We had the opportunity to partner with the 

Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

 (SEAFWA) to create imagery that promotes inclusivity in fishing and outdoor recreation. The project objective was centered around capturing the true essence of diverse experiences and celebrating the joy that comes from casting a line into the water. In the photography we provided, we set out to showcase people of color, multi-generational families, people of all ages, and women enjoying fishing in locations that would resonate across the Southeastern states.

Promoting inclusivity in fishing and outdoor recreation is crucial for creating a more equitable society, expanding access to outdoor spaces, fostering environmental stewardship, building stronger communities, and inspiring future generations. By actively embracing and encouraging inclusivity, we can ensure that fishing and outdoor activities are enjoyed and cherished by all.

, I played a pivotal role in shaping the overall aesthetic of our recent photoshoot. It was crucial to find the perfect photographer for the project, and without a doubt, Aubrey Janelle stood out as the ideal candidate. Her impressive background in outdoor photography, combined with her exceptional ability to direct and make people feel at ease in front of the camera, made her the perfect fit. This was particularly important since all our models were regular individuals, and ensuring their comfort was a top priority.

Our Fish and Wildlife contacts came through with some fantastic options for models in our photo shoot. They tapped into a pool of talent, including Fish and Wildlife employees, friends, and even family members. This added a wonderful sense of ease to the photoshoots because many of the models were familiar with one another which created a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere that translated beautifully into the final shots.

We carefully selected locations that were representative of the region, ensuring that our imagery could be relatable to a wide range of communities. From the sandy beaches of Florida's coastline to the serene lakes and rivers of Kentucky, we captured moments of connection, laughter, and shared experiences. 

Bringing together all the essential elements of the photo shoot was a mammoth task, but VIA's Project Manager and Production Coordinator, 

 absolutely nailed it. She worked her magic to coordinate everything from the models, locations, travel arrangements, on-set snacks, and meals, to the scheduling of the shoots. Chelsea's expertise shone through as she seamlessly organized our trips from Portland, Oregon to both Florida and Kentucky, ensuring a smooth experience for Aubrey and me. Not only that, she flawlessly managed the run-of-show schedules during the shoots and made sure everyone stayed hydrated and in high spirits.

Our journey in Florida began with early morning photoshoots, where we eagerly awaited the rising sun on the captivating coastline. The incredible hues of dawn painted an otherworldly backdrop as we captured the essence of families and friends bonding over the shared love of fishing. 

We documented the joyous moments of saltwater fishing, both on boats and right from the shore. The photographs captured the thrill of reeling in prized catches, the laughter that filled the air, and the pure delight on the faces of those casting their lines into the ocean.

In Kentucky, we immersed ourselves in the serene beauty of freshwater fishing, setting out on kayaks and pontoons to explore the abundant lakes and waterways. 

This was a place where women took center stage, showcasing their fishing skills with confidence and grace. Our lenses captured the camaraderie of families and friends, as they embarked on fishing adventures together, sharing stories and creating memories.

...And we did! Throughout our journey in Florida and Kentucky, our project showcased the diverse fishing opportunities of the Southeastern states while emphasizing the significance of promoting inclusivity in outdoor recreation. Our photographs captured more than just the thrill of the catch — they depicted shared experiences among families, friends, and women who were united by their love for the sport.

These images exceeded the client's expectations

and have resonated with people far and wide, sparking conversations about representation and inclusivity in the fishing community. Let's use this project as a reminder that fishing has the power to unite people from all walks of life, celebrating our unique stories and the beauty of coming together in nature.

If you or your team needs help planning or executing a campaign, VIA is here to help. Whether you're in need of photography, video, marketing services, or anything in between, we've got you covered. Explore our 

Olivia Harmsen - Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, R3 Coordinator

Emily Abellera - Florida Fish and Wildlife, Public Information Specialist II

Art Direction

Photography

Reel Stories: A Photography Project Exploring Inclusivity in Fishing

Welcome to the new world of remote work! YOU’RE ON MUTE! How many times a day does that happen now?

Well, I can’t help with the UX of Zoom or Google Meet, but I can help you make your Zoom calls far more interesting than that fake beach scene background Zoom lets you use (if you pay them).

I’ve recently fallen in love with OBS Studio. It’s an open-source live streaming software package, but if you peek behind the curtains, it can be so much more. So, in the interest of making the world more interesting, let’s have a Zoom call soon and see what you can do with your webcams!

You can create multiple “scenes” and easily switch between them, so for all the ideas you might come up with, you can easily use all of them in one conference call.

Step 3: Let’s get creative! Here are a few options for making something interesting.

OBS allows you to integrate graphics, videos, multiple camera sources, text, and more into its viewport, and more importantly, using that viewport as a webcam source. So break out your brand standards guide, and follow along!

