What Makes a Good Fly Fishing Photograph?

February 6, 2010 By: timromano

As the photo editor of The Flyfish Journal, I’m frequently asked what makes a good fly fishing photograph. I usually find it difficult to answer that question in a concise manner. One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received is this: try and tell a story completely with one image. Easier said than done….
Nadav Kander is an photographer of exceptional talent who’s work has appeared in The New York Times, ESPN and GQ to The Guardian and Rolling Stone Magazine. While perusing YouTube I came across a video of Nadav explaining his latest work named, “Yangtze, The Long River,” which I found to be inspirational in terms of photography and what the landscape means to Nadav and why he takes photos the way he does. What better a photographic metaphor for us anglers than a river… no?
The video is a bit long, but absolutely gorgeous and worth every minute.

Consider this: if someone wants to advance their own fly fishing photography, they may start by stepping outside the sport and looking at images that have nothing to do with fishing. Listen to someone like Mr. Kander, who feels that he takes photos of landscapes, “not for the great views or lands but for refection and questioning….”