Fish n' Clips™ Tips for Photos
We encourage anyone to add any suggestions they have
for getting good fishing shots, for different camera types or anything related to photographing or producing
photos of fishing situations. The Fish n Clips Forum has a section devoted to photography. Check it out to
get more information on this topic or to post new information.
Here are a few photography tips that we’ve picked up over the years:
For trophy shots:
Fill the picture with your subject. The fish and the fisherman are what you want to take up
most of the picture. The scenery in the background is secondary.
Take more than one shot, especially if it is a particularly good fish. Usually, it is better to be at the
same level as the subject but you can get interesting or funny affects with other angles. Closing in on the
fish with hands and/or rod and showing the fly/lure can also make a dramatic shot.
Pose:
The pose can be important also. Showing off how many fish you caught is a very different shot than the
photo that a catch and release only fisherman would take. Fish photos tell a story so make sure your
photo tells the story you want to relay.
If you are keeping a fish, and you want to show how big, holding it up or standing next to it hanging can
show how big it is compared to you which gives the viewer of the photo a frame of reference.
Having two or more people hold a fish out in front of them gives the impression of ‘big and heavy’.
The fish needs to pose also. Fish look better from the side or from slightly above.
Hats cause shadows so you need to use fill flash to see the face. This can wash out the fish, especially
if it has white coloring. It is best to remove the hat and position the subject to avoid shadows if possible.
If the fisherman holding the fish extends his arms toward the camera, the fish appears bigger. Just make
sure the pose looks natural or the impression becomes more of a ‘this wasn’t that big but it looks big now’
picture. Better yet, hold the camera to take a vertical picture and have the fisherman hold the head of the
fish toward the camera which puts the fish in perspective. Remember; fill the frame with your subject.
Catch and Release Photos
Any fish that is to be returned to the water should not be removed from the water or only long enough for
one or two quick shots. If your intent is not to kill the fish, then it certainly should not be injured
just for a photo. Many great shots have the fisherman kneeling in the water with the fish just barely out.
Make sure you keep the fish in the water while you set up the camera. Keep the fly/lure in its mouth,
and only take the fish out of the water long enough to take a couple of pictures then release.
Composition:
Most people have heard of the rule of thirds for photo composition. Most of the digital cameras come with
the option of showing the ‘tic tac toe’ screen to help compose your shot. Try to put the subject at one of
the intersections of the grid. For a shot that shows the horizon, it often looks best if the horizon is 1/3
of the way from the bottom or the top depending on the rest of the shot. Try it both ways.
Don’t ignore the background. Often the difference between a good picture and a great picture is the total
composition. Years from now, the background of the photo will be what tells you which trip that shot was from.
Was it the trout you caught in Montana, Alaska, or Colorado? Let’s see, there’s a river, mountains, evergreen
trees….OK, so it may not help remember where, but it can still add to instead of detract from your photo.
Focus:
Out of focus pictures is probably one of the most frequent problems in photography. A picture in bright sun
taken at high speed is not so difficult to hold steady but when you slow the shutter speed down in lower lights
or to get that cool water flowing affect, it is very hard. A tripod can help eliminate this problem for some
shots, even if you just find a log or pack or some stationary object to set the camera on.
Another common mistake with point and shoot cameras is you have to remember that the camera is focusing on whatever
is in the little box in the center of the view finder/screen. If your subject is to the side, it may not be in focus.
To ‘trick’ the camera, point the camera so that what you want in focus is in the center of the view finder/screen.
Depress the shutter button half way and the camera will automatically focus on the subject. Then, while holding the
button in the halfway position, compose your shot and press it completely to take the picture.
Many cameras have a minimum focal distance for auto focus. Often it is about 4 feet but check your camera manual
to make sure. For closer shots you must turn on the ‘macro’ function. Just remember that this function reduces
the range that will be in focus. It is also more sensitive to camera motion.
For tips on uploading your files, please go to Upload Tips.
Have some great ideas for tips on fishing related photos? Post them on the Forum
for others to use.
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