If you want to master your skill to take better fishing photography, then you’ve come to the right place. It costs nothing to snap photos making any object the subject. But if it comes to living subjects and a fish that lives in water, then it can be pretty tricky to take such photos.
But don’t worry as we’ve prepared a complete guideline to help you take better photographs. Simple tricks like adjusting the frame, changing the angles, using the light direction wisely can nail the fish photos in just one take.
Let’s dive into the article to have more insights into how you can take better fish photos in a short time.
How to Take Better Fishing Photos?
You don’t have to overwork yourself or pull any extreme stunt to get good fishing photos. It’s a simple task that even a beginner can do. You just need some basic concepts to focus on to help you take better fishing photos.
Pack the Essential
As we mention the essential here, we mean the camera and the lenses you would use to take fishing photos. wisephotographer founder Michael Jordan stated that a camera for fishing photography should come with these below given three features:
- A camera that provides features to soothe the shaking due to boat movement and save the camera from water.
- A camera that contains features to allow it to work quite well in harsh condition
- And lastly, the feature that allows the camera to process pictures taken in low light.
Camera Type
You can use any type of camera for fishing photography. Nowadays, almost every camera has the mentioned feature. You can pick any of the primary gear of a camera with the same features no matter if it is an iPhone Camera or a DSLR.
You can take good snaps with any camera you take. But some fish like carp can give you a hard time taking shots. Also, there will be times when you will face waves if you choose places like the ocean or river.
So overall we can say you will need a camera that can face all the problems of fishing.
Lense Type
The best type of lens for better fishing photos is undoubtedly the wide-angle one. Images taken through wide-angle lenses have their own exciting view that other lenses can’t provide.
Other than wide-angle. You can also choose a midrange lens as it’s known for being the decent one to capture every angle.
And the last one we would suggest is a telephoto lens. This lens type helps you take a fishing snap by setting the scene perfectly.
Lighting Is Important
Words can’t be enough to describe the Importance of lighting in any type of photography. Natural lighting doesn’t just adjust the color contrast of your fishing photo. The perfect lighting also decides how the focus would work.
You can get the perfect natural light and rock your fishing photography from any angle. A few tips that will make the light work in any situation:
- Blacklight can create shadows on your subject and ruin the snap. Try to avoid backlighting.
- The HDR feature of your camera will perfectly blend the light in your photo.
- Placing your camera toward the sun at a 45-degree angle will spread the natural light ideally.
Focus on the Subject
The subject- fish, should have complete focus as it is the “hall of fame.” Cameras can easily track the focus, but it’ll just turn into a typical snap if you let the camera decide.
You can tap on a different part of the fish to focus and take a close-up shot. Adjusting the focus will give you different pictures even when the subject remains the same. Focusing the subject on your own is also crucial if the fish is big enough.
Try Different Angles
Thinking out of the box is another way to improve your fishing photography to the next level. The different angles will give you a different view and background to make your photo enthralling. A regular head-on shot is a typical angle that everyone takes.
Take your photo to a higher position or against the sun to take magnificent shots. You can also include the fishing equipment to tell a story through your picture.
Capture the Action
Another great idea to improve your photos is to capture the action. By action, we mean taking the fish out of water or while the fish is still on the hook. If you can capture these moments in your camera with proper lighting and focus, then we can confidently say that you have got some stunning snaps in your hand.
Composition Matters
The basic concept of a good photo lies in the composition. Composition is the topmost priority if you want a good photo. The lighting may take your side, and the background may also play along, but the composition is terrible.
The term composition simply means where to put the subject in a frame. To make the composition of a frame easier, photographers use the “Rule of thirds.”
The “Rule of third”
To apply the rule of thirds, you have to imagine the camera screen divided into thirds. Try to place the subject into the imagined line. Human eyes tend to focus on those divided lines rather than the center.
Try to keep the fish either on the upper third part or on the lower third so that you can have a much better framing for the snap.
Safety Measurements
Taking fish photographs means you have to be in a boat or near the water for quite a long time. Along with yourself, the camera and the gears also need safety to avoid any accidents. Here are some tips that can save you from any unwanted incidents:
- As you’ll stay near the water, wear a life jacket to avoid. Even if you know how to swim, fishing often includes the ocean and the river, which are deep enough to cause fatal accidents.
- Protect your camera and lenses from the water, and it’s a must. Even the slightest contact of your camera with the water can damage your camera to a long extent.
- Keep the sharp objects like hooks, fishing rods, and knives, then keep them in boxes or a safe place. The sharp edge can harm you as you’ll need to move a lot to take snaps.
Final Words
With the perfect composition, lighting, camera on your hand, and a fish as subject, what else do you need to get started to take some breathtaking photos? The basic knowledge and bit of practicing can change your fishing photography game.
Taking better fish photos is not only a matter of pride for you. It is also satisfactory to see for the viewer. We hope our article was able to give you the proper answer. We will be happy to know your experience of fishing photography in the comment section.
