Have you ever thought about your photography style? I recently sat in on a photography masterclass and the presenter spoke about two types of photography styles: A hunter and a fisherman (or fisherwoman if you prefer).
The Hunter
The hunter is the photographer who keeps their phone in their pocket until they “see” something compelling enough to pull out their camera and take the shot. This style is much like an actual hunter who keeps their gun down until they spot their prey.
Here is an example. While sitting in my car waiting for the light to change, I spotted a cluster of birds, all facing the same direction on the light wire. I grabbed my phone, pointed and shot. In this case I was a hunter.
Another example of a hunter type photography style is this rainbow photo. This shot is not something I could have set up or planned for. Again, I spotted the photo, grabbed my camera, pointed and shot.
The Fisherman
The fisherman however, has a different approach and photography style. The fisherman imagines a potential image and then patiently waits until the image that they envision, unfolds in front of them. This is a slower way to photograph and it takes much more patience.
While visiting an art museum I thought it would make a interesting photo if someone was standing in front of this large painting of a face, by the artist Chuck Close.
I stood in wait (fishing) for at least fifteen minutes until I had the photo that I imagined ahead of time.
Another time I patiently waited and took a fisherman style photo is this image of a cloud formation.
I noticed the upper clouds slowly coming together and forming a ball like cloud. Unlike the hunter, I didn’t just look up and see this. I sat patiently and waited for probably thirty minutes until the clouds took the exact shape I was anticipating they would.
The masterclass speaker pointed out that most professional photographers are fisherman with a little hunter on the side.
Most amateurs though, default into being hunters only. If this is you, then I encourage you to give fishing some thought. It does takes patience and time but can produce some very unique images.
Let me know in the comments below what photography style are you?
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Hmmm. I think I’m both! But I do see I do a lot of fisherman type moves, I think. For instance, yesterday I was sitting with the dog and I thought that I should get a pic of us. I waited and waited until he started yawning so I could mimic him and get us both with our mouths wide open. Fisherman? PS your photos in this post are amazing!
Hi Christine, I saw that great image you posted with Ozzie. Definitely a fisher photo!
Hi Linda – such a great way of describing the different photography personalities – hunter vs. fisher. Fisher takes way more patience!
Hi Linda, yes, a fisher takes more time and patience but often well worth the effort.
This is so interesting! I almost always practice ‘hunting’ photography, but this has inspired me to become more of a fisher!
Definitely something to think about!
Mostly a hunter with occasional fisherman thoughts – not quite enough patience to do it very often, though!
Hi Janet,
Being a fisher definitely takes some planning as well as patience.
What a great post! I am mainly a hunter but am a fisher sometimes for some groups I am in where I am in charge of our social media. Both are fun:)
Hi Mary Ann, I think I’m mainly a hunter as well but I do try and plan out the time of day I shoot. I definitely like to control the lighting so I guess in that sense I’m a fisher.
Well, I think I’m primarily a hunter but I have taken occasional fisherman photos that took time and patience.
Yes, those fisherman style photos take time but usually produce the best results!
This is such a great analogy! I have never thought of photography this way. I’m typically a hunter and I will be certainly thinking of the fisherman in the future!
As always, you give such great advice.
Thanks Sheri, I had never really thought of photography styles quite like this either. It’s fun to consider though!
My friends have a running joke about being a “Bounder of Adventure” and when I’m scaling a rock on the coast of Maine to get a picture of a lighthouse that is different than all the other ones I’ve seen, I always chuckle that I am the outdoor type I see in the LL Bean catalogue.
I also have been known to refer to myself as the quickdraw shooter when I see something and grab my phone from my back pocket. Perhaps I watched too many westerns in my youth.
Great article Linda. Please keep them coming.
I totally get it Josh because I have been know to risk my life more than once to get the perfect shot.