Fishing creates memories. Many us of have fond memories of days on the water with family members and friends. Recording those memories on film is a wonderful way to recall those times. For many anglers, a small, inexpensive 35 millimeter camera in the boat or in a pocket is as important a piece of equipment as an anchor or landing net. Most of today’s cameras are simple to operate and take great pictures that will bring years and years of enjoyment. Here’s how you can make your fishing trips to the pond across the street or to some remote location one that you will re-live for years via photos. There are just a few basic rules of photo taking that will greatly enhance your photos. Keep these rules in mind whenever you take a photo.

 Consider film speed, but don’t get too uptight about it. The film produced today is great stuff and will do an acceptable job in most lighting conditions. If you know your photos will be shot in bright sunlight, 100 speed film will do a very good job. If light conditions will be lower, like at dusk, dawn, or on cloudy days, go with 400 speed film. 200 speed film would be a good all around choice.

 Make sure your subject is facing the sun. You want the light provided by the sun to be on the angler’s face. Silhouette photos with the sun in the background are nice sometimes, but it’s generally tough to identify the person.

 Use flash from the camera to eliminate shadows and to make the photo pop. Use flash especially on cloudy days or during low-light conditions.

 Get close to the subject. The sky looks pretty much the same everywhere, so you don’t want a third of the photo to be of the sky. Fill the viewfinder of the camera with the angler. Boats, other anglers, and any other background distractions will almost always detract from the photo. 

Make sure that electric motors or rods don’t appear to be growing out of the angler’s head.

 Make sure the angler is holding the fish so it’s side shows. Belly shots of a fish aren’t very appealing. Take fish photos as soon as the fish is caught so it appears natural and vibrant. Fish that have been on a stringer or in a cooler all day will lose color and generally don’t make for very good photos.

 The angler should remove his/her sunglasses. If a cap is being worn, it should be tipped back to eliminate shadows and to reveal the angler’s eyes. Eyes reveal excitement and emotion, and that excitement and emotion can make the photo.

 Good photos aren’t difficult, and can become cherished possessions. Keep the above photo-taking tips in mind and you will find that your fishing trips will live in your memory much longer and more clearly.

 
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