Reinventing the typical trophy photo

[CM McKenzie]

@franzfmdavis Thank you for starting this thread and to other members' posts. It prompted me to revisit my Wyoming Elk hunt from 2012. I walk past the shoulder mount multiple times a day, but haven't looked at the photos in a few years. Here's a few you might enjoy.

It was 1 1/2 hour ride over steep terrain to the meadow where I shot my elk. The guide had to radio another guide who could get a signal back to camp and send someone out with mules to pack the elk back to camp.

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I hunted with Triangle X, and Harold Turner (3rd Generation in Jackson Valley) was in camp and was the one who brought the mules - at that time I believe he was 72. That was a 2 1/2 hour ride to get to us which turned into 3 hour ride back with the mules loaded.

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These are a couple of our ride back to camp.

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Looks like you were up in the Mink Creek Camp.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

One of my all time favorites. This picture was taken on my fifth safari. I had the privilege of bringing a dear old friend and mentor as a guest. Ken and I met when I was a 20 year old apprentice Steamfitter without a pot to piss in. He helped shape my career and is one of my most trusted friends.

This picture has everything. It honors the beautiful Golden Wildebeest first, my enduring friendship with Ken, one of my PH’s favorite dogs whom I’ve hunted with many times, and my trusted .243 semi custom that has dispatched many animals on 3 different safaris without issue…

 

[franzfmdavis]

I like to take lots of photos from different angles from the time I walk up to the animal til it's loaded in the truck and sometimes unloaded and skinned. It really adds something to your safari photos and helps round out your story versus just the standard posed trophy shots.

Up close showing just a portion of the animal
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As they fell
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Back to the truck
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From my own point of view
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I completely relate to that!

 

[franzfmdavis]

Great photos!

Great thread! Here are a few of my favorites-

 

[franzfmdavis]

Great photos

Great thread! Here are a few of my favorites-

In addition to the "typical" trophy photos, I like to get pictures of the rifle and/or ammunition with the harvested animal...some from different angles and others closeup...some with me in the pic and others not. Here are a few from my trip this month....two cape buffalo, two lions and a rhino.View attachment 687177View attachment 687178View attachment 687179View attachment 687180View attachment 687181View attachment 687182View attachment 687183View attachment 687184View attachment 687185

Those are all FANTASTIC! I love to picture of the tools as well!! I probably have more of my gear than I care to admit. Ha!

 

[franzfmdavis]

Thank you! That means a lot to me!

Thats one of the many things I like about Frantz...he makes all of us think about things differently! I told him just yesterday, I really have enjoyed his posts over this past year as he presents new ideas, questions and thoughts! It's what makes our forum so great!!!

 

[franzfmdavis]

I like them as well. Here’s my favorite. I did not know my PH was taking this picture View attachment 687211

Great perspective! It highlights their massive size!

 

[franzfmdavis]

One of my all time favorites. This picture was taken on my fifth safari. I had the privilege of bringing a dear old friend and mentor as a guest. Ken and I met when I was a 20 year old apprentice Steamfitter without a pot to piss in. He helped shape my career and is one of my most trusted friends.

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This picture has everything. It honors the beautiful Golden Wildebeest first, my enduring friendship with Ken, one of my PH’s favorite dogs whom I’ve hunted with many times, and my trusted .243 semi custom that has dispatched many animals on 3 different safaris without issue…

Thats fantastic!

I hope all of us non-famous hunters all take the time to record our experiences for not only our families but future generations who will likley be interested in knowing what hunting was like in our era.

Those hunters from the early 20th century probably thought things would remain the same for generations. They were wrong and it is only reasonable to believe that things will be significantly different 50 years from now.

When I think of it in that context I wonder what meaningful details I have may have left out of my personal notes.

 

[Red Leg]

The one you passed on and that still haunts your dreams (shallow curls) - Central Namibia

The perfect camp - Caprivi

The culture of a place - Zambia - everywhere

Reaching out for a bushbuck - Zambia

Best deer where he fell = Central Texas

Stalking within 40 yards of a black rhino - Central Namibia

Waterfowl dawn - Maryland Eastern Shore

Where the bears are - Bridge River drainage BC

Meeting lions on foot - Mozambique

Carrying out buffalo the way Hemingway did - Zambezi Delta, Mozambique

Having a wade about - Zambezi Delta, Mozambique

 

[BryceM]

Here's another I sort of like. The light is nice and the way the dog is just chilling out really captures something.

 

[R eight]

When I look at these I’m transported back.

 

[franzfmdavis]

The one you passed on and that still haunts your dreams (shallow curls) - Central Namibia
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The perfect camp - Caprivi
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The culture of a place - Zambia - everywhere
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Reaching out for a bushbuck - Zambia
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Best deer where he fell = Central Texas

Stalking within 40 yards of a black rhino - Central Namibia

Waterfowl dawn - Maryland Eastern Shore

Where the bears are - Bridge River drainage BC

Meeting lions on foot - Mozambique

Carrying out buffalo the way Hemingway did - Zambezi Delta, Mozambique

Having a wade about - Zambezi Delta, Mozambique

Wow! That last picture (of you wading) is one of best I have ever seen! I want to print it and put it up in my house! Gun companies aspire to create marketing pictures like that!

