Photography is a hobby of mine and Texags is one resource that I have used to get better at it. There are some real professionals on here that do this for a living and have tons of experience and knowledge. There are also some of us who just take a bunch and hope one turns out ok. I like to share my pictures that I've taken on here and I really like seeing other people's pictures that are outdoors related or involve a hunting trip of some kind. One thing I always see posted on these threads is a "what did you use to take that?" type question or a "I'm not a good photographer" type statement. My hope is that this thread can answer a few of those questions for people and maybe some of the really talented photographers on this site can share some knowledge or tips. I want to try and break it down into a couple of topics and anyone who has any input please jump in. Hopefully we can all reap the rewards of better picture taking abilities. I'm not a professional by any means but the following is what I have to offer.

1. The Equipment

I think the best camera is the one you have with you. I know a lot of people with really nice cameras that sit on shelves in closets and gather dust. If you're using your phone as a camera, that works. If you've got a super nice DSLR and a giant lens, that works as well. The point is to use whatever you have, you'll want those memories one day. I do think that for low light conditions your phone just can't quite compete with the bigger sensors on some of the quality cameras out there. I think if you start carrying a camera with you, you'll be glad you did.



The picture above is what I use most of the time. A Nikon d5300, which is a low/mid level DSLR and a Sony a5100. The Sony isn't exactly a point and shoot, it's classified as a mirrorless camera. It has the ability to interchange lenses just like the Nikon. I also use the go pro's for time lapse stuff and carry a Manfrotto tripod around. Each of the cameras has a quick connection to the tripod that works for me but would probably be frowned upon by photography purists. I like the ability to take the camera off the tripod quickly if necessary. The cameras that I use both put out RAW files and JPEG files. I prefer the raw setting because it allows you to edit the picture afterwards if necessary.

A few pro's and cons about each....

The Nikon d5300. It is a good camera for me. It takes quality pictures and isn't so expensive that I'm afraid to use it. It was my first DSLR purchase and is very user friendly. It isn't weather sealed which will eventually lead to it's demise in my hands because I'm rough on it but so far it hasn't blinked. It takes a 24 megapixel picture and does good work on videos.It has wifi, a flip up screen and plenty of other capabilities. I don't have any super expensive lenses, just some options that work for me. I haven't bought any more expensive lenses yet because I think I will probably transition to a different platform in the near future. ( reasons for that later) The Nikon is too big to fit in a pocket but usually rides around in a dust proof bag next to me on the side by side or around my neck and tucked in a jacket. There are plenty of comparable options but in the research I did, this camera was the best in my price range. It isn't a full frame sensor so it will suffer in low light compared to some of the full frame options. The battery life on this camera seems to be pretty good but I don't like that you have to remove the battery to charge it. I have a small remote that works great on this camera but it might be in my washing machine at the moment. Check your pockets. This camera has a quiet mode but is still audible when you take a picture.

The Sony a5100. I love this thing. This camera is small enough to fit in my jacket pocket and can be deployed at a moment's notice. Despite the small size, this camera has a big sensor and does a great job in low light compared to a cell phone. It also takes 24 megapixel pictures so that gives you plenty of photo to work with for cropping and editing. This camera has a flip up screen and an easy self timer which makes it perfect for taking pictures of a big fish or a big deer when you hunt by yourself. It has a wifi capability so you can send the pic straight from your camera to your phone and then scoreboard all your buddies. The battery life is great and I really like the fact that it takes a USB C charger so it is easy to charge while heading down the road. The ability to change lenses means that this camera can do just about everything the big guys can. This camera has made me such a big fan of Sony that my next purchase will be a Sony a7iii full frame camera.


A synopsis .... I think any of the Sony alpha series cameras (a5100, a6000, a6300) would be a perfect camera to keep in a tackle box, hunting pack or vehicle and would double as a family memory maker. They offer a superior auto mode that takes care of a lot of the work for you. I'm sure there are plenty of other options in this range but these are the only ones I have hands on experience with. People who really know what they are talking about have recommended the Sony rx100 series of cameras to me and I have no doubt that they are awesome as well. They are a little smaller so that might be a more desirable option to some.


I would love to hear other people's experiences with different platforms or camera types.

2. Taking the pictures.






I offer the 2 pictures above as an example. The 2 pictures are the same subject (me) and the same speed goat. I may be crazy but one looks a lot better than the other. I think if I'm gonna go through all the trouble and expense of going on a hunt, I want it to be remembered as best as I can.

