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 😂😂?