Posing a picture.

[woodsman196]

When you guys are taking pictures of your take, what ever that may be, what do you try and do to make a nice photo? I hunt by myself often so I am looking for advise on taking pictures with out someone in them that don't look like pictures of a dead animal I just found in the woods.

[JBiorn]

Whereas this should probably be in the photography forum, I'll try and help anyway. I would certainly prop up the head on a rock or a stick or something----then we can all see how big it is. Make sure you fill the whole frame with the subject, and put your bow and maybe the kill arrow in the shot. If your using an SLR, you can adjust the exposure a bit according to light conditions---less exposure for direct sunlight and more for darker conditions----and a warming filter helps a lot, too.

[draco]

Hold the head to one side out of line with your body,that way all parts of the antlers show up better. Keep the camera lower,pointing slightly upward. Oh,and be sure to smile,the guys in the Gang hate it when you dont smile.

[Terry Green]

Get a small tripod....they make some really small ones now, and some are bendy instead of retractable.

Learn how to set your camera on the timer.

Now you're in business.

[Iron/Mtn]

As indicated above all these recommendations plus.... use the fill flash, take way more then you think you need both horizontal and verticle and clean up blood debris etc, tounge in mouth, and have equipment in the shot as most people are also interested in what was used.

PS forget the back of the truck shot,front of the house,garage etc. natural setting befitting the animal taken.

Good photos,lots of memories = priceless.

[woodsman196]

Hey guys thanks for the tips.

Sorry about posting in the wrong place. After I realized I had I could not figure out how to move the post.

When it comes to the technical side I have that down pretty well. I work as a photo printer in a camera store. I have some great gear and take some nice pictures. I just lack the artistic part that turns a picture into something special.

When taking a picture of a deer you have shot with your bow do you?

A) Take picture of the whole deer and bow
B)Just from the shoulders forward with the just       the handle section of your bow
C) Or some other way?

Thanks again and hopefully I will have a chance to share what I have learned before the season is over.

[Talondale]

Use the flash to fill in shadows, even in daylight.  Face into the sun, or quartering into it, unless there's a nice sunset for a backdrop.

[hunt it]

I always try to sky light the rack of any animal. Whenever possible try not to block the background light and the rack with your body. Get the animal on a hill or a ridge if possible and take picture from below. Take lots of pictures, if using digital it's better to have way more and delete than not enough. Learn and know how to work your self timer feature if you have that option.

I always take pictures prior to field dressing when possible. Cut off tongue and wipe mouth and face areas and remove any sign of blood if you can. Those little tripods Terry mentioned are worth thier weight in gold. My avatar picture was taken with self timer and one of those mini $10.00 tripods.

[ROCKLAND]

Just Trying Something

[ROCKLAND]

TRy it again

[Dirty Bill]

Find somebody that shot a really big animal and ask them to take your picture with it....   :D

[Snakeeater]

I'd have to agree with taking lots of pictures and trying different things. If you have digital there is no cost in trying different types of poses with different things (bow, rack, you) in the picture.

Whenever you are looking at other folks "hero" shots pick out the things that you liked about them and use them in your next pictures.

You might also want to contact magazines like TBM, Bowhunter, Field and Stream, etc. and ask them what their guidelines are for photos and especially "hero" shots.

Good luck and good "shooting", whether its pix or stix!

Larry