How To Take Photos Of Yourself With Fish 2024
kLuo reply :
Many times I will be fishing solo and have never even bothered trying to take pictures of nice fish that I have caught. I want to change this and was wondering if you guys had any creative ideas of how to do this. I would like to get a quality picture of both the fish and myself while holding it.
tomustang reply :
Tripod and a camera with a timer
Bluebasser86 reply :
I set the 10 second timer on my camera and set it up best I can. Look to see where you need to be with the fish and push the button and get into position. It's not the best picture but it's better than the fish and part of your arm or your face, part of an arm and a fish.
Hamby reply :
Tripods work well. I set my camera on a 5 sec timer and to take 3 pictures. I usually get at least one good one. I can either set the tripod up, or hold it straight out.
Lately, i've just been holding the tripod out. That way i can leave the tripod folded up and take the picture without putting the fish down, and easily check it.
You can see my arm sticking out where i'm holding the tripod.
Hamby reply :
A friend of mine has a camera with a flip out screen so he can position himself perfectly. Unfortunately, i've only found that feature on expensive cameras. 
Pilgrim reply :
I use the 10 sec timer on my camera and lay the camera on the butt seat and stand back in the middle of the boat.
JIGFISHERMAN. reply :
Check this out guys.
http://www.geoindustries.net/apps/webstore/products/show/302662
Pretty neat setup. Rear pedestal base mounted camera mount.
J Francho reply :
You want a gorilla pod.
BrianSnat reply :
I just hold the camera at arms length and snap the photo. You might have to snap a few to get it framed properly.
Here is one taken with me holding the camera at arms length with one hand and the fish in the other.
Marty reply :
On 11/16/2011 at 12:25 PM, kLuo said:Many times I will be fishing solo and have never even bothered trying to take pictures of nice fish that I have caught. I want to change this and was wondering if you guys had any creative ideas of how to do this. I would like to get a quality picture of both the fish and myself while holding it.
You didn't say whether you'll be on shore or in a boat, but it doesn't matter, you can get a good picture either way.
It goes without saying that regardless of where you are, you should shoot some practice pictures so you'll know what needs to be done when you have a fish.
On shore I put a utility box on the ground and lean the camera against it at the proper angle. In a boat it depends on the kind of boat. Maybe you have access to a deck or seat or something else. In my canoe I have a gizmo that I cobbled together and put on the yoke such that the camera sits at the necessary angle. My avatar picture was taken that way, although it got distorted when the forum changed format awhile back.
As far as I know, just about all cameras have self-timers, so that shouldn't be a problem. Don't hesitate to use flash, even on a sunny day. It will illuminate a back-lit subject and fill in shadows on a front or side lit subject.
rboat reply :
The camera with a fold out screen works the best. They do cost more, but you can see exactly what you are shooting. Many small camcorders also have this foldout screen feature, mount on a tripod, and they will also shoot a still photo. Make sure the sun angle is shining on your face or use the flash, and smile you just caught one. 
Hamby reply :
On 11/17/2011 at 8:48 AM, Marty said:As far as I know, just about all cameras have self-timers, so that shouldn't be a problem. Don't hesitate to use flash, even on a sunny day. It will illuminate a back-lit subject and fill in shadows on a front or side lit subject.
During low light conditions you can use the flash to darken out the background. Even on cloudy days, you can sometimes use the flash to darken out identifying features in the background.
For example, my avatar. It wasn't that dark...but the flash made it look dark.
Fish Chris reply :
Well, I pretty much "only" fish by myself, and take nearly ALL of my fish photos by myself.
Yes, a tripod and a camera with a timer is nice.....
But you might run into a problem, that I have in the past...
So, you have set up the tripod and camera, and set the timer {man.... I'm in the middle of workout, and my arms are so pumped, its hard to bend them for the key pad !} oh... anyway...
