Standard photography tips such as filling the frame, and keeping the sun at the photographer's back, always apply regardless of what type of outdoor activity you are trying to capture (Click to read more about basic outdoor photography techniques), but to make a waterfowl hunt come alive in photos you need to keep a camera handy at all times. Waterfowling is one of the most photographic of all outdoor experiences and only a fraction of photo opportunities are of the daily bag. Here are some tips to make the most of your waterfowl experience:

Bag Shots - This is the one (and often only) shot most hunters end up with. It is generally taken at the end of the day when quitting time is near. To make the most of this photo keep your ducks and geese in good condition in the blind by either hanging them up, or by stacking them in a natural position with their feathers smoothed out, not crumpled up in the bottom of the blind. Wipe as much blood as possible off them (if there are several birds with only one bloody one, it may be best to simply leave the ruffled or bloody one out of the photo). Lay them out either on the ground or keep them on a lanyard. If you choose to lay them out, align them facing the same direction, and straighten any errant feathers or wings.

Mood Shots - Take plenty of photos of friends while they are calling, retrieving birds, interacting with the dog and eating a late breakfast. Put all these photos together in an album at the end of the season for a memorable package that can also be given as a gift to hunting buddies.

Close ups - don't overlook some of the smaller things that make waterfowl hunting so special. Ice on a dog's tail, smoke from spent shells, a leg band, or a late season cattail all help immortalize the experience.

The Right Camera Gear
To get great waterfowling photographs, you only need a few items. A quality 35mm compact or SLR camera and/or a high-resolution digital camera, a padded, water-resistant case, a lens cleaning cloth, several rolls of 200 speed print film (or a couple of extra memory cards for the digital users). For users of SLR cameras (digital or 35mm), keep in mind that many more photos will be taken close than far away. Trying to get quality images of waterfowl in flight is best left to the professionals with very specialized equipment. The majority of your shots are going to be relatively close, i.e., in the blind, friends holding waterfowl, or your dog. For this reason, if you have interchangeable or zoom lenses something with a low of 20-28mm is preferable.

While all the sights, sounds, and experience of a waterfowl blind can never completely be captured, if you bring a camera afield and keep it at hand, you can relive many of the memories for years to come.