue, Double Trouble, Rock Garden, Chili Bar, The Nugget, First Threat, Hyside, NRS, ARC Inflatables, River Runners, American River Recreation, American Whitewater Expeditions, APE, Sweet Protection, Astral

River Runners rafts surfing Maya Rapid on The Chili Bar Section of the South Fork American River

Whitewater Rafting through Meatgrinder Rapid on the South Fork American River

Vail of water explodes off bow of raft entering Trouble Maker Rapid on The South Fork American River

Red Rafts inn morning light on The Upper Chili Bar Section of The South Fork American River

Swiftwater Rescue Course Instructor flopping into the whitewater at Troublemaker Rapid in Coloma, CA

Following a raft through Rock Garden Rapids on the Chili Bar Section of the South Fork American River near Placerville, CA

Hyside Rafts floating through the calm pools on the Chili Bar section of the South Fork American River

River Runners Guide prepares NRS PFD at the Nugget River Access on the South Fork American River

Very Expressive whitewater rafters at First Threat Rapid, South Fork American River

Blue Rafts floating through a rapid African Queen on the South Fork American River

South Fork American River - Lower Gorge - California

Whitewater Rafting Photography of: Satans Cesspool, Fowlers Rock, Camp Lotus, Lower Haystack Canyon, Hospital Bar, Pine Hill Preserve, Historic Coloma Bridge, Upper Haystack Canyon, Chutes and Ladders, Cronin Ranch, Hyside, NRS, ARC Inflatables, Avon, River Runners, OARS, American River Recreation, ARTA, American Whitewater Expeditions, APE, Sweet Protection, Astral, Kokatat, Colombia, Sawyer Oars.

Whitewater Rafting Satans Cesspool in Gorge Section of The South Fork American River

Rafters jumping off one of the taller popular rock jumping spots near Hospital Bar, South Fork American River

High water rafting through Fowlers Rock on the South Fork American River, Oars Rafting

River Guide prepares secures his raft in anticipation of the days river trip down the Gorge Section of the South Fork American

High Water in The South Fork Gorge, Smiling rafter and airborn raft

Whitewater Rafters in Hospital Bar Rapid on The South Fork American River in California

Late afternoon light hits whitewater rafters near the Pine Hill Preserve, South Fork America River, CA

Expressive Rafting guide pushing through a large wave on The South Fork American River

Water dropped onto rafters from the historic Coloma Bridge whee Gold was discovered in 1948

Big Smiles, Big Water, Whitewater Rafting on The South Fork American River in CA

Line of ARTA Rafts in high water American River Rafting

Guide launch with style on American River, CA

Middle Fork American River - California

Whitewater Rafting Photography of: Kanaka Falls, Cathedral Rapid, Ruck-A-Chucky Falls, Parallel Parking, Cleavage, Hyside, NRS, ARC Inflatables, OARS, American Whitewater Expeditions, Whitewater Excitement, APE, Sweet Protection, Astral, Kokatat, Lettmann Kayaks, Werner Paddles.

Oars Whitewater Rafting on Kanaka Rapids, Middle Fork American River

Single whitewater raft in Cathedral Rapid on The Middle Fork American River, near Forest Hill, CA

Two Guides set safety at Class VI Ruck-A-Chucky Falls on The Middle Fork American River

Kayaker-looks-up-to-WWE-MFA-Ruck-A-Chucky

North Fork American River - california

Whitewater Rafting Photography of: Chamberlain Falls, Staircase Rapid, Yankee Jim's Bridge, Bogus Thunder, Hyside, Dagger Kayaks, NRS, OARS, American Whitewater Expeditions, American River Recreation, Jackson Kayak, Pyranha kayaks, Werner Paddles, Palm Equipment, Astral Bouyancy, Sweet Protection, Kokatat

Hyside rafts running Chamberlain Falls on The North Fork American River in California

Rafting-and-Kayaking-North-Fork-American

Tuolumne River - California

Whitewater Rafting Photography of: Clavey Falls, Clavey Camp River Right, Hyside, Cataract Oars, Sawyer Oars, Sweet Protection, Astral Bouyancy, WRSI,

Hyside Mini Max entering Clavey Falls on The Tuolumne River in California

Whitewater Rafting Clavey Falls, Tuolumne River, CA

All Hyside Rafts on This Tuolumne River Trip. Clavey Right

Chris Wilson Flying his Hyside Mini-Max down the Class V Clavey Falls on The Tuolumne River in California

Gear boating on the Tuolumne River, Dropping into Class V Clavey Falls

Middle Fork Salmon River, Idaho

Whitewater Rafting Photography of: Lower Grouse, Pungo Rapid, Thunder Storm, Fly Fishing, Boundary Creek Boat Ramp, Middle Fork/Main Salmon Confluence, Impassable Canyon, Pool below Tappan IV, Bighorn Sheep, Ponderosa Pines, Maravia, Stream Tech, Sotar, NRS, Aire, Hyside, Middle Fork Rapid Transit, Sawyer Oars, Utah Whitewater Gear, Astral Bouyancy, Jacks Plastic Paco Pad, Kavu,

Long Exposure photograph of private trip rafts at camp on The Middle Fork Salmon River, ID.

Oars Boats at lunchspot on wild and scenic Middle Fork Salmon River, Idaho

MFRT Streamtech raft fly fishing the Middle Fork Salmon River

Welcome to Idaho Whitewater. Caught in the rain on the Middle Fork Salmon River.

MFRT Big Canyon and dry fly fishing in the morning light

Guide passing fly rod in Streamtech Raft

Seasoned Riverman Lynn Richardson rigging the friction device as he lowers the MFRT Sweepboat at The Boundary Creek boat boat ramp

Fly Fishing the Middle Fork in a Streamtech Raft with big canyon walls

Looking up at whitewater rafters floating down from the confluence of the Middle fork and Main Salmon Rivers

Big Horn Sheep grazing riverside on The Middle Fork of the Salmon River

Long lens and orange morning light reflecting off water on The Middle Fork Salmon River in Idaho

Rafting through the orange canyon walls near Camas Creek as the morning light reflects off water

NRS Raft entering into one of many burn scars on The Middle Fork Salmon River

River dog on Utah Whitewater Gear net, Sotar Classic on Middle Fork Salmon River, ID

Big Pines and small whitewater rafts on Idaho River

casting dry fly on Streamtech Raft on The Middle Fork of The Salmon River in Idaho

More about Photographer Scott Blankenfeld

Business Owner and Photographer, Scott Blankenfeld has been running rivers and shooting photos for 30 years. His career started in 1994 when he attended a guide school on the American River while attending California State University, Chico. He was soon hooked and is now a seasoned whitewater kayaker, rafter, and all around river runner. He is experienced in many aspects of the outdoor industry including adventure travel and education, product marketing, and specialty retail.

About Scott

More about my commercial work

BTS Commercial Videography Scott Blankenfeld

Experienced in outdoor lifestyle with a background in specialty retail, Scott crafts video strategies for business and produces videos that bring your story to life. His latest work includes brand story video, commercial video, product sales videos, how-to videos, story driven video series, documentary short film, and more. See more at www.scottblankenfeld.com/videography