Photography tips

1214 Views 33 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Sam Lempriere, Dec 15, 2009

Simon L

Discussion Starter · Nov 30, 2009

Not sure which section this should go, so i'll put it here.

I've enjoyed creating a catalogue of pics over the past 18 months of my fishing exploits. I've documented most fish that i've caught, and some lovely scenery shots, and family pics (of me & Basswalker). Some of the pics have come out well, look good, and i'm gonna get them printed for the walls in my house. Other pics just contain nice memories.

I'm upgrading my digicam now (nothing too fancy, just something a little more robust & modern), and recently bought some software which has allowed me to tweak my pics & get a little more out of them.

I was just wondering what top-tips people on here have discovered for taking nice pics whilst fishing. Things i'm wondering about include . . . .

Camera settings (modes, etc..), how to hold a fish for best effect, close-ups, sun position, taking pics at night (not had much success with that), taking pics in horrid weather conditions, etc. . . . . .

I'd just like to hear about anything which may help me (and others on here), in taking the best pics possible of our fishing as we go.

btw: just want to become a little more proficient with my digicam . . . . . no plans to become a photography expert.

Si.

1 - 20 of 34 Posts

dai56

· #2 · Nov 30, 2009

Sorry Si the best tip i can give you about photography

remember to take your camera

James Davis

· #3 · Nov 30, 2009

When doing close up shots of your plugs it's always best to use natural outside light. Not a really sunny day, nor a too grey day either if that makes any sense?

Joe Sepi told me that.

That's all I know I'm afraid.

Andy Marquis

· #4 · Nov 30, 2009

It's easiest to have someone with you to take the pic as well, hence half of my shots have cut my head/arm/fish out of the pic.

Find somewhere sort of level for the camera, use the 10 second timer and get back quite a long way to make sure everythingis in the shot, you can always crop it later and digi cams nowadays offer good enough resolution to allow quite a crop without losing huge definition.

Also, use the flash, even if it's sunny, helps to eliminate shadow on the fish and on you, especially if the sun is anywhere behind you due to where you can sit the camera.

The Squid

· #5 · Nov 30, 2009

I think that Henry is the man you need

Simon Clapham

· #6 · Nov 30, 2009

My tuppance worth......when holding the fish, a little tickle around its bottom bits, gets the full fin up effect.....much nicer than fin flat IMO. Take the photo's in RAW format if your software can process it, if not, change your software :lol:
Set your camera to its maximum output/largest size/Superfine call it what you want, if your using the preset 'auto' mode.
Get a bigger memory card as they are cheap as chips these days (RAW images are BIG uns)
More megapixels don't make a better photograph......5MP is plenty good for images up to A3 size
Don't take too long faffing about......the health of your quarry is paramount and photos fade where memory does not (unless your name is JCMR who forgets who caught the fish in the story telling :shock: :shock: )

Marc D...

· #7 · Nov 30, 2009

softie said:
My tuppance worth......when holding the fish, a little tickle around its bottom bits, gets the full fin up effect.....much nicer than fin flat IMO.

:lol:

LOVE IT!!!

Steve Lewis

· #8 · Nov 30, 2009

I hve books, DVD's and magazines if you want to borrow them !

Andy Marquis

· #9 · Nov 30, 2009

stevelewis430101 said:
I hve books, DVD's and magazines if you want to borrow them !

I assume your talking photography and not tickling bottom bits :lol: :lol:

trev

· #10 · Dec 1, 2009

fish always seem to look happier when held horrizontally with both hands supporting their weight . Softie.......... did wonder why all the fish in your posts seemed to have a smile on their face

Andrew Wilson

· #11 · Dec 1, 2009

Think about where the light is coming from to show the fish off best. If there's two of you, one keep the Fish in the water with fish grips if you have them until the other is ready for the photo.

Henry Gilbey

· #12 · Dec 1, 2009

Read, read and read all you can about photography, and take photos as much as you can - there are no "rules" when it comes to photographing fishing, but a basic understanding of certain aspects will allow you to react very quickly............the faster you can react, the better the photos you will get, and the kinder it is for the fish.

Different fish can be held in different ways, always look for a different angle and where the light is coming from.

If the light is garbage, frame tightly and take as much sky out of the equation as possible - unless the light is awesome and moody.

Don't allow your camera to make all your decisions for you - knowing when to take over and tell it what to do is vital for better photos.

