Carolina Reds Still Need Saving
Still haven't signed Capt. Gordon's petition? What's wrong with you?
...wave it wide and high...
...I'm off tomorrow for a few consecutive days of chasing tail...
...a few days of river fishing to free the mind and clear the cobwebs...
...with maybe a few smallies thrown in to help out.
I needs a boat.
Simms offered to provide a give-away for a blog contest but I couldn’t think of anything because I’ve endured a series of skunks and bad luck and my brain is fried. But then I read a brothers in arms post from Murdock and it hit me; when it’s going bad I don’t take comfort in reading how great the fishing has been for you and looking at all your hero shots. I want misery.
So tell me your worst day fishing story and I might pick you to win a prize: The Simms Dry Creek Flats Pack.
Post a comment, 200 words or less please, telling me about your worst day on the water. In the spirit of bad game shows, most pathetic wins. Make one up for all I care, this is a fishing blog not NPR. On Wednesday, July 1st I’ll pick a winner.
The casting was good.
Rewards, originally uploaded by cor23.*
His name and images, like one of our favorites above, are showing up everywhere in the fly fishing industry. Based out of Ogden, Utah, Corey Kruitbosch (here’s his blog) actually has a day job in the gaming industry but still gets it done on the water with a rod and a lens. Somewhere between his job and his passion he found the time to answer a few questions about photography.
All the sudden your photography is showing up everywhere; The Drake, This Is Fly, Catch, Midcurrent. How did you go from working in the gaming industry to getting paid gigs shooting fly fishing pics?
Honestly, I couldn’t really give you a solid answer. I am pretty blown away myself. I feel really lucky that I have been able to get some great encouragement form some fantastic editors. My approach has always been to ask what types of images different editors are looking for. I’d like to think that maybe I am capturing some images that describe the feeling that we all have when we are fishing.
How does working in the gaming industry shape your approach to fishing photography?
I think that working in 3D space, on a daily basis, tends to help me to visualize some of my angles. The one thing that about working in games that has the most influence on me is, the people. Working with large teams to make a product that would be impossible to do alone is truly inspiring . I am constantly surrounded by talented, creative, and artistic people who have a very diverse set of skills that I continually learn from. Artists with with specialties in 3D modeling, animators, concept artists, UI designers, and Art Directors help me to continually evaluate my artistic approach.
A few professional photographers have told me that, outside of accrued technical knowledge, a key aspect of quality shooting is discovering angles. Meaning, finding an angle to shoot from that moves a subject beyond ordinary. Is there one non-technical thing like that you can point to that, creatively, helps you shape your work?
Always looking at others work … I am constantly looking at, and inspired by, the work of other photographers and artists. If I see something in a film or a painting that I like, I then ask myself … “How could that fantastic shot be applied to a fly fishing photo? What is it that makes this so good? What is it that I like about this?”
I also carry a notebook with me, most of the time, to jot down photo ideas or concepts.
How do you work with a subject matter that is a breathing, moving, and not necessarily cooperative living thing?
Sometimes I just don’t get what I’m after. It’s those times when I just put away the camera and fish… Or vise versa, if I’m having a bad day on the river.
When on a shoot, do you work from a checklist of key shots or do you let the action unfold in front of you and work from there?
There are times when I head out with an idea or a concept that I’d like to try, but I rarely have a shot list. I actually enjoy the fact that I am not doing professional photography 100% of the time. I think it helps to keep me shooting the stuff I like and not the stuff that I think I might be able to sell. Hopefully, this will help me to develop a unique style that’s “mine”.
Any favorite shots that you feel best represent who you are?
That is tough … I tend to like the shots that most have to to with the memorable fishing days. The shots that are about good times, friends, and capturing those moments. I keep a ‘favs’ set on flickr, but, if I had to narrow it down to just a couple shots…
One of the first shots I got published. This was the epiphany shot, that really made me think “damn, it could be really fun to take good artistic shots of the fly fishing experience.”
This shot epitomizes my favorite type of fishing, streamers for big browns.*
Nothing is better than our moments on the river with good friends.
*Photos reposted with permission of the owner, © all rights reserved by Corey Kruitbosch.
Never got around to posting more about the last run down to Florida. When the annual tarpon trip turns EBT (everything but tarpon) the other species are left to fill in the void. When tiny savages arrive on the scene in the form of spanish mackerel, there’s entertainment to be had provided you’re set to withstand the affects of teeth on tippet. It’s visual surface action on the two to four pound level.
Today’s theme is secondary albums from great players who passed away well before their time.
The tarpon had all blown out of the area so we made do with what he had. No matter, any day that involves pulling snook from the mangroves is a good one.
Poonhead, originally uploaded by Fishing Jones.
I haven’t landed a tarpon on fly over 60 pounds. Going vampire with live crabs and circle hooks is a different story. Big tarpon come out to play at night. I’m southbound today. I’ll sleep again on Monday.
