Pretentious Snobby Bastard Fly Fishing!

I've always taken photos and usually have a camera with me all the time. When I first started fly fishing, there were no digital cameras. I occasionally took a SLR on the stream and took a few select photos, then when the digital cameras came down in price I got one to take on the stream, unfortunately it wasn't waterproof. I've actually destroyed two cameras in the river. I now carry a Waterproof Olympus 1030 SW and occasionally I take a Kodak Playsport, which is a waterproof video camera.

Here is a list of what I've used on the stream;

Nikon F2AS (film, sold on ebay)
Pentax WR (film)
Nikon Point and Shoot (film, dunked in the stream and destroyed while trying to dry it out in a warm oven)
Kodak Digital (our first digital camera, I think it was 2 or 3 mega pixels, and it died a natural death, or was replaced with a better camera)
Nikon Coolpix 5000 Digital (nice little 5 MP camera with RAW, but slow slow slow, dropped in the river, that was an $800 mistake)
Olympus 1030 SW (waterproof 10 MP, shoots std video too)
Kodak Playsport Zx3 (waterproof HD video, wild angle fixed focus lens)

I have a love-hate relationship with photography & FF.

I love to do both, but I hate to do them simultaneously. 

I find that I try to put too much energy into both and fail at doing either one well.

I've used my 20d DSLR, 5dMII, and my son's Pentax Optio point-n-shoot.  I'm so used to DSLR's that me & the p&s really don't get along so well.

That, and I love to post process.

I hope to spend more time doing photography on the stream with some of y'all this year, even if it means I actually fish less.

Raymond
who misses his old F2 some days

I find myself taking more pictures when the fishing is good, less when the fishing is bad.  Somewhat along the same lines as rbphoto, working harder on one thing trumps the other.  I try to consciously be consistent, but it all goes to chit when I hit the water.  I also find when I fish alone I am more conscious of trying to devote equal attention to doing both. 

The photos you see on my posts come from a Pentax Optio W30.  I upload the ones I want to save to Photobucket, hit "I'm feeling lucky" which is the extent of my editing skills and there you have it.  With digital I find the secret for me is to shot 2-3 shots of same subject and one of them will come out pretty good.

I know I could do better but have not taken the time to learn. My camera and my cell phone are a lot smarter then I am b';

Quote from: Al on January 12, 2012, 12:35:04 PM
The photos you see on my posts come from a Pentax Optio W30.  I upload the ones I want to save to Photobucket, hit "I'm feeling lucky" which is the extent of my editing skills and there you have it.  With digital I find the secret for me is to shot 2-3 shots of same subject and one of them will come out pretty good.

I know I could do better but have not taken the time to learn. My camera and my cell phone are a lot smarter then I am b';

Nail on the head Al

 

I used to only take stills, until I got a HD waterproof video cam. One of my better fly fishing purchases.

Y'all will probably think I am crazy, but this year I want to spend a LOT more time taking pictures on the stream.  And like it was said before, the times I have tried to do both have been complete failures. 


Myself along with a few other smith river folks are kicking around the idea of a Smith River coffee table book, focusing on fly fishing and kayaking.  We'll see what that turns into....

Digital cameras for me anyways, was one of the best technologies to pair up with fishing.
Its a very good way to document fishing, insects, wild flowers and streams.

I keep a journal for personal knowledge. I use it to document what insects I see on what rivers or streams at what times of the season. It also helps document what flies worked on what streams, and also time stamps the pics, so you know what times of day hatches might occur.

Then there are the insect pictures. I always try to capture an insect and get close up macro shots of them, especially on the water or when they are just emerging. I also like to get pictures of nymphs as well.
This all helps when I am deciding to tie a pattern, I can go back and look at actual flies or nymphs, and try to tie a more accurate depiction or imitation.

Then there are the flowers and streams in general, or there might be an interesting species of wild life.

Over the course of the years, I have compiled a large library, that I can reference when ever I want, to me thats the real benefit of having digital technology readily available while fishing.

Here a few samles

I use an Olympus tough 6000.  It has done pretty good and it always helps that it is waterproof. Ibhave ruined my share of cameras/phones in the water. 

I have started taking a lot more photos while fishing the past couple of years.  I think it adds to the experience and its a great way to rub it in to friends that didn't go fishing that day.  Also, there are simply so many cool things to capture during a fishing trip.   I have a cheap ass Fuji camera that is pretty much bomb proof that I keep on a laynard around my neck.   It take ok photos, but its light and easy to use and didn't break the bank.  After I dropped my previous camera in the water, I new I needed something that would withstand the occasional bath.

When I first got serious about fly fishing for trout, I got some books to read on the subject.  However, I wasn't really able to make the leap to apply that knowledge to the stream until I started seeing fishing reports on messageboards.  It was then that I really began to piece things together (especially for bugs and flies).  In a way, I feel some sort of duty to provide information of my own in the form of pictures and film clips such that it might help the next guy. 
As an avid blueliner, fishing trips are often mini-expeditions deep into the wilderness (alone, in most cases).  So, probably more importantly, the photos paint a much more vivid picture of the trips I have had and trigger lost memories that have otherwise been washed over in my mess of a brain.  It is always fun to go back into my computer files and check out the photos of trips gone by and relive those times of bliss and tranquility on the water.  Nature is one hell of an artist.

A couple more insects picks.

nice bug pics, phis, my Olympus sucks at macro photos, I also suck at catching bugs...

Quote from: rbphoto on January 12, 2012, 10:27:11 AM
I have a love-hate relationship with photography & FF.

I love to do both, but I hate to do them simultaneously. 

I find that I try to put too much energy into both and fail at doing either one well.