You catch a big fish, you lean forward to hit the button, and "beep beep" it chirps (most digital cams do, anyway, if the beeper is not turned off) and this tells you, it just focused.... Problem is, you were not sitting back in position, but rather, standing right in front of the camera, pressing the shutter button So your focus is all wrong You might ask, "Why would they make cameras like this ? Well, because typically, the timer is used for group portraits, where the photographer can focus on a group, hit the shutter, then have a few seconds to go squeeze in with the group.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Solution ? Well, I LOVE my Canon A6XX series (I have 3 of them) because I can set everything up ahead of time, including a manual focus at a predetermined distance. Unfortunately, Canon quit making these cameras, and did not come out with a direct replacement. I think like the G11, and G12's ($500-$600 cameras... mine were $130 to $200, each) can do this..... but they use expensive, hard find proprietary batteries, whereas my A6XX series use rechargeable AA's.
Anyway, I know I took some pretty nice self taken shots in the past, without any special features like this.... So try it. But if you have focus issues, the above is probably the problem.
Just a heads up.
Peace,
Fish
Here's a couple of my favorite self taken shots from
earlier this year 
J Francho reply :
Chris, you can find better than OEM batteries from Sterlingtek for SUPER CHEAP: http://sterlingtek.com/?gclid=COGqx-KnvqwCFQoaQgod4kq-JA
I vouch for them, as I've been using them in my SLRs and compact Elphs since 2006. OEM batts seem to last about a year of heavy use. The replacements have a greater capacity, charge faster, and some of mine are pushing five years old!
Fat-G reply :
This is good stuff Chris. I have tried many different methods and ways.
First off, it completely BLOWS to be out fishing, catch a big one, and not have anything to prop it up on. It's not the worst thing as you at least have a camera so you can get some kind of picture, but the pictures of a fish laying next to your rod and reel don't cut it with me, though I have had to resort to that on several occasions.
Let me just get this out there as well, it is 100% necessary in my opinion to ALWAYS make sure you have a real digital camera with fully loaded batteries before you even pack your rods and reels. I have been that kid that is caught holding a seven pounder with my cell phone being the only camera on me. It sucks.
I'm the kind of person that likes to take lots of pictures, usually from 4 pounds up. I also like to post them on here. For me, a four pound fish is a good fish, and anything above six is noteworthy and picture material. I think that is because of where I live, if I was in Texas I probably wouldn't take pictures of anything under 6, but in Michigan a 4 pounder would most definitely get to smile and say cheese.
Anyway, I have taken pictures of them lying next to my rod, holding them out at arms length, arm out with my face and the fish, and propped a camera up on a lot of different things. If you have nothing to prop it up on, I think the arms length technique is the best way to go.
Otherwise, always have at least a small tripod with you.
A couple of other things I have learned is to stand close® to the camera and hold the fish out with a slight bend in your arm. If the picture shows you 10 feet away holding the 6 pounder you caught right up on your chest, depending on your body size, there is no way that fish is going to look like a six pounder. Also, if you can, have the camera at a lower height, say waist high, aiming slightly upwards.
I'll add a few examples to show what I mean about all of the techniques I talked about.
This fish was 6.2, and probably the worst fish pic I have of myself.
Arm straight out, 6.4.
IMO, this is probably the 2nd best fish pic I have.
I think this is #1, camera angled up, fish held out.
This of course is just for a "good" picture that does justice to the fish. I'm still trying to get crystal-clear pics, LOL.
Gregory M Cobb reply :
Nice fish, When did you catch that bass? What kind of rods do you use?
Thank you
Greg
Fat-G reply :
On 11/18/2011 at 3:27 AM, Gregory M Cobb said:Nice fish, When did you catch that bass? What kind of rods do you use?
Thank you
Greg
Over the past two years.
Right now I have two Dobyns Champion Extreme rods, and plan on getting a Zombie soon.
Brandon K. reply :
Most smartphones have an option on the camera to fip the screen so you can see yourself. I've taken several real good pics like this and it's a lot easier to find something to prop them up on than a bulky camera, and its much easier to load the pics because they are a computer.
