Game Photography........is it possible to look at it again?

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Macarena Man

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Being a 'new guy' here......this is not intended to ruffle feathers...
Bit of background: I'm in my mid 60's, and have been hunting 40+ years, some of that time as a guide......

The point of this thread has to do with photography, specifically 'downed game' photos.....

There are numerous photos of the happy hunter with his NAPA Auto Parts hat on, rifle resting between the horns of the ungulate on the ground, tongue of the downed animal out, possibly the gutbag or the quad in the background....etc., etc., etc....

I find this somewhat dis-respectful of the animal that was killed, and I am guilty of taking photos like these. Over the years, I've asked hunting buddies, clients, and others to remove their rifles, hats, and clean up their game for photos that I keep for my scrapbooks......if they want their hunting gear etc. in the photos, I will take the photos for them.....
Black and white photos have a magic to them also......

Thanks for a great forum.......happy trails!
 
So true. The tongue out and blood running from the nose and mouth do not do the animal justice plus it feeds the ill conceived ideas of the antis and the other "PETA's".
 
Personally I always have the weapon I used in the photo. Whether its gun or bow. But the photos are mostly clean of blood. My blackberry captures the entrance and exit wounds. I like to keep a record in photos of how bullets and arrows worked on game
 
I've seen some real nice pics over the years - maybe a once in a lifetime animal, location and situation pics - and (IMO) they're ruined by not cleaning up the animal just a little.
 
I'm all for wiping off blood, putting the tongue back in, and leaving the gutpile out of the picture but I don't understand whats wrong with a truck/ATV in the background, or wearing a baseball cap (I wouldn't wear a NAPA hat, but camo/orange is likely).
 
I've only managed 1 deer in my 15 years of hunting (shaddap!) But in that pic I cleaned up my deer, laid my rifle in front of it while I knealt behind and held up his rack. Perfect pic imo. Now that I think of it, every pic that has deer in it at my hunt camp has a rifle or shotgun in it as well. if it was good enough for my grandpa, it's good enough for me. However, I wouldn't put the gun/bow in the rack, that just makes for a bad pic, then again, that is only my opinion.
 
Ardent said:
I always try to pose the animal tastefully, clean up the blood and keep extraneous crap out of the photo- quads, rope, etc. Usually place them upright as well. But my rifle belongs in that photo more than I do, in my humble opinion. Not hung across the rack, but tastefully present.
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Well stated. I agree.
 
Ardent said:
I always try to pose the animal tastefully, clean up the blood and keep extraneous crap out of the photo- quads, rope, etc. Usually place them upright as well. But my rifle belongs in that photo more than I do, in my humble opinion. Not hung across the rack, but tastefully present.
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Ardent.....it's obvious to me that you care about, and have respect for your harvested animal......I appreciate that.

It only takes a minute to take a few more photos of you and your animal......you without your hat, and your firearm out of the picture......
All I can suggest is that you try it.......you may be pleasently suprised. Thanks for commenting.....happy trails.
 
Macarena Man said:
Ardent.....it's obvious to me that you care about, and have respect for your harvested animal......I appreciate that.

It only takes a minute to take a few more photos of you and your animal......you without your hat, and your firearm out of the picture......
All I can suggest is that you try it.......you may be pleasently suprised. Thanks for commenting.....happy trails.
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What purpose does removing the firearm serve? I ask only sincerely, as I don't understand your line of thinking. I'm not trying to appear as sitting with my hand on the back of a sleeping animal, whom after the photo will awake and trot away- I'm hunting. My favourite hunting photos are actually just the game and the rifle, and I have precious few of those myself, I simply really appreciate that take in other's photos. My rifles are beautiful, and I like them to be present.

I also enjoy the thought that in the future my son will be able to look at the rifle in the photo from some interesting place, pictured with his Dad looking barely older than he is at that time, and some interesting animal, all the while holding the exact same rifle bearing the marks it gained on those hunts. To omit the rifle is to pretend I wasn't hunting but merely photo taking in my eyes. I have no qualms if that's others' preference, and don't wish to talk it down, I do however find it an odd suggestion and it won't ever become a habit in my photos. Just curious what purpose you feel it serves.

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diemaco said:
I'm all for wiping off blood, putting the tongue back in, and leaving the gutpile out of the picture but I don't understand whats wrong with a truck/ATV in the background, or wearing a baseball cap (I wouldn't wear a NAPA hat, but camo/orange is likely).
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I stand to be corrected, but I think the OP means putting your hat ON the animals head...which I also think is disrespecful
 
TonyMo said:
I stand to be corrected, but I think the OP means putting your hat ON the animals head...which I also think is disrespecful
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I have a 12 point buck mounted over the fireplace at my cottage... It isn't mine and I would wager it borders on boone and crockett... But that isn't the point...

The point is that folks walk in yhe door and hang their hats off a point... Some of them being self declared antis...

Every time I see someone hang a hat off a point I am tempted to add it to the woodstove...
 
07blackwater said:
My pics are for me and I like to remember things as they were. Not all gussied up.
No matter which way you paint it, hunting isn't pretty.
jmho
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Disagree... Have lots of pics whether it be downed yotes with rifles and custom made calls or whitetails with firearm and my boy by my side... I like them all and don't consider them distasteful...

What I consider distasteful are the pics where folks choose to unnaturally pose animals or give the thumbs up...

The taking of a life should be both a celebration and a somber occasion... Pics should be treated as such
 
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