5 Ways to Improve Hunting Photos

Let me be upfront: I'm not a pro snapper. Over the years I've been lucky enough to snap some decent shots, but it's been a fluke. As a journo I've had the good fortune to work with heaps of top-notch photographers and they've been good as gold, giving me a few pointers. When I have a squiz at a ripper photo I've taken, I grin 'cause I can spot which ace photographer gave me the tip. And with that, I rang up me mate Chip Laughton from Days Afield Photography to grab a couple of pointers for snapping better hunting photos.

Get Dirty - If you're ever out in the bush with Chip, you'll spot him straight away 'cause he's the fella in the oilskin overalls that are ripped to bits. “One of the crucial bits about photography is getting the right angle. With pointing dogs, that sometimes means hitting the deck so I can snap a shot looking up at the dog's face. Other times it's about bashing through the scrub so I'm in the thick of it taking a photo of a dog that's in the clear. By doing this, I capture images without any brush or branches in the way and from an angle that most people never get to see of their dog.”

Flash is Important - Definitely on a gloomy day but just as much on a sunny one. “Heaps of photos get stuffed up because of shadows. I reckon an off-camera flash or at least one with a swivel head on the flash is the way to go. It lets me sort out the shadows under the brim of a hat, in the corner of a dog kennel, or in the bush where the trees block the sunlight. Flashes aren't always handy but I give 'em a burl when I can.”

Get Close Up - “Zoom lenses are tops for really zeroing in on your subject matter. That’s where the magic usually is and it’s what connects people to certain pictures. Close ups show the caked mud in a dog’s fur, their muscular definition and vascularity, or a woodcock’s camouflaged colouration. It captures the emotion that we feel in the bush and helps an audience connect with the subject. We see things that aren’t perfect, like a curve at the tip of a pointer’s tail, rusty bells, and stained and soiled shooting shirts. But those images are fair dinkum and by zooming in to your picture you’ll gain a greater emotional connection.”

Picking Your Scenes - “It’s always ace to have a grip and grin photo to commemorate a hunt, but I like to capture the entire process. I’ll shoot dogs getting collared up, guns in racks, shells on the ground, a lot of the things that you see when you’re there but often don’t see in a photo. If you look through books or mags you’ll see a lot of the standard must-have shots: a lab quivering in a blind when the mallards are circling. Dogs with birds in their gob. I like to capture movement, so I’ll focus on a one-off, like a dog with a bird in its gob jumping over a fence to retrieve. Those are the snaps that stand out from the crowd and tell the story.”

Take Loads of Photos - “As you let your eye wander around looking for the perfect shot be sure to snap some pics along the way. Digital is easier than with film. You can quickly see if you've got the shot, and if you don't like 'em then just hit delete. With a dynamic sport like wing shooting the odds are high that you'll miss a perfect shot. But if you're taking photos consistently then you'll probably end up with a whole bunch that are more than good enough.”

Tom Keer is an award-winning writer, columnist and blogger who lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He's a columnist for Covey Rise magazine, the Upland Almanac, and a Contributing Editor for both Fly Rod and Reel and Fly Fish America. He’s also a national spokesman for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing program, and writes regularly for over a dozen outdoor magazines. When they're not fishing, Keer and his family hunt upland birds over their three English setters. His first book, a Fly Fishers Guide to the New England Coast was released in January 2011. Visit him at www.tomkeer.com or at www.thekeergroup.com.