FINER FISHIN' FOTOS : ART OF CATCHING FISH ON FILM CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR ANGLERS.Byline: Ray Rychnovsky Special to the Daily News With the auto-everything cameras of today, anyone can take excellent photos. The camera's auto-exposure assures your photos won't be too light or too dark and the auto-focus makes them sharp. An enlargement enlargement, n an increase in size. enlargement, Dilantin, n.pr See hyperplasia, gingival, Dilantin. enlargement, idiopathic, n from even a budget, or point-and-shoot camera A film or digital camera in which the focus and exposure is entirely automatic. You aim and press the button; the camera does the rest. Point-and-shoot cameras can range from cheap throw-aways to pocket-sized digitals. can appear as if it is the product of an expert photographer. So why didn't you get the great shot of your catch on your last fishing trip? For most of us it is because we didn't take our camera, didn't use it or didn't apply a few simple procedures that can turn our snapshots into images we want to hang on our walls. The classic photo is of an angler angler, common name for a member of the family Ceratiidae, European and American bottom-dwelling predacious fishes. The angler lies on the bottom and lures its prey with a long, wormlike appendage that extends forward and dangles over its mouth. with his or her fish. Here are a few tips that should enhance your chances of snapping the best photo of that composition: Focus carefully Even the best cameras can produce an out-of-focus photo. If you want to focus on a fish but the focusing spot (usually in the center of the view finder finder, in law. Ordinarily the finder of lost property is entitled to retain it against anyone except the owner. It is larceny, however, for the finder to keep the property if he knows or can easily determine who owns it. ) is on mountains in the background when you take the photo, the mountains will be in focus while the fish and the person aren't. For most cameras, push the exposure button (also the shutter (1) An opaque window that is moved in one direction to let light in and in another to close off the light. In fixed-lens cameras, one shutter often suffices for aperture and speed. ) down lightly while pointing the focus spot on the fish to focus; keep light pressure on the exposure button to hold the focus on the subject, while you recompose re·com·pose tr.v. re·com·posed, re·com·pos·ing, re·com·pos·es 1. To compose again; reorganize or rearrange. 2. To restore to composure; calm. your photo. Then push the button down to expose the photo. Where should you focus when taking photos of an angler with a fish? Usually the most important thing is the fish, so focus on it; if the fish is at an angle where it won't all be in focus, focus on its eye. Simple backgrounds A photo should tell a story that is very simple. The first glance at the photo should focus attention on what is important; anything that distracts from the subject harms the photo. The most important part of the photo is the fish and the angler. The rod, lures, and maybe a net add a story element. Everything else should be out of sight. Move the angler to avoid other people or beer or soda cans in the photo. Move fishing rods away from behind the angler so they don't appear to be sticking out Adj. 1. sticking out - extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary; "the jutting limb of a tree"; "massive projected buttresses"; "his protruding ribs"; "a pile of boards sticking over the end of his truck" of his or her head. And compose com·pose v. com·posed, com·pos·ing, com·pos·es v.tr. 1. To make up the constituent parts of; constitute or form: your photo against a simple, pleasing background. Water, mountain scenery and blue sky all make good backgrounds. Lighting, lighting, lighting Good lighting is what makes a good picture, so pay attention to the sun's positioning. Lighting is much better early morning until 9 and late in the day after 3; shadows aren't as harsh and don't cover as much of the face. If you must shoot at midday
The flash on the face softens the shadows. It may also produce a glint in the eye - a reflection of the flash in the fish's eye and the person's eye. That little glint gives the subjects life and improves the picture. An outdoor setting is best For the best photos, shoot as soon as you catch a fish. Fresh-caught fish look alive and colorful, unlike those of bland subjects that have been in the cooler too long. If you must wait until you get home to take a photo, use the above suggestions to create a decent photo at trip's end. For example, snap the shot in front of a plain wall, not the refrigerator or a window in your kitchen. Proper perspective The fish is the primary subject and the angler is secondary, but a fish can look small when compared with a person. To emphasize the fish - and make it appear larger - have the angler hold the fish out in front and use a wider-angle lens, such as a 28 mm or 35 mm on a 35 mm camera. Position the angler as comfortable as possible; don't have the person hold the fish at arm's length arm's length adj. the description of an agreement made by two parties freely and independently of each other, and without some special relationship, such as being a relative, having another deal on the side or one party having complete control of the other. because that's an unnatural pose. Tell a story Try composing com·pose v. com·posed, com·pos·ing, com·pos·es v.tr. 1. To make up the constituent parts of; constitute or form: your photo so that the angler is lifting the fish from the net or showing it to a friend. Leave the lure lure the skin-covered object which runs on a monorail on a Greyhound racing track and which the dogs are schooled to chase. The lure must be kept 30 to 40 ft ahead of the leading dog so that the field is stretched out. in the fish's maw or re-hook it, so that the bait bait a preparation containing a palatable food substance such as raw meat, carrot or bran and a pharmaceutical or poisonous substance. The purpose is to introduce the medicament or poison into the unsuspecting animal. used shows in the photo. Many successful photos also show the angler holding the fishing rod in one hand and the fish in the other. Take some photos of the angler looking at the fish and some of him or here looking at the camera. That way you'll have more options to see which you like best. Have the angler smile but also take photos with a more sober look. Bottom line: Take many photos. (Of course, that technique may not be the best for catch-and-release fishing, when the game's survival depends largely on a delicate touch and being quickly thrown back.) Tip: If you do nothing more than pose your subject in front of a clean, uncluttered background and use fill in flash, you will take photos you will be proud to display. Make reprints and enlargements of your best shots and toss the others in the round file. No one need know that not all of your photos are great. CAPTION(S): 2 photos PHOTO (1) A photo taken early in the day shows the angler and the fish in good lighting. The lure that caught the fish hanging from its mouth adds an element to the story. (2) The fish is well lighted in this photo taken later in the day but the harsh shadow obscures the angler's face and his sunglasses sunglasses A tinted pair of glasses used to ↓ light arriving at the eye, which are labeled according to the amount of UV light blocked; nonprescription glasses are classified according to use and amount of UV radiation blocked Sunglasses hide his eyes. Using fill flash and removing his sunglasses could have saved the photo. The person in the background competes for attention but adds nothing to the photo. Move the person, the angler or the photographer to get a clean background. Ray Rychnovsky/Special to the Daily News |
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