Remember your design fundamentals. Less is more, but make it interesting!

Here are some examples that you can use, and a 

Example 1: The “Business Card” (simple)

Create a frame in Photoshop at your webcam’s default size (mine is 1920x1080).

Cut out an area for your webcam’s viewport, and list your name, position, and any other identifying information you like to the side of that viewport. OBS utilizes transparent PNG files, so you can create a lot of visual interest with layers.

Export that frame you created as a transparent PNG.

Open OBS Studio. If it’s your first time, don’t be overwhelmed. There are many amazing things you can do in OBS, but we’ll focus on the basics.

For the purposes of this tutorial, you can think of “Scenes” as folders, similar to how Adobe apps function, and “Sources” as what goes in those folders. You can transition through Scenes simply by clicking on the one you want to display at the time.

Create a new Scene by clicking the “+” icon in the lower-left corner. Name it “O1: Business Card” or something similar. OBS alphabetizes Scenes and Sources in annoying ways, which is why I like to number them.

Next, with that scene highlighted, click the “+” icon in “Sources”, and click “Image”. You’ll get a modal window to either “Create new”, or “Add Existing”. Well duh, we’re creating a new one, so name it “Business Card Frame” and hit “OK”. In the next screen, you’ll browse to the PNG file you created, and load it up. Now you should have your “Business Card frame” in OBS.

Add another Source to the Scene by clicking the “+” icon again, and this time select “Video Capture Device”, in the “Create New” section, name it “Webcam” or something similar, hit “OK”, then you should see a window where you select your webcam. If you only have one webcam attached to your computer you should see it immediately. The defaults usually work just fine.

Now make sure that layer is behind your “Business Card Frame” layer. It will probably need to be centered in the window you created. At this point, you should be good to go with this scene!

For our next experiment, we want to get a little fancier and have a copy of my name and information scroll across the field. At this point, you’re starting to build on the fundamentals, so hopefully, you already have interesting ideas. I removed the copy from my Photoshop frame and exported it as “02 Scroll Frame.png”

Create a new scene, name it “02: Scrolling Text”

Inside that Scene, add a new Image source, name it “Frame No Copy” or something similar, and import your new frame into that Source.

Create the Webcam source as you did in Example 1. Pro-tip: You can copy/paste both Scenes and Sources to save time.

Now, select a new “Source” and click the “Text (GDI+)” option. Name it “Name & Stuff” or whatever you like. In the next window, you’ll get all the options for inputting text. If you need variable widths or different fonts, you’ll need to create new text sources/layers. Try to get the font size right, because it will make the copy blurry if you have to enlarge it in the display window.

Right-click on that Source layer, click “Filters”, hit the next “+” sign and select “Scroll”. Name it whatever you like, and now you get to the options. A nice, slow horizontal scroll is a good, minimalist way to start. After hitting “OK”, you can use the red frame in the main display to adjust the position to your liking.

This is where you can have some real fun with video loops.

In the interest of laziness, I’m just going to duplicate the last Scene. Right-click on the “02: Scrolling Text” Scene and hit “Duplicate”. Rename it “03: Video” and let’s get to work.

Add a new “Source” to the scene by clicking the “+” icon and click “VLC Video Source”.

Import your video file. I used a royalty-free looping video found 

. This option will use a “playlist” with multiple video files, which opens so many more options, but just import one for now. Click the “+” icon at “Playlist” and import your video. Some of the options listed could be important, but that’ll be extra credit for later.

Now you can see the looping video as a layer in that scene. I’m going to put it behind the text layer and change the text color to white.

Example 4: Multiple cameras (or a better webcam in general)

One of the super cool things I discovered in the COVID era is the ability to use the “good camera” as a webcam source. There’s a nifty little device called the 

 that turns your DSLR camera into a webcam source, so you get some seriously improved optics for chatting.

Since I already have the hardware all I have to do is duplicate the “03: Video” scene, name it “04: DSLR”

Delete the webcam Source in that new scene

Click the “+” icon in sources and add a new “Video Capture Device”

” plugin. That allows the output of OBS to become a webcam source in whatever video chat tool you use. After it’s installed, in the top menu click “Tools »  VirtualCam » Start”. This tells your computer that the output of OBS is a webcam source.

Go to your video settings in Zoom, Google Meet, etc, and there will be an “OBS-camera” option to choose from.

I’m still learning, and now this has set me off in a live streaming & recording direction, so if you have any questions, find any cool tips & tricks, or just want to show off your new webcam setup, please send them my way!

Video

OBS Studio Tips & Tricks: Super Cool Webcam Options

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Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA)

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Reel Stories: A Photography Project Exploring Inclusivity in Fishing

OBS Studio Tips & Tricks: Super Cool Webcam Options