That was a good read, thanks for the tips.

Thanks for the tips - I'm always trying to learn more about photography in general, and these were great tips.

I appreciate the ideas and tips. Now to put it to use. Gotta love digital. Anyone want to buy an F100?

Tim,

Great shots and tips. You've inspired me to try some of them out.

I know you suggested using a dry bag to keep camera's dry. Can you actually take clear photo's through a dry bag, or do you take it out in order to shoot, then put it back in after? I shoot with a Nikon D40. There's been plenty of times i wished I had my SLR while out in the kayak, but I left it at home worried it would get wet and ruined.

TR-

Thats what I was looking for. Thanks for the help and the heads up. Got any advice on how to get where your sitting today? Just graduated from University of Missouri with a Journalism degree and want to break into the world of Outdoor journalism. Any advice you can give me would be appreciated.

SBell,

Geeze, I don't know man... I've been awfully lucky. Practice your craft as much as you can.

Don't be afraid to call or email an editor, art director, etc out of the blue They're pretty much just like everyone else. Human.

Connections can mean everything. Don't burn bridges.

Really learn as much as you can about the web. How to write for it, price your work, etc...

it's good to know I've tricked all of you into thinking I know what I'm doing. At least I got part of it right.

Oh, and yeah Cermele is right on the money. Literally with that comment.

steelers8623,

Do you mean of the just the fish or you and the fish?

steelers8623,

okay, so this is pretty tough no matter how you slice it.

One: If there's a shot of just the fish that you have to have, leave the fish on the hook or in your net and gently slide the fish into some very shallow water or onto a grassy bank making sure to keep it in the water if at all possible. This is where having your camera VERY accessible comes into play. While keeping the fish in the water via net or by the hook in its mouth pull out your camera and snap a few pictures of the fish near the water. DO NOT try and hold the fish above the water with one hand. You will inevitably rip it's face off or drop it.

Two: A photo of yourself with the fish? Next to impossible, but I have done it.You're gonna need a net to pull this one off.
Keep the fish secured in the net in shallow water. I carry this ultra small, ultra light tripod called the ultrapod (http://pedcopods.com/)with me everywhere I go. It's no bigger than anything else in your fishing vest. Set up your camera on a high bank or what this tripod allows you to do is wrap it around a small branch or tree. (see the URL above for example)Learn how to use the timer on your camera. Almost every camera made has one. If possible set it to the longest setting. Perhaps 15 secs or so. Set up your scene hit the timer and get in the frame. Try it a couple times then revive the fish and let it go. Tough, but not impossible.

outstanding article!

find*

Eric,

Well, i actually rather enjoy overcast lighting. It's like throwing up a giant soft-box in the sky. Think portraits. Overcast evens out all those harsh shadows on fish and people.

Shooting in the rain is really tough and typically not so much fun. With that said -use the rain to your advantage - shoot it as an element to the shot. Dripping hats, wet people, lush landscape., etc...

On the note of keeping your camera ready, i like to use my bino-system which keeps the camera at chest level, doesn't fatique my neck, and also helps steady the camera when shooting by providing countertraction.

excellent post.... good information!!!!!!!!!!

Steven9253,

I like it man. I'm really very partial to shallow depth of field photos. It's nice that you got down at eye level and shot it there. Two minor suggestions if I might--and these like almost everything in photography is subjective. One - the top of the frame you're just barely cropping out the top of the chair. Either put the entire chair in the frame or come down quite a bit. Leaving it right on the edge is a bit distracting. Two, if you would have focused on the catfishe's eye I think it might have been stronger. But again - that's just me. Hope that helps. Nice shot.

Tim
thanks for the advice

Great photo's good comments by all.

Ever since I picked up photography it's been a goal of mine to get a photo printed in F&S. Any tips?

These aren't just great tips for grip & grin photos. They work ALL THE TIME! If everyone kept mindful of these guidelines there'd be less headaches and unusable photos!

TR,

Is the quality of photo from the basic hand held digital camera good enough for magazines such as F&S or let's say TFFJ?

Tom,
Those are some great tips. Thanks. I always carry a camera with me and have taken some great shots of my grandchildren with their fish.
Dave B

Great fish and excellent tips!!!!!!

Great tips...I will employ them next trip out.

Excellent tips. Learning your camera is most important. A $11,000 camera with a toddler operating it, still takes lousy photos.

www.outdoorwriter.net

Excellent advice Tim!

I like that you underlined the fact you don't need a $1500 DSLR to make interresting images! Too many people i've talked to look at photos and say: "Wow, what a nice picture, I wish I had a camrea like that." I shoot Canon DSLRs with an assortment of "L" glass, but I'll be the first to admit that two or three of my favorite shots taken this year have been with my wife's $200 compact. I would love for F&S to allow you to follow up this story within other nature photography subjects. Granted alot of what you've explained here transfers to other aspects of outdoor photography, but I'm sure many of us would love to learn techniques for shooting wildlife, and especially how to properly compose a trophy shot! (i.e. away from the bed of a pickup truck!)