Be prepared: It’s important not to get caught outdoors without a camera

October 24, 2013

That is, if a picture reminding one of that great memory exists and can be found. Thus, every hunter, angler, hiker, and outdoor enthusiast ought to be armed and somewhat familiar with a decent digital camera. A camera small enough for a handy inside pocket and loaded with an unfilled memory card and fully charged batteries.

Common sense

But be assured that photography is not rocket science, it is simply an act of point and shoot with just a bit of common sense and a few basic principles in mind.
After all; what better opportunity to record history than a first deer, a fancy camp meal and its cook, happy hikers, a shiny fish, and the list goes on.

Rule number one

Never head afield without a camera. That way you’ll never have to say, “I wish I had my camera.”
Forget the film thing, they are old school and on the brink of obsolete. With digital, you can scan lots of pictures, select the few you really want to print, edit them to correct the lighting, color, and more, and even send them electronically to your best email buddy.

For the most part, set your camera at automatic. Even the least expensive models are smarter than you and me put together. Sad but true.

Digital photographer

Remember, you are a digital photographer. Shoot a bunch of pictures. Change angles, move around, move closer, farther, to the left and the right It doesn’t cost a bit more so fire away. Look for the unseen. Fences, old machinery, tumbling barns, colorful foliage, and of course, smiling companions make for great photos.

Compose the photograph

Don’t try to put too much in one photo. That is, don’t attempt to get something you want to show in the photo plus a rich landscape, a flotilla of boats, a dog or two, and the cabin you’ve rented all in one photo. Keep it simple. Let the photo do the talking.
And find a local retailer with a photo department where one can print a digital photo on a make-believe magazine cover. They make great presents for those who shared an outdoor experience.