Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2018 - 36
R
P
E
T
H
A
OTOS
W
R
E
UND
by John Allen
photos by the author
There is something mesmerizing about seeing a
photograph of an animal in its natural habitat. Whether it's
a deer strolling through the forest, a mink slinking along
the shoreline of a stream or a bald eagle perched high in
a tree top overlooking a lake, they're all natural pictures.
Fish, however, are rarely photographed in their natural
habitat, mostly due to the fact that cameras and water don't
mix well. In the last 10 years, waterproof cameras have
skyrocketed in popularity and quality, while also becoming
more affordable. There are many compact, waterproof
cameras capable of taking good underwater photographs
for less than $300. Obviously, the more expensive
DSLR models produce better shots, but unless you are a
professional photographer, you don't need to go that far.
Taking photographs underwater can seem a bit challenging
to most anglers. If you follow these tips, you will find
yourself taking excellent underwater photographs.
Lighting
Lighting is the most important and also trickiest
element to good underwater photographs. The deeper the
water, the less light available for your photo. Position the
36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2018
camera slightly lower than the subject with the camera
lens tilted slightly up. This will allow the camera to absorb
more of the light from the surface of the water. Generally,
I like to take photos in 1 or 2 feet of water on a mostly
sunny day. The sun rays will provide the necessary light, so
you don't need to add artificial lighting. On cloudy days,
however, use a flash, otherwise you will end up with a
grayed out subject. Using a flash on sunny days in shallow
water will cause the fish to be overexposed.
Experiment with the settings on your camera to find
the right balance of ISO, shutter speed and aperture.
Photographing a lake will vary greatly from photographing
a stream or river, so it is important to know your camera.
Water clarity
You can try, but you will never get a good photograph
in stained water. If you are in moving water, make sure
the fish is either upstream or in front of your position, so
the sediment that you are stirring up is not effecting the
clarity of the photograph. This element alone can make
streams or rivers difficult to photograph as there is always
some form of sediment moving through these waterways. I
find limestone and mountain freestone streams in the late
spring and early summer ideal when it hasn't rained in a
few days. When focusing on clarity, stay out of the water
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2018
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200708
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190910
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