Alaska
Fishing Photography
Tips on how to get a great photo and Alaska fly fishing photography
Also see
Alaska fish species
and
Alaska fishing trip
 A smiling
angler holding his fly rod and prized fish makes the perfect Alaska
fly fishing photo. No doubt, a good
photograph of your catch is the best souvenir you can get from your
Alaskan fishing trip.
Unlike a mounted fish, a photo of your
catch will always remain intact and won't fade or erode with time.
Also, photographing fish is the best way to document your catch if
you plan to release it.
Because you only have a few seconds to capture the perfect fishing
photo, there are a lot of things that can go wrong.
Glare, people and fish getting cut out of the picture, too many
shadows due to bad lighting, all of these things and other problems
can interfere with your photo. Luckily, there
are a few things that you can do to make your fishing photos come
out picture perfect.
Alaska Photography Tips For The Photographer
Always have the
camera within easy reach. You never know when a photo-worthy
fish will be caught and you don't want to be fumbling in your bags
for your camera.
Take several shots of the fish, 3 at absolute minimum. A close up
photo, one at a short distance away, and then one beside an item
that can be measured, like your hand or a ruler (doing this will
help you to determine the actual size of the fish.) It's also
a good idea to take several shots at the same angle to make sure
that at least one of the shots will come out well.
If there is sun, the angler should be facing the sun and the
photographer should have the sun at his back.
Use the flash even if it's sunny outside. This will ensure
that you won't have shadows in the photo where you don't want them.
Be sure to
center the subject in the photograph, whether it's the angler with
the fish or the fish alone.
If you're fishing on a boat, consider getting a screw-on polarizer
cap for your camera. It will help diminish the natural glare
from the water.
Alaska Photography
Tips For The Angler In The Photograph
Be sure that everything is arranged and the picture is ready to be
taken before handling the fish.
Keep the fish in the water just up until the photo is being taken.
Every second that the fish spends out of the water cuts the fish's
chance for survival after release.
When you are ready for the picture, barely lift the fish out of the
water.
Carefully support the fish by
cradling the fish in your hands. Place one hand under the
fish's belly and one at the fish's tail.
When you lift the fish, keep it horizontal and support it's full
body weight. Never hold the fish in a vertical position by
it's jaw.
Never keep the fish out of the water for more than 20 seconds.
A fish cannot remain healthy out of the water for longer than you
can hold your breath.
After the photo has been taken, lower the fish into the water and
gently move the fish back and forth in the water to revive it.
As soon as the fish tries to swim away, release the fish.
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