Salmon are truly magnificent fish. Their sleek, silvery bodies glide effortlessly through water as they make their annual migrations. When hooked on a line, they put up a worthy fight that tests the skills of even the most seasoned anglers. Their firm orange-hued meat also happens to be delicious when prepared properly. For all these reasons and more, salmon hold a special place in the hearts of many people across the globe.
As someone who appreciates the grace and power of salmon I enjoy capturing their beauty through photography. A great salmon picture requires patience, timing and an artistic eye. In this article, I’ll share some tips and techniques I’ve learned for taking eye-catching photos of these incredible fish.
Finding Salmon to Photograph
The first step is locating salmon to photograph During certain seasons, salmon swim upstream into rivers to spawn This is an excellent opportunity to observe and photograph them up close. Some popular river locations in the United States include
- Columbia River (Oregon/Washington)
- Kenai River (Alaska)
- Rogue River (Oregon)
- American River (California)
I recommend researching when salmon runs occur near you. Pack up your camera gear, waders, and polarized sunglasses and head to a river during peak migration. Position yourself in a shallow area with good visibility. Then wait patiently for salmon to swim by.
Captive salmon provide another photography option. Many hatcheries and aquariums have viewing windows where you can observe salmon in large tanks. The Oregon Coast Aquarium, Seattle Aquarium, and University of Washington hatcheries offer great behind-the-glass salmon sightings.
Camera Settings and Gear
Photographing salmon poses some unique challenges. They are fast swimmers that spend much of their time underwater. To capture sharp, well-exposed salmon images, consider these camera settings and gear:
- Fast shutter speed (1/1000 sec or higher) – Freeze salmon movement
- Wide aperture (f/2.8 or wider) – Isolate subjects with shallow depth of field
- ISO 400-800 – Compensate for fast shutter speed to avoid underexposure
- Telephoto lens (70-200mm) – Get close-up shots from a distance
- Polarizing filter – Cut glare and reflections for clearer underwater views
I highly recommend a fast telephoto zoom lens for salmon photography. A 70-200mm f/2.8 lens provides excellent reach and background blur for isolating subjects. Waterproof housing or a neutral density filter may also come in handy for shooting underwater scenes.
Composition and Timing
Salmon photography requires careful timing to capture the perfect moment. Keep your eyes peeled and camera ready when salmon are around. Here are some engaging compositions to try:
Jumping salmon: Salmon often leap out of the water when crossing rapids or traveling up fish ladders. Try using a fast burst mode to snap them mid-jump.
Swimming salmon: Tracking a swimming salmon from the side and timing a close-up headshot just as it faces your camera results in powerful images.
Group of salmon: Include multiple salmon to show their migrating masses. Position yourself low and to the side.
Salmon portrait: Fill the frame with a salmon face-on as it pauses in shallow water. Shoot from eye level for connection.
Underwater scenes: Create intriguing underwater perspectives of salmon in rivers or tanks. Photograph up towards light refracting on the surface.
Great salmon photography requires experimenting with different perspectives, distances, and techniques until you hone your own style. Don’t give up if your first attempts don’t quite capture the scene you envisioned.
Post-Processing Salmon Photos
Once you’ve photographed salmon in interesting positions, the next step is editing your images. Post-processing can really make colors pop and put the final polish on photos.
Here are some post-processing tips for salmon pictures:
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Boost contrast slightly to make salmon details stand out.
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Increase vibrance to intensify the orange hues without oversaturating.
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Use gradient filters to darken backgrounds and draw attention to subjects.
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Remove distracting reflections and glare with spot healing.
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Crop tightly around salmon eyes for engaging portraits.
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Convert jumping salmon shots to black and white for dramatic effect.
Don’t go overboard with editing salmon photos. Subtle enhancements are often most effective. The brilliant colors and mesmerizing textures of salmon should take center stage.
Sharing Your Salmon Photography
Now that you’ve mastered photographing salmon and processing your images, it’s time to share your handiwork! Print your favorite shots for home display or submit them to contests and publications like outdoor magazines and wildlife photography books.
You can also share salmon images digitally on photo sites. Shutterstock, Getty Images, and iStock are popular stock photo websites open for contributor submissions. Not only do these platforms provide wider exposure, but they also offer opportunities to earn royalties from licensed photos.
Remember to tag salmon images with descriptive keywords like “salmon fish” and “salmon jumping” to make them easily discoverable by buyers searching these terms. Share your salmon photography far and wide for others to enjoy!
Salmon Photography Enriches Life
Capturing salmon through photography has enriched my life immensely. I’ve gained outdoor experiences, artistic skills, satisfaction in contributing stock images, and mental clarity from the meditation-like focus photography requires. I encourage you to grab your camera and photograph salmon swimming through their natural habitats. The joy of combining your passion for salmon with photography makes the effort to master this challenging yet rewarding pursuit well worthwhile.
And in the same way the Pacific salmon that I photograph each year die and become a part of the past.
But not before they reproduce- helping to continue the cycle year after year. Pacific Salmon have quickly become one of my primary subjects, alongside of my fascination with the overall watershed. In some small way I hope my underwater salmon photos help to play a part in preserving these wonderous creatures and the habitat they are a part of. All five species of Pacific Salmon- Chinook, Coho, Chum, Pink, and Sockeye, frequent rivers near my home base of Campbell River, BC.
Click HERE to watch a short video documentary where I talk about my thoughts on salmon and my role in creating art that helps create awareness.
The Salmon’s Life Mission | Destination WILD
FAQ
FAQ
What does normal salmon look like?
It should have a bright pink-orange color with shiny, silver skin. If the salmon’s skin looks dull and lifeless, or if the flesh has faded to gray, it is probably not fresh.
Which is the best salmon to eat?
The best salmon to eat is a matter of personal preference, but King salmon (also known as Chinook) is often considered the top choice due to its rich, buttery flavor and high fat content. Other excellent options include Sockeye (Red) salmon, known for its deep red flesh and robust flavor, and Coho (Silver) salmon, which offers a milder flavor and firm texture.
What looks similar to salmon?
Steelhead and salmon are often confused because they share some characteristics like texture, appearance and taste.Dec 12, 2022