buff sedge

[squeeks]

Hi,
I've just bought a new panasonic DMC TZ7 and thought I'd pluck up enough courage to stick my first photo up .
This has been my favourite fly of this summer/autumn on my local lakes, especially as evening draws in and small off-white/grey sedges popped up. It started off as a dry, but actually fished better wet - any comments welcome



This image was taken in manual macro zoom mode and is not the best. I got some cracking photos later on though in idiot-proof macro mode, but not of this fly.
Cheers,
Michael

[savage take]

nice tying. cant wait to see the rest.

[speycaster]

very nice mate very nice

[squeeks]

Thanks for the kind remarks lads!

It was a bit intimidating putting it up, especially as there are so many top tiers on here and I'm still learning.

Had a bit of trouble with the wings, but then hen pheasant is a bit of a b****r!
cheers!

[arkle]

Squeeks, Thank you for posting. I'd have no worries about your photography, it's well alongside the best we see on here. Your tying is also showing signs of getting up with some of the top posters on here. We're all here to learn from each other, no matter how long we've been tying. Keep up the good work.

[squeeks]

Cheers Arkle,
my camera skills stretch to pointing and pressing only I'm afraid - I don't have any patience for f-stops and such like. The TZ7 seems to be a cracking camera - I love the 10X zoom! Here's my first attempt at a Hares Ear (edited - not a PT ) nymph I tried after seeing the fly club thread. This photo was taken using auto macro mode and is much better! (tail needs sorting tho!)



I pinched ST's background colour and used a tripod and a timer to get stable shots. The manual macro zoom has taken some amazing photos of insects outside for my bug-mad 3yr old daughter (we keep finding snails and woodlice in her pockets ), but seems to struggle with flies indoors . I think it must be light-related

As for my tying, it's come on in leaps since I basically started again in april this year, tho don't get much chance to tie what with young kids and work 'n' that Not all flies come out so tidy but the fishses love them all the same.

This forum has been a phenomenal resource, with some stunning work on here!! It's helped me be more critical with my work, though it's not so easy putting what seems obvious into practice.

Anyway, work beckons
Cheers,
M

[marmalade]

I'm just about to go out and buy one of those cameras!

[maharg]

Originally Posted by arkle

Squeeks, Thank you for posting. I'd have no worries about your photography, it's well alongside the best we see on here. Your tying is also showing signs of getting up with some of the top posters on here. We're all here to learn from each other, no matter how long we've been tying. Keep up the good work.

Exactly right arkle. This forum is the dogs *******s.

[squeeks]

Originally Posted by marmalade

I'm just about to go out and buy one of those cameras!

Marmalade,
I can thoroughly recommend the camera if you want a point and shoot, though lots of manual settings as well if you like that sort of thing. The photos from my 3yr old sony S90 now look awful in comparison. Landscape shots with the TZ7 are stunning, and some outside macro shots unbelievable! My fly photos are getting better; I've had a few good tips from the lads in here and I think I just need to get the light right - the camera should do the rest
Unfortunately it's "Gloomsville Arizona" here today

regards

[arkle]

Squeeks, I don't know if the nomenclature you were given for the fly you've pictured above is strictly accurate, as p.t. is usually an abbrev. for Pheasant
tail & there is not a lot of it in this pattern.

Having said that, you're right about the tail but all the sorting needs is just a few more fibres next time. Overall the proportions look pretty good, the rib is neatly done, the thorax cover looks tight & the head looks as near spot on as one could want.