Solo fishing photo tips
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Just wondering if anyone would give some tips on taking photos when fishing solo. I don’t have a lot of fishing buddies so I usually just have my phone with me but I own a Nikon d5200 and would like to be able to take some nicer photos. Any help would be appreciated.
Ask and Ye Shall Receive.
I presume a bunch of guys will be able to way in with some additional stuff, and probably stuff I haven’t thought of, but until then, this should get you gents started.
The 1st and most important thing to keep in mind is “Know your camera”
Being able to have your camera ready and not having to mess around with settings is key, especially when chasing more fragile species like trout.Knowing the ins and outs of your automatic shutter are as important as the settings. Typically I’ll bring a small tripod on solo trips, the quick release attachment on the camera, so I can just snap it in to the ‘pod. I also set the auto timer to take several photos.
Having a large net helps, not only with landing fish but for getting your camera in focus. I hold the net out and focus the camera on the net, prior to hopping in front. Not always full proof but it works more often than not.
If you don’t have a tripod, find the next best thing. A slightly higher bank, a fallen tree, and large rock, for use as a tripod. More often than not, on quick excursions, those are my tripods.
If you’re shooting a DSLR, use the strap as a leveling device by putting it under the lens.
Lastly, and this applies for catching and landing trophy fish as much as anything else, PLAN. When I’m hunting large trout, and I see an area, or know an area where one might or does lurk, I plan ahead. Where will the fish likely run, etc. This helps with camera set up. Often I’ll set my camera/tripod up or downstream of where I am actually fishing, anticipating landing the fish nearer the place for the photo shoot.
When you’re in the middle of fighting a fish that’s running down stream, your camera sitting on the bank where you hooked up isn’t helpful for photos, or for the fish’s health.
If I think of any other’s I’ll throw em in. That should be a good starting point though.
Another budget alternative to a tripod is to use a “bean bag”. I just use a zip-loc bag half filled with rice, size dependant on your camera of course.
A wireless remote can open a whole lot of creative options too. Manually focus on a spot you can readily identify, maybe a stick you’ve poked into the mud or a rock that breaks the water surface and then fire away to your hearts content once you’re in frame. Some remotes will have various firing options; single frame, bulb and timer on the cheap aftermarket remotes that I use. If I’ve got my camera set on high speed continuous drive and the remote set to single frame, the camera will typically take 3 frames, or if you set the remote to bulb, I’ll get about a 2 second burst, great for release shots.
You might have to get creative with tripping the remote. With the shot below, I had to set up the camera while the fish was “half played out” in the pool, stick in the mud to focus, and orient the frame (removed in post), camera on rice bag, digital level, remote in mouth, pray for the best!Attachments:
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