Fish Picture help

[nathan rees]

What should I have done to this picture? Or What would you do to try and make it a better shot ? Or do you like it the way it is ? Im just trying to figure out a good way to get a nice fish picture for when I land my first musky. This was my friends and he loved the shot. Just wondering what you all think.

[mark s]

Nathan,

I’m just an amateur so keep that in mind with my comments.  I like the shot a lot and like how you framed it.  I think the only thing I would change is the amount of both space and glare on the water in front of the fish.  You could either change your angle a bit or shift the angler so there are trees or something darker behind him.  Maybe fill the frame a bit more with the fish.

However, really like the shot – can’t wait to see a shot of your first muskie.  I want to make it out your way to go after those soon – let me know if you need someone to shoot your first catch.

Mark

edit: I checked your blog and actually really enjoy the color version of this pic – I would suggest posting that as well.

[Morsie]

Nathan as Mark said the foreground is a real distraction. Also the fish is a long way off however there are some really nice oily patterns on the water around the fish and when you get in close there’s also a lovely reflection of the fish on the water, something you should take advantage of. Not sure what kind of resolution you’re dealing with but this was crop I did – hope you don’t mind me jigging your image a tad. Play around with some cropping – the fish isn’t quite sharp enough to do a tight crop. From my perspective I’d also look at straightening the horizon a little, not all the way, just a little.

Morsie

[Zach Matthews]

Nathan –

It doesn’t suck, but it all depends on the use.

[nathan rees]

Thanks Guys ! Morsie always feel free to tweak them. Im new and still learning. I dont mind the critique, its good for the learning process.

Mark you shoot me a pm and we will go your welcome over this way anytime you want to go !

[John Bennett]

Nathan, there are only so many ways you can show fish.

As a general rule.
Shoot at eye level. So if your fish is in the water or just out of it, try to be there with it. Try to fill more of the frame, unless there are BG elements you want included.

Angles.
Just my own personal preference but I tend to shy away from shots where the fish is perpindicular to the lens. Truthfully thats an understatement, I really don’t like them.

To me anyways, it makes the fish appear flat and lifeless. We’re  tryin to show 3D things, in a 2D medium, even just a little angling adds some perspective and a sense of depth, wether your DoF is shallow or deep.

[nathan rees]

Thanks John ! I will keep this in mind. I am headed to WV’s Elk River, land of the 10-20-30 club, this weekend for a two day trip. I plan to work on a lot of these things you all speak of. I will hopefully be back with plenty of GIG’s to critique. I still dont have any editing software yet, as a broke high schooler, money takes a while to save up

[Morsie]

One thing on your fish portraits Nathan is to avoid the fish’s underbelly. Its usually white so will usually be overexposed and there’s more colour and interest in a fish’s back. But above all focus on the fish’s eye.

Morsie

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