Alex Jordan

· #13 · Dec 1, 2009

Having used the usual Canon cams in waterproof housing with varying degrees of success I hit upon an issue in the kayak - too close for normal digi cams without a remote ...

found this which will be my next toy for general fishing and kayak use - will be generally useful for fish eye style fish poses too! (they are readily available in the uk)

http://www.goprocamera.com/

And I am tempted to pickup a helmet / head cam too - skishing? tropical popping etc?

http://www.actioncameras.co.uk/ContourHD_VholdR

http://www.actioncameras.co.uk/home.php

Simon L

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 1, 2009

Some great tips coming through gents - let's make sure that we make our sport look the dogs bollocks, and that every weekend (and cheeky mid-week sessions) we have some tip-top reports accompanied with pics to look forward to next year !!

Steve Lewis

· #15 · Dec 1, 2009

FishingGuernsey said:
stevelewis430101 said:

I hve books, DVD's and magazines if you want to borrow them !

Click to expand...

I assume your talking photography and not tickling bottom bits :lol: :lol:

If there is a book or DVD on tickling bottom bits, I want one !! :lol: :lol:

Sam Lempriere

· #16 · Dec 15, 2009

I've got a nice digital SLR camera and I always want to take it with me. Unfortunately its not small and I only do at certain marks that don't require climbing down cliffs etc!

I really need to get me a small rugged digicam I guess.

Regarding the pic tips, a couple from me:

- Sun behind the camera if possible.
- make sure camera isn't too close when using flash at night - or you will just see a bright white bass instead of that luvly silver.
- Always take 2 photos!
- If getting a fishing buddy to take the pic, make sure they know how to press the bl00dy button!
- tickling bottom bits sounds good, i'll try that!

Tim Griffin

· #17 · Dec 15, 2009

We haven't caught loads of fish this year but I have tried to get good photos of as many as possible especially the ones George catches, so I can illustrate the catch reports. I am no photographer and only use a digital compact but here are my tips:
get set up and sorted with the fish in the water on a fish grip so you don't have to rush around,
check out where the light is coming from and use it to your best advantage
don't be afraid to use different angles to get interesting pictures of the fish
take half a dozen of each fish if necessary to make sure you get at least one shot you are pleased with - delete the unwanted ones when you get home
use the focus lock on the element of the picture you want to highlight then frame the picture and shoot - the fishe's eye or angler's smile work well
frame quite tightly so you see as much of the fish and anglers face as possible - after all, rocks are rocks!
RTFM - Read The F****g manual! Use the winter months to understand the different modes and features on your camera so you know how to get the best from it as quickly as possible when you need it.
Even a 3.2MP camera phone will do a good job if you give it a chance (the pic below is from my Nokia 5800)

Hope this helps!

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Mick Ward

· #18 · Dec 15, 2009

I am not sure about tickling its bum, but a tip I was given by the french guys was if you want the fins to stand up just flick the bass on its head where it joins its neck. Just a flick with your finger tip does it. ooh, and another trick I learnt years ago is how to get a bass to fall asleep and not jump about whilst youre holding it. With your thumb in its mouth you just rub your thumb from side to side under its tongue, do it side to side about ten times, the bass then lays motionless on your hand for about 30 seconds and then starts to slowly come round again.

Edit: Dont try this with a pike!!

Keith White

· #19 · Dec 15, 2009

I'd like to see more creative work (photo shopped) stuff done with fish pics.

One , long exposure by flowing water gives a very weird look to the water.

If 2 shots were taken, one with, and one without the subject, I'm sure the 2 could be
combined to form a superb shot.

It's like a shot I'd love to do with a night caught Bass. How to get the star's in the background ?
We can see em when fishing, but they NEVER come out in a picture.

Loads of idea's really but, like fishing itself, fish photography is an art form or, a snapshot affair.
A place for both I think and fish, have a fascinating array of subtle colours that only certain types
of natural light can recreate.

Personally, flash kills that, but..how to take natural light pics without raising the iso settings
too high is beyond me. Infra red maybe ? There must be a way.

When you see a picture of me or Kev holding a decent Bass and you can see the milky way in the high background
you'll know I've cracked it. HELP !

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Andy Marquis

· #20 · Dec 15, 2009

Depends on your camera's ability. You could redice the shutter speed or increase aperture to make the flash effect slightly less dramatic but better still a proper flashgun and reflector rather than direct flash works better to make the shadow effect less dramatic.

As for stars, the exposure to get them is pretty massive so you'd have to combine two shots. Problem is if you're in the pic you'd have to stay still for 2 or 3 minutes...

1 - 20 of 34 Posts

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