Joe's Guide to Fishing Photography

Photographing Your Catch Written by:  Joe Lewis  “If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough” – Robert Capa Fly F...

Photographing Your Catch

Written by:  Joe Lewis 

“If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough” – Robert Capa

Fly Fishing and Photography; the right way to photograph your catch. In this write up, we will touch points on efficient ways to photograph your fish . I'll explain the "Keep 'em Wet" mentality, the set-up and execution of the photograph, and proper sharing of your catch on social media platforms.

Keep Them Wet!!!

Keep 'em Wet Mentality: In fly fishing the biggest joy of course comes from the fish we catch, and it is important to know and practice the "keep 'em wet" mentality. This is a basic rule and is followed nearly by all fly fisherman, and it comes with some guidelines. Start with your local knowledge, if the water temps are rising then maybe skip the photo, or get the shot while it is still in the net. We always encourage anglers to fight the fish quickly and efficiently while reeling them in.

From there you should wet your hands prior to handling the fish, and never hug (squeeze) the fish.  Handle it with care; fish have internal organs that are incredibly fragile. Remove the hook while the fish is in the net and water.  Position the net so the fish is facing upstream.

This is time to prep for the photo. If you are with a buddy, communicate the timing so when you raise the fish out of the net, it is DRIPPING WET and held out over the water, 1. 2. 3... snap photo and release fish.  This should never take more than a few minutes from fight to release, and the fish should never be held out of the water longer than a few seconds. *Note - I don't like to see fish up on the banks stuck on dry grass, or dirt gasping for breath, so keep those fish strong and healthy!!!

Set up and Execution:  Have your DSLR or Smart Phone set up to the specifications that will allow you to be efficient when taking your fishy photos. I carry my DSLR on my chest no matter the conditions. With my background in photography, I will always shoot in "full manual".  Using manual mode, I am producing photos that best represent the scene.

If you're using your Smart Phone or DSLR, I like to encourage folks to follow a few simple guidelines to help them produce better photographs:
1. The Rule of Thirds
2. Interrupting Objects
3. Get Out of the Tourist Zone
*Note - Waterproof cases for Smart Phones are recommended, and always using your camera strap.  Cameras don't float!!! And underwater housings for DSLRs are expensive.

Rainbow Trout close up, unique angle

Rule of Thirds: Your camera, whether it is a smart phone or DSLR, will usually have a grid on the viewfinder. If not, then imagine a grid of 9 boxes making up a rectangle. Those boxes should be used to line up the objects in the photo.

Experiment with this:  Practice on the horizon line on a sunset or sunrise photo. Move your horizon line on the top third line leaving the bottom 2/3rds in the foreground leading back to the horizon. (this leaves you with a long depth of field)

Then do the opposite, and keep experimenting on the horizon line. Move it diagonally, move it until it feels balanced to you, and how you want your image to look. In regards to a fish photo, pretend that fish is the horizon line, and move it around your grid until it feels right to your eye, and snap the pic.

*Note-These are guidelines, and if you feel like you want your photo to be symmetrical, then by all means, use that horizon line to split your photo in two.  (Great for landscape shots of lakes and rivers)

Interrupting Objects: This is the greatest downfall to a possibly great photo, and I thank the Gods for digital photography!!!  Now we can fire off hundreds of shots in seconds if we wish.  When I learned, it was all on 35mm film, I was stuck with 36 exposures max on a roll of film.

This rule became the number one rule I stuck by for all of my photography. That skill rolled over to my digital photography career.  It is a pretty simple rule.  When you are composing your photo, look for objects that will take away from your subject, and try to exclude those objects from your photo.  Examples: tree limbs sticking out of your subjects head, street signs, phantom limbs, people, cars, structures, anything that will keep your eye away from the subject you're attempting to document. Put yourself and your subject in a position to eliminate as many of those objects as possible.

Getting out of the tourist Zone, Keeping them wet, Rule of thirds.

Getting Out of the Tourist Zone: This is not Disneyland... well it is our Disneyland, and gosh darn-it, we need to represent ourselves with some dignity!  Leave those fanny packs at home, take off those hats and sunglasses, and learn to use those hinge-like things on our legs to find a different angle outside of the basic crap you see tourists doing while taking photos. Move around your subject, and find an angle that is interesting and points your eyes towards the subject. Use your surroundings to create a great photo of your catch. 

Sharing your catch on Social Media: This is always a touchy subject, and honestly I cannot stand photos that have been half blacked out, or drawn all over using Microsoft Paint to hide the trees in the background. I 100% agree with helping hide certain spots and keeping your honey holes for your paws only. That being said, it is absolutely possible to take a great photo that represents just that! If you can position yourself while composing the photo well, you can keep your spot hidden while expressing the sense of mystery and intrigue you want in your imagery.

Some folks are fishing new spots and want to show off there success.  In those situations be sure to think about the locals in those areas. We as fisherman are apart of a tribe, and if we all work together to preserve our waters we can pass along our passion and knowledge to the next generations.  Do your best to not blow up spots.  Use specific hashtags when posting, and use a caption that will allow your followers to engage with that post.  Tag companies in the photo of the equipment you used to catch that fish: rod, reel, line, type of fly etc... This will give you exposure to more eyes, and the potential to gain a ton of followers.

All the colors of the Rainbow.

I'd like to suggest that we always fight those fish properly:  Use a net whenever possible, and keep those fish wet while taking your photograph.  Be sure to have your camera (Smart Phone or DSLR) set up to your specifications so you are quick and efficient when taking your photos.

Remember those guidelines; The Rule of Thirds, Getting Out of the Tourist Zone, and Interrupting Objects. Then when all is said and done, you're on your couch back home reminiscing through your photos and ready to post your favorite one.  Be sure to be cautious of the location of the photo taken, not to give away your honey hole, but still represent an amazing catch.  Also be aware of the hashtags and companies you tag in your post. I want my viewers to feel the way they'd feel if it were them fishing in the photo. The feeling of being in the moment, and how quickly these memories can flew our minds and memory. Being an artist I always want to express my feelings and emotions through the lens, and when fishing is so close to my heart and soul it is always easy for me to draw inspiration throughout my fishing adventures. Find those inspirations and photograph them! Most of all, have fun. The fishing and the photographs you shoot will reflect those times, don't let them drift away.