Those are all fantastic, and make me think we should create a “best of Africa Hunting” table top book with pictures and stories from you and all of our other esteem members?

It wouldn't have to be too big or bulky, but it can have a nice canvas cover and multiple volumes it we need it.

For example, interested members can submit whatever they want to have printed (related to themselves or hunting) up to 500 words and two of their favorite hunting related pictures. Each submission would have a two page spread.

Each book would be 100 pages, so 50 submissions per book. It would probably cost <$100 per book and could be ordered directly from whatever publisher we use, such as shutterfly etc?

It would be an honor to do the layout, editing and gathering of information (without any compensation) if there is some interest in it?

 

[franzfmdavis]

Here's another I sort of like. The light is nice and the way the dog is just chilling out really captures something.

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Beautiful! The pup really does enhance the story in the scene.

 

[franzfmdavis]

When I look at these I’m transported back.

Those are breathtaking! I like taking broad landscape pictures too when I can but my it takes patience and a willing camerman. When you can get good ones like you have it really captures the challenges of hunting!

 

[gcbailey]

Here's another I sort of like. The light is nice and the way the dog is just chilling out really captures something.

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I love this! The framing and the way the dog is sitting really makes this a unique picture.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I prefer "as it lays" with me out of the picture. The animal and environment dominate ... as they should.
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I’m gonna agree with you on this one. I take a lot of these photos, normally without the rifle in the picture and often before I’ve even walked up to the animal.

 

[gcbailey]

I am just as apt to take the typical trophy photo as anyone, and have done so each time.

However, when looking at trophy photos, I find that I more quickly scroll past typical photos and linger longer when they are an odd or irregular picture.

I imagine the repetitive composition of the typical trophy photo has become a bit ordinary to my eyes, even though the subject matter is truly extraordinary.

I tried to do something different as an experiment this last hunt, but don't think my ideas were great (and the PH didn't like them better either):

1. Typical composition:

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2. A little bit different (closer to the head; whole animal is not shown):

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3. Something I don't see as frequently (perspective on a level plane; facing the animal; reverent hand on animal):

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I do notice that vintage safari photos are much more interesting to me in composition and variety. For example, people are standing, people are sitting on animals, people are looking off into the distance, there are big groups around the animal, etc.

I know many of you have done unique trophy photos too, as I can think of several examples that come to mind.

There is no formal question here, just an observation, but, I would appreciate if anyone has non-standard composition trophy pictures they would like to share here to help give me ideas.

It would be great to have some different composition ideas in mind before my next hunt.

Thanks Ya’ll!

I like your idea. We (my wife, and/or guide, and/or myself) took the regular trophy photos, but some of my favorite pictures are ones where I didn't even know pictures were being taken. My wife is a photographer and snaps so many photos that we don't even pay attention when she brings the camera out. She has a great eye for composing a photo, if that's the right phrase.

My wife took this photo as I was waiting see if a sable I had wounded would come into the clearing.

Another photo my wife took as I was looking for a sable I had wounded. NOTE: Though it looks like from this angle, my finger is NOT on the trigger.

Tracking Cape Buffalo

I really like the following three photos my guide took. The last one isn't the most flattering of me, but I appreciate he took it when I thought the photos were done and I was genuinely admiring the buff.

My wife thought I should pose directly next to the warthog. It seemed weird, but I really like how it turned out.

I captured these as my wife admired and took photos of animals. Although not trophy photos per se, she liked that I captured her doing what she loves most.

Finally, photos my wife took of just the animals.

 

[Sideshow]

I like your idea. We (my wife, and/or guide, and/or myself) took the regular trophy photos, but some of my favorite pictures are ones where I didn't even know pictures were being taken. My wife is a photographer and snaps so many photos that we don't even pay attention when she brings the camera out. She has a great eye for composing a photo, if that's the right phrase.

My wife took this photo as I was waiting see if a sable I had wounded would come into the clearing.
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Another photo my wife took as I was looking for a sable I had wounded. NOTE: Though it looks like from this angle, my finger is NOT on the trigger.
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Tracking Cape Buffalo
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I really like the following three photos my guide took. The last one isn't the most flattering of me, but I appreciate he took it when I thought the photos were done and I was genuinely admiring the buff.
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My wife thought I should pose directly next to the warthog. It seemed weird, but I really like how it turned out.
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I captured these as my wife admired and took photos of animals. Although not trophy photos per se, she liked that I captured her doing what she loves most.
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Finally, photos my wife took of just the animals.
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She’s got a very good eye. Lovely pics

 

[JD Noblin]

Here's another I sort of like. The light is nice and the way the dog is just chilling out really captures something.

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Fantastic picture! Love the dog in it. I bet that dog was thinking the following about the animal: "I'M ON HIM....IF HE MOVES I'LL BITE HIM!"

 

[Altitude sickness]

GcBailey, I like the pictures of being on the trail or track also