My tips for taking a flattering grip and grin,,,,

1. Clean up the trophy. No one wants to see a picture of a bloody mess with it's tongue hanging out. Carry a rag or some paper towels and make the animal look nice. Tuck the tongue in or cut it off if you must, but don't leave it hanging out. If you've got a big entry or exit wound, position the animal the other way, it'll just look better.

2. Choose your location wisely. I like to try and take a good picture of the animal that shows it's best characteristics and gives a representation of where he lived. I don't want my best picture of a good deer to be in the back of my pickup truck. Take a little time, find a good spot and make it worth your while. I try and have the antler or horns or whatever in front of a clear background. This makes for a cleaner picture and allows little details to really stand out. The crest of a hill, a cliff or a dirt road in a pasture usually work really well.

3. Position yourself wisely. I'm not saying to get 20 feet behind the animal and make some sort of forced perspective... but I am saying get behind it or at least even with it. Get out from behind the horns so you don't blend in with them.

4. Take a bunch of pictures. If you're going through all this trouble, make sure to take a bunch of pictures just in case you get a good one. Familiarize yourself with the self timer on your camera and have a small tripod if you hunt alone. If you hunt with a buddy, make them keep taking till you get the one you want. Try a few different angles and see what looks best. Smile in some, frown in some, take your hat off, put your hat on...You only get so many trophies in your lifetime, make sure you get a good picture of them.



5. Get other people in the picture with you if they were there or helped in any way. I have some pictures with my dad or good friends that will hang on the wall until I'm gone and someone else takes them down. Every single time I see those pictures i get good memories and think of where it happened and who was with me. That's the goal.





The other pictures....

If you hunt or fish with me you figure out pretty quick that you're probably gonna get photographed. Pictures with people in them just look better. The following are my best tips for getting good action shots.

1. Focus on the eyes. I don't care if you're taking a picture of a dog or a person, their eyes tell a story. Steven Drake is a professional expedition photographer and he says something like "emotion is most prevalent in people's faces." I think he's probably right. Happy or sad, the eyes give it away.



2. Tell a story. If you take a picture it should tell someone something about what you were doing. The picture below of the decoys... I was watching a lifeless spread on a windless, duckless morning and enjoying the sunrise. A bad hunt turned into a picture I liked, that's the way it goes sometimes.



3. Get the behind the scenes stuff. Everyone has a picture of a deer they shot, not everyone has a few pictures that tell the story of how they got it. Where'd you stay? What'd you eat ? Who was there? What hardships did you endure? Those are the pictures that will stick with you for a long time.









4. Just try it. It may seem stupid to walk up that hill and take a picture of your camp but try it ad see what it looks like. A little effort usually shows up in your pictures. Try something from several different angles and then see which one works best. Photo storage is cheap and battery life is better than ever. Zoom in, zoom out, less exposure, more exposure try it and learn. I don't know much about cameras but I'll try it until I figure out what works.






My last bit of wisdom is to utilize every resource available. There are plenty of people on this site that have forgotten more than I know and you tube is full of helpful people. Try it out and see what works for you!

Great post and amazing photos! That Hereford bull and Aggie ring sunrise are my favorites. Thanks for sharing. You're positioning yourself to be the Agrams and Caladan of photography. That's a compliment.

Best camera to take with you outdoors would depend greatly on your budget, but I would unquestionably go with a used pro-body, especially over Sony because they are so much more durable and much better sealed. Sony's are notoriously poorly sealed, which lets in dust, moisture, etc.

The other problem with Sony is availability. Really easy to find Nikon stuff and really easy to find used Nikon lenses at a great discount. Plus there are big service advantages.

Best values in photography for price to performance are the Nikon D4 for anything moving and the Nikon D800 for anything still (portraits, landscapes)

But the most important thing is having the camera with you.

Speaking of eyes! What in the hell is this anyway?

Thanks for the kind words.

That bull was standing on the road outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico and reminded me of my favorite Robert Earl Keen song.

That Aggie ring picture was down by the Devils River in my favorite spot on one of my favorite ranches. You can't beat a good sunset down there.

I got a Rebel T6i this summer and have been occasionally playing with it. This was first used of a 55-200mm EFS lens.

Key to good pictures is good subject matter. Either needs to be unique or tell a story. Here are some I took in Africa with a Nikon D7000 w/ a 70-300dx lens.




This was a new born Giraffe who sees it first guinea hen

Playing with my camera but it's time for a new body I fear..

I shoot a D7000 and a couple different Nikon lenses. Still not guitarsoup status but I learn every time I shoot.

Another bit of advice for someone starting out is to learn to use the camera off auto mode.