There is almost always a certain amount of chaos associated
with a great catch, so get an idea in advance of where you
might take your shot. Check the background through the view
finder carefully for distractions like a rod appearing to
stick out of the subject’s head. If you’re ready
in advance, you’ll get photographs that aren’t
posed and that feature the vibrant colors of a fish fresh
out of the water. First and foremost, fill the frame with
the subject, eliminating anything that doesn’t add
to the composition. Since you’re filming on the water,
check that the horizon is straight.
Many photographs taken on the water are exposed in bright
light. A camera’s light meter averages light over the
scene, so an angler’s face (especially if shaded by
a cap) will often be dark and lack detail. Make sure you
expose your shots with fill flash. Modern digital cameras
(even the less expensive ones) can automatically determine
the correct amount of light to fill in the shadows. Take
a number of shots from different positions and get the angler
excited and talking to you. One of the really great advantages
of digital is that you can take lots of pictures and edit
them as you go to make sure you have the shot you want.
More advanced digital cameras and flashes allow you more
control over the final image. Since the lighting is almost
always challenging, shoot and then review important shots.
If you have a more advanced camera, always bracket important
shots in difficult lighting situations.
Expose at least three images: one slightly underexposed,
one slightly overexposed, and one at the setting suggested
by the light meter. If the light is bright and the subject
dark, try spot metering on the fish and then the angler’s
face. If spot metering isn’t available, come in close
to establish the proper exposure. Photographers shooting
with a digital SLR camera and independent flash units must
remember to bracket with the flash.
There are a lot of excellent digital cameras on the market.
Most come with a trial version of an image editing software
like Adobe Elements. I would suggest buying at least a 3
Megapixal camera that has a zoom lens and accepts a polarizing
filter. There are many models on the market from $160.00
to $300.00 dollars. Professional level cameras like the
Nikon D-70 sell for approximately $1,500.00 with an 18-70
mm lens. Fishing is a lot more than catching, so make sure
you take shots of those moments with friends and family
that make the experience so special.
For more information on the right camera for you, check
with a professional at your local shop or go to www.bhphoto.com.
Software demos can be downloaded at www.adobe.com.
Taking the time to capture the "fishing moments of
life" pays dividends when you can continue to relive,
and share them through your images. The new digital technology
takes pictures to a whole new level.
