Excellent tips Doc!
The IFish pics don't show up for me either but when I printed your post out, to be placed on the db and referanced later, the pics printed out fine. Go figure?
Originally posted by fishNphysician:
The fish is stressed, and it needs clean well-oxygenated water.... not a trip to a mud pit. Besides, muddy water in the background detracts from the natural beauty of the fish and makes for a less than stellar photo.
Guilty just yesterday:
An example of a poorly composed photo with the mud, rod, net and oar tip all distracting from a nice bright buck. The pics poorly composed mainly because I wanted to get the buck into clean water ASAP and thus was not able to properly set up a good pic. In retrospect I should of cut him loose in deep fast water without the net. Fortunately he did bolt strongly away moments later

.
Originally posted by Ike:
Most times the situation does not allow for it while fishing alone.
Agreed wholeheartedly! Mainly because in order to take a picture when alone you have to fight the fish to complete exaustion. When alone, once confirmed it's not a hatchery hen full of eggs, I usually just lower my rod tip and let the barbless hook fall free and then watch them meander away!
I would add though that your comment would also apply to when fishing from a boat as my above example would suggest.