Yesturday I seen a Bill Dance spot on TV where he’s holding a fish in front of the camera and says something like “you want to catch bigger fish?” then moves the fish closer to the camera.
Atta Boy Bill.
Something about somebody holding up a 6# fish and using the camera to make it look like it’s about 46″ long that just doesn’t bode well with me.
Maybe it’s just me?
Al
Not just you. One of my biggest pet peeves. Look below…
He also could have said “Wanna catch bigger fish? Come fish out of my private stocked ponds.” I never really caught on to his hokey show.
One of lifes great dispointments is to catch a truly spectacular fish and then have it look small in the photos.
I say if you catch a nice fish make it look like a nice fish. When I take a pic of someones fish I always and without exception try to make it look as large as possible and it is always appreciatted.
Life is far to short to take small fish pictures!
My buddies and I only watch it for the bloopers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvAHYR5DnZE
Hilarious!!
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One of lifes great dispointments is to catch a truly spectacular fish and then have it look small in the photos.
I say if you catch a nice fish make it look like a nice fish. When I take a pic of someones fish I always and without exception try to make it look as large as possible and it is always appreciatted.
Life is far to short to take small fish pictures!
If it is so spectacular, then it won’t look small in the photo. It’s a peeve of mine, but I could careless what other people do. It does a lot of times make me second guess the size and weight people will say a fish is in the photo, because the angle gives no true reference point.
For me I keep as close to me as possible, with the photo still looking natural. It ends up being really nice when I am comparing fish in different photos in the future. I might catch a shorter one that is heavier than a long one I caught and it is interesting to compare the characteristics of the fish.
The comment about Bill Dance and ponds is so true! You don’t learn much from he shows. And I don’t think I have ever seen him use anything but the “Dancing Eel”.
I’m all about a nice looking photo… To me, that means holding the fish out at a comfortable length (not with arms fully extended… unless I’m goofing around… but also not hugging the fish super close to my body, either.)… I want that fish to look as big as possible while still looking like I’m holding it at a natural pose. I want the prettiest photo possible. And that usually means that I’m trying to make the fish appear bigger than it really is, although still natural looking. In short, an impressive looking photograph is my goal.
This also means many other things, including cropping background noise, zooming in on the subject, getting the right angles, using flash, etc…
One thing that I don’t do though, is lie about the catch weight or length … Or at least I don’t do it intentionally…. I won’t catch a 32 inch pike and call it a 40 incher, even though the photo was done properly and could easily pass as a 40. I want a the best looking photo possible, but that doesn’t give me license to lie about weights or measures. When someone asks if that was a 40″, 20 lb pike, I’ll honesly say it’s real length…. I tend to take pride in the fact that people over-guess the weight of my fish… That means that I did a good job with the photo!!!
Mike
You mean like this? 
Ya, like that..:)
I guess if you think making your fish as big as possible makes for a better picture, so be it, seems like your trying to make up for catching smaller fish though…imho
I see pictures of 36″ looking bass and figure the guys trying to tell me tales, what ever works for ya I guess.
Al
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You mean like this?
You are not a master of illusion. Young Grasshopper, you need to hide your hand behind the fish so there is no size reference 
Are these fish held out a little?? Yes…. Do I think they make a darn nice photo?? Yes!!
Big fish don’t need extra help to look impressive.
With crappies for example, I have seen plenty of pics on this site that are legitimate big fish, but they are held so far out to the camera they look stupid. When references in the pics make a crappie appear to be three feet long, all credibility is lost, imho.
Tim
My thing is that every fish he catches jumps. He drags it back and forth and makes it jump. then he grabs it. he sure has done well for himself can’t frown on that. I never watch him anymore can’t stand him.
Opinions, opinions!!!!
Those crappies in my last post were between 14 and 15″. Rainy Lake, Canadian side.
Ok, so the first pic in this post IS held out a little too far….
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You are not a master of illusion. Young Grasshopper, you need to hide your hand behind the fish so there is no size reference
Beat me to it!
Yes, those photos are perfect. I learned that trying to keep it too close to my body might means a bad picture because it doesn’t look natural. I’ve also learned, what most people probably figured out a long time ago, try and hide as much of your hand as possible, because it is a distraction that takes away from the fish.
I think someone should start a thread with hints on taking a real good picture. I fish alone a lot of times, so I don’t have many good ones to hold up as an example. I think if people provided tips, then the next time it will be in my head and I will remember and then get the best shot possible. My best advice is make ture the sun is behind the photographer and his shadow is not in the picture. Also, if you don’t have a flash strong enough to fill in shadows on a bright day, you might want to consider taking off the hat if the sun is high in the sky so the bill doesn’t cast a shadow on the face.
Good tips PUG — I want to say that there was some posts once, maybe someone can dig up that/those posts??
ALWAYS use the flash, even in bright sun.
Subject should face the sun. Hat off is a great idea.
TAKE YOUR SUNGLASSES OFF!!! Eyes are often the key to a good photo
Hold the fish at a comfortable distance – arm shouldn’t be fully oustreched, but this does often mean holding it out a touch…
Try to hide as much as your hand/fingers/arm to keep the fish the subject, not other distracting objects.
