Fishing photos the deep sea!!

[mromero101]

Hi. there I'm new here and a amateur photo taker. I have a D70s and and a tamron xr DiII 18-200 lens. equiped with a Uv and cir. polarized lens filter. I would like to take action photos out at sea of fish on the hook. I don't no where to start or what lens filter to use or setting to use . Help and any technique out there would help me?

[William W]

. . . I would like to take action photos out at sea of fish on the hook. I don't no where to start or what lens filter to use or setting to use . . .

Use the Circular Polarizing Filter (‘CPL’).

Point the camera to the general area where the photo will be taken and then view through the viewfinder and adjust the end ring of the CPL until you get the least GLARE in the scene as you look through the viewfinder.

You might find that you need nimble fingers to adjust the filter with the LENS HOOD on the lens: but you need to use the lens hood.

Each time that you change the view of the camera, relative to the position of the SUN, you will need to re-adjust the CPL to get the least amount of GLARE in the shot.

Ideally you want the sun, generally, anywhere behind you.

Probably the best starting recommendations for CAMERA SETTINGS for sunny day for this task for a novice would be:

> ISO 400
> USE MATRIX METERING
> USE Shutter Priority Mode and set 1/1000s as the Shutter Speed.

The logic behind those settings is that 1/1000s will allow you to freeze a big fish moving violently as it breaks the water and ISO400 will give you enough range of aperture such the lens will be working between about F/6.3 to F/11 on a sunny day, even if there is cloud cover which moves across the sunn form time to time – keeping in mind that a CPL can rob up to 1 stop, perhaps a tad more. “Matrix” Metering on a Nikon is reasonably accurate for a general water scene.

The next step is to get out there and make a truck load of photos and then interrogate them; ask questions and learn from the errors: and celebrate the good ones.

WW

[mromero101]

thanks for the help!!!
i will practice on land first!

[rpcrowe]

Before you go out on the ocean, ensure that you are protecting your camera from the salt water adequately. It is amazing how salt spray can do a job on a camera...

The cheapest way to protect the camera is using a plastic trash bag taped around the camera but an Optech Rainsleeve taped on with gaffers tape is only slightly more expensive (less than five dollars each) and is a lot handier and easier to use...

The best way is to use either an underwater camera or an underwater housing. When I was shooting during my career as a Navy Photographer, I often used a Nikonos 35mm for shooting on small boats.

[NorthernFocus]

What kind of fishing?

I ask because if you can predict where you will be shooting, then using the CPL is doable. But if you're shooting billfishing where the fish can appear in unpredictable directions, then the CPL is likely more trouble than it's worth. At any rate, if you don't have a lot of experience you may be best served by leaving the filter out of the equation until you master some of the other aspects of shooting in that environment. What camera settings work best, typical focal length needed, where the best position is relative to the action, etc, etc. Filtering is optimization compared to the other issues you'll be dealing with. Just a thought...

[mromero101]

What kind of fishing?

I ask because if you can predict where you will be shooting, then using the CPL is doable. But if you're shooting billfishing where the fish can appear in unpredictable directions, then the CPL is likely more trouble than it's worth. At any rate, if you don't have a lot of experience you may be best served by leaving the filter out of the equation until you master some of the other aspects of shooting in that environment. What camera settings work best, typical focal length needed, where the best position is relative to the action, etc, etc. Filtering is optimization compared to the other issues you'll be dealing with. Just a thought...

yes billfish and may be some dorado down in the baja!!

[rpcrowe]

I will be fishing from Rancho Leonaro on the East Cape of Baja California in August. I am not going to carry my front line gear (Canon 7D and 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens) because of the danger to the gear. I will probably be fishing from a combination of Pangas and cruisers...

I am tossed up between bringing my old Canon XT (Canon 350D) and 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens or really going light and carrying my (even older) Olympus 5050 P&S Camera. I could carry the OLY in my fishing gear bag...

One think I would seriously recommend is that you use a lens hood when shooting - both for protection from sun and protection from physiclal problems...

[NorthernFocus]

yes billfish and may be some dorado down in the baja!!

Then most definitely if you aren't already well versed in the use of a CPL filter, I'd go without it. Plus it robs light and you are going to want high ss to stop action. Moving boat, jumping fish, excited photographer... I'd recommend you keep your ss in the 1/2000 range if possible for crisp shots. I'd definitely stay above 1/1000.

It will be fun regardless. Enjoy and let us know how it turns out.

[dabhand]

Hi. there I'm new here and a amateur photo taker. I have a D70s and and a tamron xr DiII 18-200 lens. equiped with a Uv and cir. polarized lens filter. I would like to take action photos out at sea of fish on the hook. I don't no where to start or what lens filter to use or setting to use . Help and any technique out there would help me?

Just general advice to anyone trying to photograph fishing action.

Other than camera equipment, get to know both the skipper and the angler(s) - a good angler will know when a fish is about to break water and the skipper will also be able to provide good advice - but do not pester either, goodwill will go down the drain if a fish is lost to unwanted interruptions.

Sods law also states most of the shooting will be pretty much into the sun ;-)

steve

[rpcrowe]

I have noticed that a lot of fishing videos on YouTube have been shot with a Go-pro camera obviously mounted on a headband of the fisherman or to the rod. This gives a fisherman's POV of the action....

Rod mounted POV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQcXprrY6qk

I think that the headband view is better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0CBtUHMYDE

This also allows photography without missing the fishing. Whenever I am out in the midst of a wide open bite of fish like our Pacific Yellowtail or the various types of Tuna, tying onto a fish becomes my overwhelming priority with photography a poor runner up...