I'm not sure if this has any merit, but thought I'd post it anyway. This is a portrait of gentleman practicing his fly fishing technique along a lake in Chesapeake, VA. Thanks for looking.
While what you are showing is good, I'd venture that you need the entire fishing rod and preferably include his legs (is he wading in the water or on the shore).
The sweep of the line of a fly fisherman can be a very interesting element of a photo.
Jim Rickards wrote:
While what you are showing is good, I'd venture that you need the entire fishing rod and preferably include his legs (is he wading in the water or on the shore).
The sweep of the line of a fly fisherman can be a very interesting element of a photo.
Thanks, Jim. Good points. Unfortunately, I was shooting with a 500mm lens and could only get part of him and his rod in the frame.
WOW! This photo is so cool. Did your family take this picture for you? I am a newbie and my family doesn't like fishing. So no one has taken photos for me.
I won a fly fishing gear for beginners through Maxcatch's activities.
Elsa-Haydn wrote:
WOW! This photo is so cool. Did your family take this picture for you? I am a newbie and my family doesn't like fishing. So no one has taken photos for me.
I won a fly fishing gear for beginners through Maxcatch's activities.
Thanks for your kind words. I took this photo myself. I usually shoot birds, but I also love to capture fishermen, especially as they cast. I love that casting motion, much like I love the motion of a baseball bat swing (in a good ballplayer's hands). BTW, as a newbie, you might be interested in reading my latest blog. There are lots of photo tips there. Here's the link: https://birdpartner.com/2019/06/28/bird-photos-and-photo-tips-at-midyear/. Good luck!
While I agree that a larger and broader perspective would have been excellent, as a fly-fisherman myself I appreciate the closer, more intimate perspective. The angler's expression is one I have exhibited on many occassion as I have pursued the fishing equivalent of golf.
Smousefam5 wrote:
While I agree that a larger and broader perspective would have been excellent, as a fly-fisherman myself I appreciate the closer, more intimate perspective. The angler's expression is one I have exhibited on many occassion as I have pursued the fishing equivalent of golf.
Thanks so much. I am so used to that "broader perspective" you speak of when I shoot. I've never liked clipping. I've even told others, 'Don't clip.' But lately, I've decided to do just that, and I'm enjoying it. Attached is a more distant shot of the same guy. I don't like the distant shot as much as I like the more intimate one. So I agree with you. Zooming in, I can see his face, his expression, his hands, the reel, the cool shape of the line, etc. I also feel that I'm right there. Some of that is lost in the broader perspective.
I like these, especially because I've developed an interest in fly fishing lately. Yes, these photos do have merit!
Also, I tend to agree with you about getting closer to your subject. The first photo definitely shows enough of the action to let us understand what's going on, and I feel it shows more connection to the person.
I might be in the minority of people who think that way, though. I'm the kind of guy who goes on vacation to beautiful places, and I take close headshots of my family, blurring the background away completely. My family wants "mom in front of the river," and I take that photo too, but I don't cherish it. My favourite portraits are always about the person only, or like this one, the person and their activity.
bcguy wrote:
I like these, especially because I've developed an interest in fly fishing lately. Yes, these photos do have merit!
Also, I tend to agree with you about getting closer to your subject. The first photo definitely shows enough of the action to let us understand what's going on, and I feel it shows more connection to the person.
I might be in the minority of people who think that way, though. I'm the kind of guy who goes on vacation to beautiful places, and I take close headshots of my family, blurring the background away completely. My family wants "mom in front of the river," and I take that photo too, but I don't cherish it. My favourite portraits are always about the person only, or like this one, the person and their activity. ...Show more →
Wow, thanks so much. I've started doing close-ups like this more often and am enjoying it. I like to mix things up and experiment. I think you hit the nail on the head when you wrote that what matters is getting "enough of the action." I couldn't agree more. Good shooting!
