On some days I hardly touched rod and reel, opting instead to cast my attention to other anglers via my cameras and lenses. Carrying a camera while fishing can, itself, become a welcome diversion from casting and cranking. What's not understood by many anglers, however, is that taking quality photographs requires some effort. The reward is pleasant memories whenever a photo album is scanned or you bring out the slide projector and relive those days afloat or astream. Of course, I did it for a living.
Most people do it for pleasure and many merely snap the shutter without much forethought.
Over the years I've been sent hundreds of photos for use on this page with only a small percentage showing the quality, composition and exposure required for publication. Photos taken in the garage, on the kitchen table with the checkered yellow curtains in the background and in the backs of pick-up trucks just don't make the cut. Mostly, it's a mere matter of giving some forethought to the process, making sure what you see through the viewfinder is the best it can be no matter if your subject is landing a trout on the Little Lehigh or bringing a salmon to net on some remote Alaskan river. Here are some tips to elevate those fishing pictures from so-so snapshots to valued prints and slides that will bring back clear and colorful memories of those special times with family and friends. Third, while the temptation may be great to hold the fish at arm's length toward the camera and use a wide-angle lens to make the catch look larger, the shot will look unnatural.