In freshwater environments, photographing timid fish can be
an exercise in frustration. After nearly 30 years of working with subjects
underwater, I’ve learned a couple of things that might help you get closer to
fish and get better images.
Since freshwater fish are relatively small, you have to get
extremely close to them for striking, frame-filling pictures. On the other
hand, this isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Once you see a fish, you need to
make a quick assessment of its potential for your photographs. If it’s swimming
away, let it go. Swimming after a fish is futile and results only in pictures
of tails, not the stunning full-body portraits that you’re really trying to
make. You’ll want instead to concentrate on fish that are not in motion. These
are the easiest fish to photograph. Once you see a fish nearby, the first thing
to do is to freeze and let the fish come to you. If you remain motionless and
quiet, many fish are curious enough to swim right up to you for further
investigation. Any sudden movements will cause them to swim away quickly.
Remain still and allow the fish to become accustomed to your
presence. After a few minutes, if the fish doesn’t approach you, and it doesn’t
swim off, move in closer. Do this slowly and only a few inches at a time,
pausing with each new advance. Always try to approach fish mainly from the
front. Let the fish see you. Because this approach is an unnatural tactic for a
predator, the fish will more likely regard you as non-threatening if you behave
like this in a slow and deliberate manner. As you move in closer and closer,
stop to take a few pictures. Continue to move closer while carefully watching
the fish. At some point, you will go beyond the fish’s zone of acceptable
comfort. This is when the fish will retreat because you’ve gotten too close.
But if you move slowly, studying the fish as you approach, you’ll see the early
signs from the fish that you’re getting too near. It may begin to get nervous, to
turn, or move slowly away. This is where you stop. This is as close as you’re
going to get to this particular fish at this time. This is where you take your
close-up pictures. If you’re doing it right, you should be only one to three
feet away. Your pictures at this distance will be amazing, especially in very
clear water on a bright sunny day!
It’s important to keep in mind that fish vary from lake to
lake and species to species. If fish in a particular lake refuse to let you
approach closely, go to another lake. There are just some places where fish don’t
see many divers, snorkelers or swimmers.
In waters like these, they tend to be more apprehensive. On other lakes,
where fish see people with more regularity, they’re less frightened by our presence.
One technique I often
employ is called the “swim by”. That’s where you make one pass near a group of
fish at a distance. Your objective here is simply to be seen. You swim by not
approaching them or barely even paying them any attention. This gives them an
opportunity to see and evaluate you.
Later you can return to this group. They’ll be less alarmed because they’ve
seen you before and their prior experience with you wasn’t regarded as hostile. The “swim by” helps to build some confidence
in timid fish.
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t get near enough for that
breath- taking close-up every time you shoot. There will be other
opportunities. With time and patience, you’ll enhance your skills at this
method. With experience, you’ll get within arm’s length of most fish most of
the time.
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