While some 2020 hunts have already come and gone, most hunters are gearing up to get their boots on the ground and find that animal they’ve been dreaming about for months now. As you’re putting your gear lists together, don’t forget to include your camera. You won’t regret taking the time to photograph all the aspects of your hunt because as memories fade, photographs can bring them back to the forefront of your mind.
When it comes to capturing the hunt, our Media Producer, Brady Harang, is second to none. That’s why I reached out to him to share with me, and now you, some of his best photo tips for a hunt. Whether you’ve got a high end DSLR camera or an average cell phone, you can always get a decent photo. Here are a few things Brady suggests you do regardless of your camera:Move the animal to a good spot. It’s easier said than done, but it's worth it. Look for somewhere that's a bit more open as this will help the animal stand out and not fade into the busy, brushy background. Also consider sunlight when choosing a spot. Take some quick test photos of the hunter in different locations (it doesn't take that long to do). Oftentimes, you want either direct sunlight or full shade. Having half shade in harsh light can give you some undesired shadows, but in the right scenario, it can also look really good. Take a picture of the hunter in an area before moving the animal.
Clean it up. Whether it's garbage, gear, or brush, clean up the frame. It seems obvious, but in the moment, it's easy to forget.
Position the animal properly. Most guys do a good job of this, but make sure the rack is level, all the points are showing, the hunter is visible, and the animal looks natural. A lower camera angle is usually better.
Get it right before hitting that button! No one wants to go through 500 shots of one deer. You can avoid this by looking at the screen and making sure everything is how you want it before hitting the shutter.
Don't ruin the moment. Photos are awesome, but they're not the reason you're out there. The more efficient you can get at taking a good picture, the more time you can spend in the moment.
New cell phone
Lumix
Nikon D5600 (Brady’s first proper camera)
Sony a6600
Sony A7iii (This is the camera Brady uses for everything)
Note:
When it comes to capturing the hunt, our Media Producer, Brady Harang, is second to none. That’s why I reached out to him to share with me, and now you, some of his best photo tips for a hunt. Whether you’ve got a high end DSLR camera or an average cell phone, you can always get a decent photo. Here are a few things Brady suggests you do regardless of your camera:
- Pros: Lightweight, you've got it all the time, very easy to use, very smart auto mode, hard to screw up
- Cons: Limited in low light, not much background blur, not much for manual settings
- Pros: Lightweight, easy to use, good options for manual settings, good quality
- Cons: Somewhat costly, and you will still have some trouble with low light and background blur
- Pros: Affordable, easy to learn, great options for manual settings, great quality, a lot of great lens options, performs in all light conditions with a proper lens and settings
- Cons: Big and clunky, so you probably won't take it out much
- Pros: Same size sensor as the Nikon, similar capabilities in photo, much better video quality, compact
- Con: Difficult to learn
- Pros: Compact, great sensor, capable of doing everything asked of it with the right lens on (Sony 35mm f1.8 is Brady’s go-to)
- Cons: Big, heavy, expensive, complicated if you don't know what you're doing. You don't want this camera unless you're fully committed to learning and using it.