Not sure if I post this before or if it buried down in the post thread list by someone else so if it is, I'm sorry for re-posting.
I'm not sure if I've posted this topic before or if it's down in the thread list somewhere. I don't see practiced (by seeing tailgate deer/turkey photos) or hear talked about enough. So I thought I post something about it and maybe a few tips I try to use myself when hunting with friends or on my own.
Field photos to me are a very important part of my hunting and over the last decade or so, I've been trying to improve and practice at getting better with it. I'm not a professional or perfect at it and have been known to forget the camera at home, camp, batteries or in a time crunch that keep me from getting the field photo but I do put forth an honest effort. I personally don't think anything captures the memory of a hunt, a gobbler, buck or fish like a good field photo taken in the same area it was taken. I'll add in a couple of my favorite turkey photos below.
As I touched on little above, one of the most important parts of this whole field photo process is having a camera, fresh batteries in it and remembering to have it with you. Most of the point and shoot cameras now a days take some great photos but before you get out in the field with it, know how to run it. Out in the field one year I a heck of time trying to figure out settings of my wife's camera timer which is important if you hunt alone.
1. One of the first things I do is check out my surrounding. A stonewall, a blooming dogwood, a field overlooking the hunting spot, a deadfall/log or something that would make a good back drop for my photo.
2. After finding a good back drop you need to see what you have for lighting. With today's point and shoot digitals along with editing software, the lighting matters but not like it did back in the days of 35mm film.
3. Set up your tri-pod, Clip-Shot or whatever you're using to hold your camera for the shot and see if the spot will work for you. Clean up your spot of small saplings, unwanted items that will end up in the photo. I've skipped this step before and ended up having to take more time looking for another spot because I couldn't get my Clip-Shot stick in the ground.
4. Clean up your turkey or deer of any blood on the mouth, nose or hide. Try to hide the entry or exit holes from your field photo. I've taken photo of the shot and other things but when it comes to your field photo you want to show off, those bloody photos don't fair too well to someone that doesn't live our lifestyle.
5. Take your field photo with your gun, bow and all the gear you have...even with your hat. Just remember to tilt it up or look up so the hat doesn't hide you or create a shadow on you.
6. Take several photos at different angles. I go a step further and take time to check out the photo I just took. If I see something wrong, I just delete it and take another looking for what I think is the right one.
As you'll see in a few of the photos below, I sometimes like to use other things for cool photos. Like a few years ago when I locked my keys in my truck and was waiting for my locksmith (my wife with both our sons over an hour away) to show up. I took my gobbler and used an old tree stump post for a photo opportunity. Then in WV while waiting for my hunting buddy to finish up his morning hunt on the other side of the ridge from where my ATV was parked, I used the time for another cool unique photo opportunity. There are plenty of ways to take a good field photo or a memory if you focus on place and person rather than just a number of deer, birds or rabbits you ended up for the day.
Again, I'm not a photographer or professional wildlife photographer. I don't always follow the steps above to letter and often forget things myself. I do know though by taking photos in the field, camp or in a unique setting can sometimes help me recall the hunt better than if it was in the bed of my truck, in my driveway or just standing in the yard. The whole back drop thing is really up to the person in the photo and what they make of the hunt or memory their trying to capture. I've got truck bed photos but they are not the only photos I have to share.
Hopefully some of these tips and things I try to do, might help someone in getting their own field photos that will last a life time. Also, if someone else has something to add or something I missed about how they take their field photos, please post them up.
