Whether you are capturing the story of a hunt or photographing the color of the marsh in the off season, waterfowl photography produces some amazing stories.
How I started
I started waterfowl photography back in 2021, so I am going in on my 5th year capturing the story of the hunt. My first hunt with a camera was in a corn field going after Canadas. I borrowed my mothers old camera which was a DSLR Sony a100 from 2006 with a Sony 55-200mm f/4-5.6 lens. I did not fully know how to operate the camera but after a lot of research I narrowed it down enough to capture some of my first photos.
Bringing the camera on this hunt made the experience so much more memorable. It was a hunt that we have never experienced before and things got hot fast. Having many guys on the hunt we limited out quickly within an hour. But to follow we had lines and lines of geese coming to feed. Being limited out we were just enjoying the show. Capturing those photos are snippets in time that we can look back on for years to come and remember what is was like that day. That is what I enjoy about waterfowl photography and having a camera on the hunt, not only myself but the people around me can enjoy the story and we can then further show the story to others that were not there to enjoy it.
Gear
Like I mentioned before I started out on an old DSLR from 2006. Your gear is not important to get started. I think the most important part of learning is to research, get out and get first hand experience capturing photos. Do not worry about trying to make your photos look like others, make it your own story.
After a year of running the Sony a100, I went out and found my own personal camera that is a little more updated. I purchased a Canon m50 mkii. I upgraded to this camera because I wanted a real time view of what my photos will look like(mirrorless), and I also needed a more advanced focusing system, and I also wanted to be able to film some videos. The Sony had 10 megapixels and max ISO of 1600 vs the Canon having 24 megapixels and max ISO of 25,600. As you can tell it was quite an upgrade, I was able to get finer details and further capability in a variety of situations.
Just before this season I upgraded and switched back to Sony with the A7IV. This allowed me to get better video quality, a 9 megapixel upgrade, a ISO range up to 51,200, and it also allows me to shoot faster shutter speeds if needed. But an important thing to know is that a more expensive camera will not get you better photos. You need to understand the basics of photography and more in depth theories to make your photos better and more eye appealing. Yes a more expensive camera may have better technology with focusing and more fine detail, but that does not make a great photo.
Creating a Story
Showcase each step of the hunt and anything unique to your hunt that may be different than others. Always remember the hunt is not just about the end result and the reward, you have to put in the work to achieve those results so don’t shy away from leading up to that point as-well.
Ethics
Make sure to always respect the game during the hunt and also portray the story in a positive way. You may not want a bloody graphic photo if you are posting online. You also want to post photos of the game being handled well and professional, and not in a way that is frowned upon or unethical.
Instead showcase the detail and beauty of the game. And always make sure you read up on your laws and regulations to ensure they will be followed during the hunt.
Connect and Share With The Community
Put yourself out there, share the beauty of the story with others. Not only does it help you grow but it helps the community grow as well.
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