Why do people stare so much when they catch a carp - like they're trying to laser beam through the fish?

Or the ones that crook their necks in a weird way staring at the carps beak, what's that all about?

Shouldn't you have a massive smile on your face looking right into the lense?

In reply to Post #1
Looking ‘Carpy' or so they think.

Smile, think of all the hard earned wedge you've spent on the bugger, then put it back.

In reply to Post #1
I assume your talking about trophy shots? I generally like to mix it up a bit these days a few shots looking towards the head or tail. And a few smiling to camera. Growing up smiling and looking to camera was definitely a no, no. Looking towards the head or tail or even the flank with most of your face out of shot was the way to go. A lot of people's thinking was catch shots were a way of showing of the fish not you. The same went for how you also held the fish. The fashion in the late 80's early 90s was to hold the fish kneeling on one knee with your arm on that knee supporting the fish. Ether looking towards the head or tail with no expression on your face what so ever. We all wanted to be taken seriously after all. Grinning to camera you were looked on as a bit of a Noddy. We all wanted to be Ritchie Mac...

I caught a beautiful double linear many, many, years ago. I paid a guy in the next peg to take a picture with his camera as i had left mine at home. I never received the photo. I rarely bother to take a picture these days. I have nothing to prove to anyone, and I know what I have caught, and until the Alzheimers sets in I will remember the moment.

In reply to Post #1
Trend!

In reply to Post #1
i was always under the impression that if you looked directly at the camera it would take away the emphasis of the main event - ie the carp.

if your looking at the camera in the pic - most people will look at you... then the carp.

probably means nout - but for the record i nearly always look at the fish in trophy shots (without any crooked neck / wierd angle )

Looking at the tail or head end was a thing to help prevent redeye from when us old fossils used a film camera and had to wait a month before you sent it to trueprint to get developed.

In reply to Post #7


Imagine if the kids nowadays had to wait for pics like we did

Edit, Early 0s, came home from France with pics of my 1st 50...long story short..threw the film away

In reply to Post #6
I tend to always look at the head end. I don't know why, but I feel that is the end to look at, can't bring myself to look at the tail end lol.

But why to you all, red eye isn't a thing anymore and staring at a carps beak just looks daft. Bet the outside looking in must think we're a right bunch on inbreds😂.

@vossy gutters mate, I remember waiting almost a whole season to get some pictures developed and nearly every photo was blurry

In reply to Post #10
Got to admit you'll always see me facing the camera so you can see how happy I am...none of that moody serious for me. I did try it once, just thought nah, but if it's your thing fair enough. Like you, I can imagine someone saying 'they should look happy, not constipated'.

The good old days of out of focus

In reply to Post #11
I like smiling when holding a carp i used to look miserable when stood next to my ex the old trout

I will take a couple of photos and just keep one. Facing the camera with a smile on my face.

Looking at the fish creates an "implied line" (a form of leading lines) within the composition of the image. In other words, through you looking at the fish, it subconsciously draws the viewers attention towards the carp. I used to take photography seriously some years back & I read a book on the psychology behind composition.

That said, I look at the fish mainly because I don't like my photo being taken!

In reply to Post #14
Well I didn't know that - I wonder how many laser beam eye carpers do, or if it's cos one of them celebrities do it 😂😂?

In reply to Post #15
Copying celebrities on instawhatever probably.

I doubt there's many saddos like myself thinking that deeply about the composition of their trophy shots.

In reply to Post #11
I was under the impression that a lot of it came from the invention of digital cameras that sought the faces of those in the shot, and then the cameras emphasis was on the face rather than the surroundings. I had an old coolpix camera that put up little boxes when it detected them. Once all the boxes came up of the multiple family members etc, you then took the picture.

I prefer not looking at the camera as I usually look tired, rough and unkempt.......

Do people not look at the carp AND smile?

Regardless, when I see a picture of a carp, it's the carp I'm looking at. Where the angler is looking is not really something that I will be looking for. So who cares where an angler looks, what they're wearing or whatever. Appreciate the carp and keep scrolling!

In reply to Post #19
"Do people not look at the carp AND smile?"

You have to look moody because it shows that you take carp fishing very seriously!

I look a right **** when I smile so I'd rather look a **** not smiling

In reply to Post #5
100% its a trend. Trying to look as "carpy" as possible.

Gradually people's ability to care for and take a half decent snap of your quarry has thankfully improved over the years. Long gone are the days of multiple fish laid out on people legs. Or fish cradled in both arms.

Who remembers being told sticking a thumb in a fishes mouth for catch pics will stop a fish flapping...

One good thing that's come from the fashion of wearing chest waders all the time. Is people tend to take more water shots. No doubt the safest way to take catch pics.

Don't forget to smile. Its meant to be enjoyable..

In reply to Post #21

In reply to Post #21
Fortunately I don't have that problem, that's because I'm handsome

In reply to Post #25
I can see that from your profile pic..

In reply to Post #9
I usually look at the tail as its obviously my 'better side' from my previous modelling days (cough bs)

In reply to Post #23
"Who remembers being told sticking a thumb in a fishes mouth for catch pics will stop a fish flapping... "

Wrong end.

I won't stare at them, they'd prolly want a fight. The bloody chavs.

In reply to Post #29
Your right, them Simmos definitely got a chip on there shoulder. Them Leney descendants far more refined. There's definitely something in breeding...

In reply to Post #28
Not surprised coming from Norfolk..

In reply to Post #31


*laughs nervously*