How To Take Proper
Hunting Photos
Tips for Great Pictures from the Field
When the sky is the background, antlers or horns are clearly represented.
The antlers of this axis deer show up well against the backdrop of the sky.
During the course of the year, I look at a lot of hunting photos from friends, in magazines, and on social media. Some are really good, others — not so much. Now, I’m not a professional photographer by any means. I never took a photography class and am not an expert on anything. I do, however, enjoy and appreciate quality hunting photos. A great photo shows respect and honor to the animal and preserves treasured memories for years to come. Here are a few basic guidelines I try to follow.
It’s a great idea to get family and friends in the photo. Mark and Karen
are positioned at the side of this monster cape buffalo with a bit of
background showing.
Before The Photo
First, before taking any photos, make certain the gun is unloaded. Safe gun handling does not end when the tag is punched. I prefer taking hero shots before field dressing if possible. Tuck the front and back legs underneath the animal. Remove the tongue or slip it back in the mouth out of sight. Normally I carry a pack of wet wipes and a paper towel or two and remove any blood from the lips or elsewhere. You may be sharing these photos with friends and family but also non-hunters as well.
Being ultimately familiar with your camera or smartphone helps. Most cameras and smartphones have more functions than I can manipulate. In most situations, the sun should be behind the camera. The best time to take a quality photo is shortly after sunrise or just before sunset. A cloudy or overcast day is also good. When the sun is bright and directly overhead, it’s a good idea to utilize the flash in order to take away those dark shadows.
For general purposes, the hunter should be positioned behind the animal. Sitting on top of the game is not cool or respectful. There will be some circumstances where the hunter can sit by the side of the animal. The empty gun should always be pointed in a safe direction, never at yourself or anyone else. I have found the camera situated level with the animal or slightly below makes a nice photo. Standing up and shooting downward is not usually favorable. Fill the frame with the subject — hunter and animal. It’s not ideal to see the animal and hunter appear like they’re 50 yards away, and you can barely determine who or what is pictured. A little background in the photo is fine as it shows the landscape and habitat.
When possible, I like to position the horns or antlers with the sky as the background. This provides a clear view of the antlers. Having a background too busy with brush or anything else can detract from the headgear.
A self-timer was utilized to get everyone
associated with the hunt in the picture.
Use The Tech
Back in the day, I shot a lot of black-and-white photos for magazines. Many times, I would use color slides as well. You never knew for certain what images you had until you returned home and had the film processed. Well, those days are long gone. Shoot a lot of photos. You can always go back and see what you like and don’t like, then delete. Shoot from different angles, move the horns or antlers slightly and take more pictures. When you get home and put them on a big screen, you will hopefully have one or two that really stand out.
If you hunt solo, no problem, use the self-timer. When I’m hunting alone, I normally carry a small, lightweight tripod in my backpack. It has come in mighty handy at times. Without a tripod, you can use a flat rock or perhaps a log, whatever is available to keep the camera level and steady. The self-timer is also good for getting all of your hunting companions in the photo. You won’t regret taking field shots of hunting adventures with your family or good friends. Down the road, you can always look back and reflect on that special occasion.
At this stage of my life, quality photos are of utmost importance during my hunts. I no longer do any taxidermy work, so photos are precious reminders of a memorable experience. Not everybody will come and see my trophy room, but I can share photos with my friends, family, and everyone on social media platforms. I won’t be able to take taxidermy mounts to the nursing home, but I can show those old geezers a thing or two from my photos!
Another factor I must consider — magazine editors do not have a sense of humor when it comes to crappy photos. They demand, and rightfully so, quality photos for publication. The magazine you are now reading is a prime example of a publication with a long-standing reputation for featuring high-quality photos.
Whether you’re a professional photographer or just a normal guy like me, quality photos never go out of style.