Agree. I probably fish by my self 60% of the time, so when I'm taking pictures I'm either:
A: not fishing when I could be
B: not releasing a fish as soon as I could without the pic
C: worried about dropping my camera in the river
D: all of the above

I like looking at cool fish pics, so I enjoy trying to capture some photos, but for me, it can take some of my fishing enjoyment away. I like fishing a lot more than photographing fishing.

I have a canon elph that's a great camera, but not water proof. Shoots HD video and takes good macro pics. Same thing with my iPhone 4s, but again, isn't water proof.

I'm with you Sheep...My fishing skills are not so great that I can be good at both.  For me, trying to get a good shot of the fish I do catch somehow takes away from the experience. 
I do admit, however, when fishing with a friend we both bring cameras.  I take a pic of whatever he catches, and he shoots what I catch.  Almost like the best of both worlds...except when at the end of the day, I've taken lots of pics and he has none!!

I need to video my 'simple' catch, photo, release sequence so you guys can see how simple and quick it can be. :P

Hello all, have not posted in some time after moving back to the Midwest but still try to stop in to check reports.

I think we all enjoy sharing what we do and photos + video help to tell the story. Fishing and photography tend to go hand in hand for me. For many including my father, fishing is usually just a relaxing way to get some filets (typically walleye) for a good meal, for me it allows something tangible for my efforts besides the temporary full belly. Plus the fish gets to live.

I will add for those joining the ranks if you are going to take the time to catch photo and post pics of fish, let the camera focus before you click and try to bring some quality!

(http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/46771/2589751450053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

Bugs are a diversion of mine is well- not just when fishing sucks either. Here no one fishes hatches for Smallies. I have found they eat bugs. Even nice fish bait dunkers would envy. We get great Iso Bicolor and Orange Body Cahill hatches with tons of nymphs present in the silt and gravel bottom flows.

(http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/10715/2758890820053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/48630/2623489940053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/5675/2735201910053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

Smallies are in the backyard- this is from last Monday when we had temps in the 50's before the snow, about ¾ mile from the house. Good for the soul.
(http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/47907/2135740380053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/48566/2299178620053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/46872/2286095160053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/48416/2688726050053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

For trout- here is a nicer brown from the closest trout fishery to me now, a shit Midwest tailwater with hostile locals an hour away. Now I was alone, with a small net I usually use for bass with me and opted to beach this fish on wet streamside gravel that was submerged during high water a few hours prior, to photos as opposed to risking dropping it or hurting it trying to subdue it one handed in the swift current. I had to run to land the large fish after it bailed out the tail of the pool into the run below where I was able to swing it down for the land. Went down on one knee to avoid falling in 3' of water and got pretty wet but it was totally worth it. Pics are a great reminder and help me tell the story to the kids (my daughter says its kype will give her nightmares).

(http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/48561/2726613380053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/46767/2675399920053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)
Fish revived quickly and gave me a nice spray with a tail slap upon release
(http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/46888/2025997020053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

Plenty of 16"+ snakes as well.
(http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/46911/2648547220053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)
usual fodder-
(http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/46891/2085290870053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/46891/2047150700053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

(http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/47371/2270800800053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

Deer/Pork sausage and veggies with a can of Octoberfest from the local canners. I am a fan of the cans for the microbrew stuff for freshness and heard rumors Bells of Oberon fame will go that way soon...
(http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/50195/2485826420053205702S600x600Q85.jpg)

Just getting by.

Is there a higher mortality rate for photographed fish that are released? Maybe. There is a 100% mortality rate for creeled fish. I don't think you can feel bad at the end of the day if you revive any fish and give it a fair shot. More than otters, herons and bait dunkers will do...

Just my opinions- thanks.

CR

Nice pics CR.   'c;

Quote from: CR on January 14, 2012, 15:34:38 PM

Deer/Pork sausage and veggies with a can of Octoberfest from the local canners. I am a fan of the cans for the microbrew stuff for freshness and heard rumors Bells of Oberon fame will go that way soon...

Hope that pans out.  Bells can't make a bad beer.  I love their beer.  Hail to the Oberon, king of summer beers.   bd;0

Quote from: Woolly Bugger on January 14, 2012, 10:51:51 AM
I need to video my 'simple' catch, photo, release sequence so you guys can see how simple and quick it can be. :P

that would be great.

nice pics CR. 

How much post production editing to you guys do? I might click the enhance feature in iphoto and crop if needed, but thats about it.

Sheepfly: I use Analog in conjunction with iPhoto - http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/analog/id418343177?mt=12 (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/analog/id418343177?mt=12) (opens a appstore link if you've got os x lion). It's got quite a few nice effect presets that mess with colors and effects as well as some nice borders. Typically I import into iPhoto and use enhance/auto color correct, then send the image to analog to at minimum use analog's enhance feature, which makes the colors really pop on the wild trout most of the time.


Here's a couple that have been Analog'd


(https://img.skitch.com/20111224-qqd7yiy8aa2d1q2qufkqb61jc2.jpg)


(https://img.skitch.com/20111224-r3kcr2kmukfhw9hqh1dnwfebru.jpg)

Nice stuff CR.

That stream looks familiar ;D.

I grew up in the Midwest and fished a lot of water in the four corners region, and some just west of Madison. Fished a lot of the trib waters of lake Michigan too. Also fished a few streams up Silvercreeks way in Northern Wisconsin.

For the most part, I don't shop photos other than "quick fix" if the lighting conditions are low, other then that they are straight off the camera.

I still use an old W30 optio.....I think Pentax is up to W90 or higher now?
The W30 at the time had the closest macro to object distance and was water proof, so I chose it.

If the situation presents itself, I like to get some under water shots.