Tricks of the trade
Your trophy may be a once in a lifetime experience. By remembering a few details, you will end up with a photo that you are proud of…..
Rules to remember:
*Never “ride” your animal- Save that for the rodeo. Sitting on an animal shows the utmost of disrespect.
*Get rid of the blood- We all share a common interest in the harvest. There are some who may find it offensive. Remember the animal as it looked before you made the shot. Take the time to clean the animal up.
*Don’t stick your tongue out at me- Make sure that you tuck the animals tongue back in. This one right here is the #1 picture killer. Take the extra time to make sure that the tongue is not sticking out.
*Leave it outside- Your animal did not grow up in your garage or in the back of your pickup. Nor does that trophy buck plan on using the lawnmower in the background. Quality photos are ones that are taken in the animal’s environment. Be sure to bring your camera with you and also make sure that it has new batteries.
*Become a gardener- Pull the weeds in front of the animal. Often we think that we have the perfect photo, only to be bothered by the weed or limb that got in the way.
*Lay it to rest- Position your animal in a manner so that it appears to be at rest. For hoofed animals, tuck the legs under as the animal would lay down. For bears, lay them on a log and drape the head off to the side, making sure that the animal’s position looks natural.
*Stay away from the woodpile- Though objects can be used to prop the animals. Stay away from building a woodpile or stone wall under the animals head. Do what it takes to make the animal look as it is resting with a limited use of props.
*The star of the show- Though you are the one that put the event together, the animal is what you want to focus on. Have the photographer get down low and up close to the animal. This will put emphasis on the animal and not the hunter. Though having the hunter get back, may make an animal look bigger than life, it will also make the picture and subjects look out of proportion. Be proud of the animal that you shot and put your hand on it in the picture….
*Forget the zoom- Some of the best pictures that I have taken have been without the zoom. I move in close enough to fill the whole frame with the hunter and the trophy. Use a tripod if at all possible and if you are shooting digital, set the compression rate low. You may not get as many photo’s on your card, but they will be of better quality.
*Pick a good background – It may take some work to get exactly what you want, but as with anything else, hard work pays off.
*Take a bunch- Even though you think that you may have the perfect shot, make sure of it by taking a whole lot of photos. Try different variations and angles. You may find that the perfect photo was outdone by the one that you took off to the side.
*Alone at last- Though hunting alone can be great at times just to get away, you may find yourself as the hunter and the photographer. Make sure that you have a way to hold your camera, such as a tripod, and also know how to use the timer. Remember to use all of the above rules and make sure that you can out run the timer!!!!
Good luck in the field and don’t forget to send us your quality photos.
