Taking great harvest photos

buckdeer1

5 year old buck +
I have noticed alot of harvest photos that in a few years when they are looking back at them they will wish they take more care. A couple of tips, get down on level of of subject. tuck tongue in mouth or cut off.Used to if you didn't have a camera you were screwed but now everyone carries a cell.Lets hear some more tips
 
I try to wipe blood off the face and wear gloves. I try to take decent pics but the guy talking the pics has to be aware of what they look like because subject position and deers head position means a lot to the photo. I also have a set of taxidermy eyes that I will use if the deer has been dead for a while. Killing a good deer and not getting pictures I am happy with bothers me a lot after the fact. I have taken my share of pictures with the tongue out but I see one now and it makes me cringe.
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Vs this
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Vs this
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Should add.

Have tried getting the tongue back in place, usually encounter lock jaw. Now I just place a couple sprigs of forbs and grass in his mouth and wish him the best in future travels. Hunt alone so pic quality is usually shotty at best.
 
I hunt alone mostly, so I rarely get good photos.
 
I hunt alone mostly, so I rarely get good photos.

I do also but usually call someone for the recovery or to help take care of it when it is back at the house.


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I have noticed alot of harvest photos that in a few years when they are looking back at them they will wish they take more care. A couple of tips, get down on level of of subject. tuck tongue in mouth or cut off.Used to if you didn't have a camera you were screwed but now everyone carries a cell.Lets hear some more tips

1) Make sure the deer is really dead
2) Don't lean your firearm across the antlers
3) Or take the picture fast before the deer runs off with your gun! :emoji_smile:
 
Don’t always but try and clean the blood. Windex helps with that. Pry the tongue back in. Sometimes drive a short metal rod in the ground to lean them against so it looks like there on their belly. Covers the bloody cavity.
@gwm taught me about the glass taxidermy eyes. Gets rid of the sunken eye look.
And if you’re lucky enough a blue sky adds to it.

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My buddy got this one at the ranch a couple days ago. I thought the photo turned out nice even with a bright sun, no cloud cover.

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So here is what not to do. My daughter wanted to send a picture to mom as soon as we found the deer. Okay, no problem. We hustled out of woods because we were loosing light and I wanted to make sure I could get some decent pictures of her first deer. I got lucky with the lighting, not sure where tongue went, and there was very little blood. By the time we got home my wife already posted the first pic on Facebook and thought nothing of it. I immediately had her switch the pics. First pic had all good comments but not what I wanted out there for her first success.

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I keep a tripod and old digital camera in my truck. It has a timer on it so even if you are by yourself you can take pics easily. Just takes a little time and back and forth. I swear I get better pictures than having the wife break out her fancy DLSR. Oh yeah, seeing deer with their tongue hanging out is a major pet peeve. Just cut it off with a knife-I know you have one!
 
They make an attachment that uses arrows to hold but I have set timer on cell and rested on a log to take pics,Alot of different between those 2 pictures
 
So here is what not to do. My daughter wanted to send a picture to mom as soon as we found the deer. Okay, no problem. We hustled out of woods because we were loosing light and I wanted to make sure I could get some decent pictures of her first deer. I got lucky with the lighting, not sure where tongue went, and there was very little blood. By the time we got home my wife already posted the first pic on Facebook and thought nothing of it. I immediately had her switch the pics. First pic had all good comments but not what I wanted out there for her first success.

402aba1942137bc383c21a6f63779a9d.jpg
377258590ba4e99e37051480bbce5805.jpg


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Great comparison Chummer. Shows what a little prep work can accomplish.
 
I have always liked to get good field photos but had to rethink my process once I started taking the kids out hunting. I have found that in order not to get frustrated trying to get "the best" pic, I had to start incorporating more fun into the process. Dont get me wrong, the kids were thrilled with their success, but i had to make sure to check my patience at the door when trying to get pictures of them.
So i let them pick a few poses and have a touch of fun with it. Keep in mind that i am also trying to pass on the respectful treatment of the animal as well, so for example, i will have them hold a finger pointing to where they hit it, or a goofy picture comparing the length of my sons arm to the length of a leg ...or hand held up to a hoof to compare sizes. This way they are more apt to sit still for a couple of good pics.
I also will lay down on the ground essentially pointing upwards to get the shot, which makes for stunning deer pics that dont have that stretched out arm look to them and still highlight the colors and size of a nice whitetail.
 
Seems as if this “article“ and video covers the topic pretty well. I’m also a big believer in using the flash. It eliminates many of the shadows that go un-noticed by most.


For some ideas on how not to take photos, please see:


 
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