Gregory M Cobb reply :
Thank you for getting back with me.
Have you ever used Gary Loomis rods?
Gary Loomis has a new company called, North Fork Composites.
Do you do a lot of fishing?
Fish Chris reply :
Hey JF, yes, Sterlingtek ! I've gotten several batts from them, all at least as good as the OEM, if not better.....
But that's not my issue with proprietary batts for fish photo cameras. This is; So your camera may have gone months without you using it (hopefully not but sometimes, right ? Then you stick the biggest fish of your life, and the darn battery is dead !
But here's an even bigger problem > Sure, you can have a spare battery, or heck 6 of them ! But if the battery in your camera has went dead just due to sitting, so are all of your back up batts liable to be in the same condition.
Not so with AA's. I carry two of my Canon A6XX series cameras with me. Each has a set of NiMH rechargable AA's in it, + 1 spare set. However, I also carry a set of old school alkalines with a 10 to 15 year shelf life ! Who cares if alkalines only take 50 shots before their dead. 50 shots will always be enough for a fantastic trip, or the fish of a life time. Long term insurance, baby 
Just got to have spare batteries, spare cameras, spare scales, etc.......
Peace,
Fish
On 11/18/2011 at 2:36 AM, J Francho said:Chris, you can find better than OEM batteries from Sterlingtek for SUPER CHEAP: http://sterlingtek.com/?gclid=COGqx-KnvqwCFQoaQgod4kq-JA
I vouch for them, as I've been using them in my SLRs and compact Elphs since 2006. OEM batts seem to last about a year of heavy use. The replacements have a greater capacity, charge faster, and some of mine are pushing five years old!
Marty reply :
QuoteYou catch a big fish, you lean forward to hit the button, and "beep beep" it chirps (most digital cams do, anyway, if the beeper is not turned off) and this tells you, it just focused.... Problem is, you were not sitting back in position, but rather, standing right in front of the camera, pressing the shutter button
Chris, that's exactly what I do, lean forward and press the shutter. However, focus is not a problem because the lens is wide open (27 or 35 mm, depending on which camera) and the large depth of field keeps me in focus.
Fat-G reply :
On 11/18/2011 at 5:41 AM, Gregory M Cobb said:Thank you for getting back with me.
Have you ever used Gary Loomis rods?
Gary Loomis has a new company called, North Fork Composites.
Do you do a lot of fishing?
No, I rarely fish... 
I have heard of Gary Loomis. Have not fished one of his rods.
Fish Chris reply :
Hey Marty, yea, I hear you. I didn't always have that problem. I did have it more with some cameras, less with others. But now, as I was saying, I preset a manual focus distance.... a little longer for Stripers, and longer yet, for Sturgeon
Peace,
Fish
On 11/19/2011 at 8:50 AM, Marty said:Chris, that's exactly what I do, lean forward and press the shutter. However, focus is not a problem because the lens is wide open (27 or 35 mm, depending on which camera) and the large depth of field keeps me in focus.
Hamby reply :
If i have it on a tripod, what i often do is point the camera at something equal in distance to what i'll be from the camera. The only problem with this is lighting, so i have to make sure i'm pointing it at something in the same direction i'll be standing relative to the sun. The best way i've found to accomplish this is to simply point it at the nose of the boat when i hit the button, then point the camera up and stand at the nose of the boat.
If you're shore fishing, set it up to focus on a tree, then stand in front of that tree.
North Ga Hillbilly reply :
On 11/18/2011 at 2:18 AM, Fish Chris said:
Wayne P. reply :
I use a video camera that has a remote control. I turn the view screen towards me, compose the picture and push the photo button.
