Question about a photo project.

[Mike Anderson]

I’ve been spending some time back in the river where I learned to fish many moons ago. My daughter and I have spent some time wading the river and catching whatever we can with gear and fly. I’d forgotten how beautiful the native fishes are in these waters. We have a very diverse system with some truly amazing fish. Not amazing in that they are large but amazing in colors and beauty. I’m going to spend some time catching and photographing these fish the next few weeks, months, years. I’ve also got a friend who works for the US fish and game who has a backpack shocker. We should be able to shock up some really cool looking fishes. My question is how to best photograph small fishes. I know I want some eye and face shots of the various Perch family but I would like to capture some of the minnows as well. Any ideas on how to compose these little guys?

[willmilne]

Hi Mike

I think it depends on where your goal is focused .

I have a a number of custom ( home ) made tanks ranging from 2x3x 1/2″ in thickness to 6x4x 1″ in thickness for imaging aquatic critters from bugs to small fishes.

They all have the facility to recirculate the water and keep the specimens alive for many days to even weeks in a very confined environment.

Lighting of micro-aquariums is most easily done using diffused cross polarized flash.

The reason I ask about the end result is this –

If you are trying to create a definite or usefull image with respect to ID or imitation with a pattern then taking a photograph of an aquatic critter outside of that environment basically leaves out way to much info.

There are incredible subtle color and structural features of small fish and macro invertebrates that get lost when you simply photograph them out of the water.

Hope that helps

Will

[Mike Anderson]

Will I’m looking to capture the most color and detail as I can. Our perch family have some brilliant neon colors and eye’s. I’d like to do some artistic type shots that showcase these colors.

Here is one I did today. Not a perch but still very cool looking detail. Should have used the Macro for this but all I had was a 17-40.

[willmilne]

Great image Mike – I have a feeling you are imagining images that most of us have not seen which is very exciting – to me at least :))- there is a level of abstraction in that image I love – the hint of a rerlected environment in the eye – that references back to the viewer that could be a powerfull element to play with.

Will

[Mike Anderson]

Thanks Will. May hit the creeks tomorrow and see what I can capture. Wading with that camera sure makes me nervous…

[Mike Anderson]

First attempt at this so here goes. C&C is welcome.

Learned that the cool looking reflections that looked neat through the viewfinder are nasty hot spots on the image. Arrrggg.

[Jason DeBacker]

Great pics!

[J A Y M O R R]

Way to go Mike.

[Mike Anderson]

Thanks! Still working on a way to get the entire fish. Nature sure is amazing. Put a Macro up to most anything man made and you start to see the imperfections. Put it up to Mother Natures work and it just gets better.

[willmilne]

Hi

Great series Mike.

Seems we tend to overlook the little feesh which are clearly just as interesting , if not more , as the troots.

Not sure if this plays into where your tech interests are at, but it is a very effective approach for taming highlights and saturating colours ( yes I grew up in the UK ) – works just as well with a single flash as the dual example

http://www.naturescapes.net/042004/wh0404.htm

hope that helps

Will

[Colin M.]

mike i would think that a photo such as the ones you posted, with a nice big recognizable fly in mouth, would be something a print guy would be interested in.

[p. taylor]

I have a a number of custom ( home ) made tanks ranging from 2x3x 1/2″ in thickness to 6x4x 1″ in thickness for imaging aquatic critters from bugs to small fishes.

Will

Will I’d be interested to learn a little more about your tanks, they sound really interesting

Mike, there are some really nice shots there. I’m thinking, though, that on some you are either not close enough or not back enough. I am loving the patterns and colors you are finding, but in the first one, there is a lot of dead useless information on the left side of the photo and on the right side the fishies mouth is cropped awkwardly. The second photo is more ‘on’ to me, but I am still finding the crop near the mouth a bit strange. 3d photo you have your hand in it ( not sure if that is ok to you or not, but the human element changes the photo ) fourth photo is great as are the rest.

I think you are off to a great start and as you shoot more you’ll start to find the focus points and framing that works best for you.

pt

[Aaron Christensen]

Great photos.

[Tim Angeli]

Great photos Mike.

[Mike Anderson]

Thanks guys. It was alot of fun wading the creek to catch them. Turns out wading small creeks with a 3wt and a dry/dropper combo is pretty damn cool even if the fish are small. I may have found my next fishing project too. As our well know waters get more public access and become bottle necked I’ll be looking for remote quiet water again.

[Neal Osborn]

Seeing these photos makes me realize why I love tying with the new Jurassic Eyes!

[Mike Anderson]

A few more today. Still waiting for the polarizer for the macro. Actually I went with a step up adapter so that I can use one of my three 77mm’s. I’m not sure how well it’ll work as I’ll have to forfit the hood to make it fit,, we’ll see. Thanks for that article link Will,, good stuff! I’ll be trying it out soon.

higher res. http://trophyfishingtn.com/smf/index.php?topic=5728.0

[Colin M.]

Holy Smokes Mike!!
😀

[Jason DeBacker]

Even better than the first set, which were very good.

[Mike Anderson]

Thanks guys!

[Author]

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