Fly Fishing & Photography | 3 Tips for Getting Better Shots on the Water with George Daniel
With : georgedanieloutside
What are your top 3 tips for taking better photos on the water, especially in the dynamic environment of fly fishing?
I would suggest using a polarizing filter for both shooting into the water and above the water. Glare coming off the water is like harsh sun from above…bleaches out the details of your subject. Sometimes this hazy look is what you’re going for but usually I’m looking to capture details of subject (angler, fish, etc.) so I use a polarizer frequently when shooting around the water.
Shoot early or late. I think some of the best times to catch fish and take photos overlap one another. The beautiful light that highlights details in your subject of landscape often occurs early and late in the day. The question is: are you going to fish or take a photo.
Lastly, I have a bad habit of aggressively wading and falling in the water on a regular basis, so I carry my camera in a waterproof backpack or packable waterproof kayak bag. This gives me peace of mind when I’m wading waist deep in fast water with camera gear. I also have all my gear fully insured for unplanned events.
About George:
George, what first sparked your interest in fly fishing, and how did it evolve into a lifelong passion?
I grew up in Potter County PA along the banks of Germania Branch. My father introduced fly fishing to me at age 6. We were a one car family and my dad was rarely home during the daytime. So I lived in the middle of nowhere with no car so the other thing a child could do in this part of the world during the early 1980’s was to explore the woods and streams. I just fell in love with fishing and spent just about every free moment riding my Huffy bike to all the best fishing spots and harassing the local fish population with my amateur fishing skills. But even at age 6 all I wanted to do with my life was to find a way to make a living fishing, Eventually I read about my future mentor Joe Humphreys and his job at Penn State University and slowly began engineering my way into eventually teaching the same job. It took me almost 33 years to eventually get the job but it was well worth the wait.
As a photographer, how do you balance capturing the perfect shot while staying immersed in the fly fishing experience?
I’m not good at multi-tasking. Meaning, when I’m fishing-I’m fishing. When I take photos-my focus is on trying to capture the moment, especially when working with other people. Sometimes you serendipitously walk upon the scene that strikes you, so you put down the fly rod and pull out your camera to capture an image. This mentality may work for landscapes where the subject isn’t on the move. But when working with people and trying to capture a facial expression or a moment where a fish leaps out of the water in front of the angler - you need to be ready. I think so much of photography is sharing the story your eyes see and feel with the audience, so you need to be present in your environment. Sometimes this means just sitting at a spot for minutes (or longer) looking at a scene before you even decide to break out the camera. It’s not about the gear you use. It’s about how you see the world and how you want to communicate that message. This is one of many skills I’m trying to work on.
Can you share a moment when your skills as both a fly fisherman and photographer came together to create a memorable image?
There are a few times when I was able to capture a cool scene of an angler in the corner of a frame showing a fully bent fly rod and a jumping fish. Part of this is luck and part of this is about knowing a little about reading how an angler is playing a fish and making an educated guess on where a fish may leap out of the water. The same is true with any sports or outdoor activities where many of the photographers are professionals within the field who also are good at taking photos. Having context about the activity you shoot sometimes helps increase the chances of capturing a cool moment.
George, how has your perspective on fly fishing changed over the years, especially with your unique eye for detail as a photographer?
I’m more relaxed these days. In the past I was somewhat competitive and just wanted to fish fast and furious. Today, I don’t feel I need to catch lots of fish nor do I care if other angles catch more fish than me. What I care about these days is trying to learn a few new skills each year by fishing new waters and spending time with different anglers. Given my hectic schedule, I rarely have time to fish all day. So when I only have an hour to fish…I try to make it the best one hour of fishing I’ve ever done. Meaning, trying to have ultimate focus during that time, fewer tangles and mistakes, and a high percentage of accurate casts.
When your out on the water, what elements are you looking for in both a great fishing spot and a great photo opportunity?
With fishing spots I’m looking for locations where I feel trout are actively feeding. If you take 10 seasoned anglers and show them a piece of water and ask them to fish the best spot…I would guess that the majority would pick a similar spot. With photography, I’m looking for scenes that stir an emotional reaction in me and everyone has different triggers that stir these emotions. So if you ask 10 photographers to pick a take a picture of a scene…it’s likely you may have 10 totally different perspectives/angles in which they decide to compose their image. That is what makes photography so great…there’s really no wrong or right-it’s just the way you see the world.
Finally, George, where do you see your fly fishing and photography journey taking you in the future? Are there any new projects or adventures on the horizon?
Photography is truly a hobby for me. There’s no pressure to produce and I’ve falling in love with learning as much as I can about it. I’m not looking to make a living with photography but I’m using every free moment I must study and practice photography so I can become the best photography I’m capable of. I don’t dabble with multiple hobbies-I tend to have a very specific focus on the few things I want to become better at. I study images from the world’s best photographers (past and present) and I’m just in awe in how these amazing artists are able to see the “wow” in what most would see as mundane. There is something magical about a still image. Basically, I’m looking to use photography and someday high quality video to compliment my fly fishing projects including books, and articles. I already turned one hobby into a fulltime career. I don’t know if I want to do the same with photography…if I ever get good enough to do so.