Zoom in as far as possible to the subject. Get rid of distracting backgrounds. If zoom is not possible, take the photo on a very high resolution and then crop the image when you get home
Get on ground level with the subject… Don’t take the photo standing way up on the deck platform if the subject is sitting in a chair – Get eye to eye
With digital cameras, take multiple – MULTIPLE – images if you have a trophy fish, but make it quick so you can get the fish back in the water… Most cameras have multi shot functions where they will take 3 or 5 shots in rapid succession or allow you to hold the button down for rapid fire images.. This helps with blinking, goofy looks, etc by taking many photos… then choose the best photo when you get home…
any more guys????
Hats off is not always a good idea with hat hair. As long as the photographer is conscience of the bill’s shadow you can tip the hat up as long as you don’t tip it so much that it looks silly. Flipping the hat backwards might work on some people to.
Whittsend, those are all great pictures but now I have 2 questions for you:
When do you have an open seat to chase those salmon? and
Why are you flicking everyone off in your avatar?
you guys should lighten up… those commercials are meant to be funny, have you seen the one he does about open tackle boxes being picked up and spilled everyewhere? then he says “don’t do that!” 
seriously,,, lighten up.
I’m only flicking of certain people….
Actually, I just noticed that too… I need to photoshop my finger out of that image.. 
Possible open seats each summer, although my time is limited on the big pond. I usually try to take a few new guys out each year. Fun to run 12 rods out of a 18 foot boat!!!! 
Mike
If you boys don’t like such pictures then don’t read reports by Granrude, Haatja, Holst, Stewart, hell anybody that has ever posted a picture on this site or any fishing site. don’t read infisherman, FLW, outdor news, MN sportsman, or any mag that has pictures. You want a good picture or do you want 30″ walleye to look like a 21 ” walleye?? Lighten up francis! I am a large human and I can make great fish look stupid if I don’t stick it out some. sorry that I am on the picture team IMHO
I like Bill Dance. He makes a living fishing and has done well enough to own some nice lakes and properties. And…..we have all held fish out towards the camera, whether on purpose or not. Big deal. Wah wah wah.
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If you boys don’t like such pictures then don’t read reports by Granrude, Haatja, Holst, Stewart, hell anybody that has ever posted a picture on this site or any fishing site. don’t read infisherman, FLW, outdor news, MN sportsman, or any mag that has pictures. You want a good picture or do you want 30″ walleye to look like a 21 ” walleye?? Lighten up francis! I am a large human and I can make great fish look stupid if I don’t stick it out some. sorry that I am on the picture team IMHO
I could care less what other people do. But I’ll never be impressed by a fish that is exaggerated by being held out with extended arms.
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Lighten up francis!
Uncle Hulka, ladies and gentlemen!!!
“Its like driving into Wisconsin……”
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Good tips PUG — I want to say that there was some posts once, maybe someone can dig up that/those posts??
ALWAYS use the flash, even in bright sun.
Subject should face the sun. Hat off is a great idea.
TAKE YOUR SUNGLASSES OFF!!! Eyes are often the key to a good photo
Hold the fish at a comfortable distance – arm shouldn’t be fully oustreched, but this does often mean holding it out a touch…
Try to hide as much as your hand/fingers/arm to keep the fish the subject, not other distracting objects.
Zoom in as far as possible to the subject. Get rid of distracting backgrounds. If zoom is not possible, take the photo on a very high resolution and then crop the image when you get home
Get on ground level with the subject… Don’t take the photo standing way up on the deck platform if the subject is sitting in a chair – Get eye to eye
With digital cameras, take multiple – MULTIPLE – images if you have a trophy fish, but make it quick so you can get the fish back in the water… Most cameras have multi shot functions where they will take 3 or 5 shots in rapid succession or allow you to hold the button down for rapid fire images.. This helps with blinking, goofy looks, etc by taking many photos… then choose the best photo when you get home…
any more guys????
My problem? (other then the oblivious) It requires I read the instruction book for the camera. I’m not big on instructions, but then my photos reflect that I guess.
If I was a grandpa, and my daughter just gave birth to a future young fishermen, (or fisherwomen) do you think that I would want to hold that little baby out as far away from my body as possible when taking a picture?
And if I did do that, why in the hell would I want to frame a picture like that?
So why in gods name would I want a fish picture like that?
It looks stupid in my honest and sligtly biased opinion.
Big fish don’t need that kind of help and it makes the overall picture look stupid! There, I said it and that is my honest to god opinion.
Whittsend – you’re avatar is a perfect example of a well taken fish picture.
Kudo’s to all those out there who realize that a good fish doesn’t need to be exacerated. A 27″ walleye is still plenty big enough to be proud of even if it isn’t 29″ or 30″ long.
To be honest, I’m holding this one quite a ways out in front of me.
But thank you, and I agree!!!!
I think some of these guys need to go fishing.
I always figure right around an elbows length away from the body. That way you don’t lose size perspective in the picture.
Looking at your avatar, that’s about how it look. Looking at the full size picture a little closer, maybe a little further away but not to bad. I see plenty that are a lot worse.
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I think some of these guys need to go fishing.
…..BADLY NEED TO GO FISHING!!!!!
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