Are You a Hunter or a Fisher? The Two Mindsets That Define Every Photographer

There’s an old expression in photography that compares us to hunters and fishers. It’s not about what we shoot, but howwe see. Some of us chase moments; others wait for them. And most of us, whether we realize it or not, move between the two.

The Hunter

The hunter is restless. They move through the streets or the crowd, eyes scanning, pulse in sync with the rhythm of what’s unfolding. Every sound, every flicker of light could become the decisive moment. The hunter anticipates, reacts, moves again. It’s instinctive, fast, and alive. Street photographers, photojournalists, and event shooters live in this space, where timing is everything and hesitation means the moment is gone.

The Fisher

The fisher, on the other hand, finds stillness. They choose their spot, frame their view, and wait. It’s a slower conversation with the world one built on patience and trust. The fisher doesn’t chase; they listen. They know the light will change, the wind will shift, and when it does, the photograph will come to them. Landscape and documentary photographers often carry this calm, deliberate mindset.

Two Sides of the Same Lens

Neither approach is better. The hunter captures energy; the fisher captures essence. The hunter teaches you to see quickly. The fisher teaches you to see deeply. Photography needs both motion and stillness, instinct and patience.

“The art lies in knowing when to chase and when to wait.”

Sometimes the image finds you because you were still enough to receive it. Other times, it’s yours because you moved fast enough to catch it. Either way, it’s all part of the same pursuit to see the world as it really is, before it disappears.