Fishing photo: Some tips for taking the perfect photo

Whether it is to immortalize a trophy fish or a moment spent at the water's edge, to be used as a means of communication for brands or for the pleasure of sharing your catch on social networks, it is clear that the fishing photo has today become an inseparable element of the modern fisherman.

But whether it's with an SLR or the latest smartphone, taking a good fishing photo cannot be improvised, both for the quality of the photo and for the health of the fish with which you pose. Here are some tips that will help you avoid missing the picture with the fish of your dreams.

The fishing photo, an inseparable accessory of the modern fisherman

More and more, the gustatory pleasure which for a long time defined recreational fishing in France is now replaced by the simple pleasure of catching, and with it that of taking a beautiful photo. This craze for fishing photography (as well as for video) stems in our opinion from two complementary factors: The evolution of photo uses and the democratization of no-kill.

Indeed, the development and accessibility of the smartphone, whose resolutions now rival some of our best cameras, have allowed everyone to take quality photos without worrying about the constraints of transport, heaviness or complexity of using a conventional camera. It is now very easy to catch a fish, take out your phone, take a picture of it and share this moment with your friends in a few seconds.

The practice of no-kill has also allowed the development of the fishing photo. The notion of pleasure that we find behind a photo, of remembering the capture of a trophy, of a unique moment spent on the water perfectly coincides with the satisfaction that we feel behind the no-kill. .

There is also a strong social dimension behind this use. Indeed, when fishing a fish, one of the most frequent questions that we ask you is “Did you take a picture?”, as if to certify that what you are saying is true. Taking a fishing photo is therefore, consciously or not, a way to justify or show off your catches to those around you, as it used to be to catch a fish, kill it and take it to his nearest fishing store or to shop around the neighborhood.

A beautiful fishing photo is above all a healthy fish

Whether used for personal or professional reasons, cameras offer us the luxury of quickly capturing our shot, releasing it for the next fight, while showing it to loved ones without having to kill it. . Releasing your fish is good, doing it in good conditions is even better. !

Indeed, who nowadays wants to see photos of a guy holding a fish that has been out of the water for long minutes, dry and held by slit and / or bloody gills? Or a fish on the ground covered in leaves and in agony? In any case not us ...

It is therefore obvious that your photos will look better if you photograph your fish while it is alive, fresh out of the water and still in great shape.

Keeping a fish at home isn't unethical, but taking a picture of fishing with dead fish doesn't sound appealing to us in any way. They are often stiff, dry, and covered in blood. They may be easier photographic subjects than their lively friends, but the results are terrible. And if afterwards, you decide to share the photo on social networks,… and good luck. 

And if of course you decide to release it, these tips will give your capture a better chance of swimming quickly and calmly after your photoshoot!

Treat your fish with respect

You will understand, there is no point in practicing and promoting the no-kill if it is to put your fish in a bad state for the simple pleasure of having taken a picture of him.

First, wet your hands before touching the fish. This will prevent any risk of infection and damage your fish upon release. Do not hesitate to gently return your fish to the water between the photos. He will be able to recover first, but may also find a wet and shiny body, which is ideal for your next photo.

Finally, you will find that the fish is more cooperative when you hold it confidently, but most of all gently instead of grabbing it as if you are trying to choke it. This will prevent any risk of slipping, falling and therefore damaging your fish. 

Plus, hugging a fish in your hands never makes a great picture and never says anything good about the fisherman. Think about it!

Favor positions that do not damage your fish

Hold your fish horizontally rather than vertically. This avoids holding your fish by the gills, with a goba grip or even by the mouth as we still see it too frequently, especially when fishing for bass (even at home but we are making efforts).

These positions can indeed create lesions or risk dislocating the jaw of your fish which can then no longer feed. So avoid these problems by choosing horizontal photos. It also gives you better angles to experiment with different positions.

If you plan to take a vertical photo, however, avoid adding weight to the gills and spine of the fish. Hold the fish by the tail or lower body with the head resting against your hand and pointing towards the camera.

Anticipate to avoid panic!

From experience, a fishing photo is often badly taken when the fisherman panics. And this is quite normal given the number of actions we carry out from shoeing to release: the adrenaline rush to attack, fight management, avoid obstacles, partner lines, catch fish, release the pressure, find your camera, celebrate, take a picture,…. These are all elements that may make you lose sight of the essential, your fish.

Before any fishing trip, remember to prepare your camera. You will thus anticipate any catch and significantly reduce the handling time of your fish. You'll get better photos if you don't have to worry about packing your gear while handling a struggling fish by the water's edge or on your boat. 

Upon capture, let your fish come to their senses in the water with a dip net or the help of your partner and catch your breath on your own. 

It is indeed easy to forget how much the photo of a fish counts in the face of the enthusiasm of the moment. 

For a great fishing photo, think about the details that matter

Train with your friends 

You'll never have a better opportunity to see the types of photos that work than when you don't have to focus on catching the fish. So have the reflex to take your device when your partner sets up a fish. Consider taking photos of the fight, rushes, jumps, or your friend's face when they catch or lose their fish at the last second.  

You will have the advantage of having clean and dry hands, being calm and having no reason to be distracted. There is no better time to learn how to take a great fishing photo than to take a photo of your friends.

Think about photos on but also under water

Your fish will always look better when they fight, arrive at the landing net, prepare their last rush or when they are released only once out of the water. Few people think of taking this type of photos which, however, if taken well, are just extraordinary. More and more phones, cameras and even Go Pro have the ability to take very good quality underwater photos. So, think about it!

Play with angles

Don't hesitate to play with angles and perspectives. Try to take a photo from top to bottom, near or far. Play around with your fish's angle of grip to create different levels of depth of field. It can also have the benefit of reducing reflections on the body of the fish. 

The traditional “take and smile” photo is excessive and boring. The more you are willing to use different angles and depth levels, the better your photos will be! This rule applies to all levels of fishing photographer, from cell phone users to SLR users!

Think about the background

Consider your background and surrounding surroundings when taking your photos. A beautiful landscape background perfectly accompanies a superb photo of fishing. However, awkward branches or fishing rods in rod holders can make a photo appear messy and cluttered.

In addition, make an effort to keep your horizon straight. This can be difficult to achieve when you're on rough seas, but be aware that most image editing software will allow you to straighten your horizon in post-production. Even cell phone editing software often offers this option.

Avoid condensation

Water is all the more omnipresent when you go fishing. As a result, it is very common to end up with condensation on your lens. Worse, not even noticing it during the photo and having only your eyes to cry when you get home.

Before each photo, make sure the lens is not fogged up due to condensation or cleaning attempts. Taking 30 seconds to fix this problem will save you a lot of inconvenience. 

As in fishing, a good fishing photo is also a question of experience

Experience and repetition play an important role in the quality of your fish's photograph. As in fishing, the desire to do better and to learn will help you improve your compositions. 

But also think that fishing is not only fish but also landscapes, fights and magical moments spent by the water. Also remember to immortalize these moments with your device. You will often be surprised at the results.

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