I put the camera on a pole in the seat pedistal socket on my back deck.
dcorp reply :
I run into this problem while fishing from a kayak. I end up taking a lot of pictures of fish at arm length or on my lap, and they do the fish no justice. A 5-6 pond fish looks like 2 pounds.... Then there is the option of holding out the camara with 1 arm and the fish in the other. I dont like the angle of these pictues but they are better than nothing. There really isnt a place to put a tripod on a kayak without worry of it falling in the water.... Still thinking of ideas. I may try to permanently mount a small trypod at arms length in front of me. Here are examples of lame pictures I have taken. lol
gillrod2728 reply :
this is a great post on pic taking thanks for putting it on here
SirSnookalot reply :
Only thing that works for me is another person and I don't see many of them where I fish. I'm only carrying a smartphone, which does not work well for a selfshot, once in a blue moon I may have a regular camera with me.
I really do need to perfect the art of making my 5 pounders look like 10, do I need longer arms?
Diggy reply :
Cell phone with front cam is what I do
new2BC4bass reply :
On 12/3/2011 at 3:22 PM, SirSnookalot said:I really do need to perfect the art of making my 5 pounders look like 10, do I need longer arms?
Don't know.....but....Adobe Photoshop should work! 
Remove everything but the fish. Crop so fish takes up the whole picture. A 6 inch dink will look tremendous! 
:lol:
Fish Chris reply :
SirSnook, I think it was a few "failed" attempts by others trying to take fish photos for me, that made me decide to start working on my self taken fish shots in the first place Now I've gotten to the point where I have MUCH more confidence in my self-taken shots, than I do, when handing my camera to somebody else.
I hate it, when you hand a camera to somebody for a fish shot, and the first thing they start doing is backing away from you. It's like HEY !!! Where the heck you going !?!? STOP right there, before I glue your darn shoes to the ground !!! LOL They just ALWAYS Try to capture the entire Western Hemisphere, instead of just the important part.... the fish !
Peace,
Fish
On 12/3/2011 at 3:22 PM, SirSnookalot said:Only thing that works for me is another person and I don't see many of them where I fish. I'm only carrying a smartphone, which does not work well for a selfshot, once in a blue moon I may have a regular camera with me.
I really do need to perfect the art of making my 5 pounders look like 10, do I need longer arms?
SirSnookalot reply :
@ Chris,
Back in the 70 & 80's I was into photography pretty serious, both taking pictures and my own darkroom work. My specialty was sports, mainly boxing, this was the era of the Kronk gym in Detroit. One of my good friends is Jackie Kallen, she was a spots writer, then turned boxing manager ( she managed James Toney to a World Championship), she put in touch with people to get press credentials and I attended many fights included World Championship bouts with the like of Thomas Hearns, Hilmer Kenty, and Milton McCrory. Was on the apron of the ring doing my thing, I had quite a few published in Detroit local newspapers. I did my fair share of portrait, wildlife and scenery.
One day my trusty Canon FTB broke down, instead of buying another match needle camera I bought a Canon A-1 automatic ( pre digital) and hated it, I was so much faster by feel with match needle than I was in manual mode with an automatic, seeing all those numbers in the view finder was distracting to me. Long story short, I got disinterested and didn't do much with my camera after that. I understand what you say about other people not knowing how to frame a picture.
Being on foot most of the time a camera mounted on a tripod doesn't work for me, I may walk the beach for a mile or more casting as I walk. I'm never in one spot for more than a minute or 2. Having a smartphone with me works best, but it's very limiting, I have 1 fairly small canon digital which isn't too bad carry around, but the tripod is a no go for me. I did notice on one of your photos that you used a Fuji Fine Pix 7000( now how did I know that, lol ), I have that camera also, it does take super pictures. That's what I use for my vacations and outings when I'm just walking around with a camera over my shoulder and not fishing.
Scorcher214 reply :
What about from a kayak, anybody have a rig for taking pictures on one? I think I have another winter project 
00 mod reply :
Alright, well here is my set-up! It is a flexible tripod, stuck down in the rear seat pedestal base! Then a waterproof 14.1 megapixel camera set to take one with and one without flash pictures back to back on a timer! Will post a pic or two Friday when I get home from fishing. Dont fish much by myself, so this will be trial and error!
Jeff
PS> the camera angle will always be up for those pretty pics! 
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