Graham Owen Gallery Forum

California Golden Trout

Graham_Owen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:55:41 GMT

I still can't believe this was the first time I specifically searched for and fished for the California state fish, the Golden Trout. I drove into the Sierra mountains to scout out potential areas to find golden trout, expecting to learn where to park, and hike for miles, and hopefully meet a few people who could direct me to the best places to visit.

I took a short walk from my car to take some photos, and was surprised to find a beautiful stream, and was even more surprised to see trout feeding. I rushed back to my car and strung up a fly rod, and headed back to the stream. My first fish was breathtakingly beautiful, I snapped a few photos, and walked back to my car to put a second camera inside an underwater housing.

I caught and released at least a dozen fish, although non were quite as large or beautifully colored as the first fish.

This was a fantastic day trip and if the sky wasn't so clear of interesting clouds, I would have stayed for sunset.

I was thrilled to find a place I can drive to, fish, and drive home in one day, and I look forward to returning.

Beautiful little trout stream

My first golden trout

What a beauty

Amazing camouflage

Such a pretty fish

After driving up a long steep mountain road this is the view into the high country.

I'll be visiting here again, soon...

Forum: Fly Fishing

New York Adirondacks

Graham_Owen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:40:35 GMT

I enjoyed a fantastic family vacation in upstate New York, spent half of the trip in the Adirondack mountains, which is one of my favorite places to visit. Sunsets are amazing, wildlife is abundant, and coming from dry and dusty California, the lush green foliage is deeply appreciated.

While driving up into the Adirondacks, I had to pull over to the side of the road to photograph these beautiful wildflowers glowing in sunset light

Sunset sky reflecting upon water

Mid-summer Sunset

The was no shortage of chipmunks

My friend Luke fly fishing for bass at Tupper Lake

End of a fantastic day

Beautiful Sunset

Forum: Travel Photography

2010 Bird Photography

Graham_Owen — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:26:34 GMT

I enjoy photographing birds when I'm out and about, but it is typically in the fall when I dedicate time specifically to photographing birds. It is in late summer and fall when the bird populations return to the Los Angeles area, more specifically, to the LA River and Sepulveda Basin wildlife area.

Last week, for the first time in many months, I dropped by one of my favorite birding spots, and noticed that the snowy Egrets are returning. I only counted about eight of them, but they were actively fishing, which allowed for some fun time photographing. Soon the egrets will be counted by the dozens, and I look forward to visiting them many times.

Here's a shot I like from last week...

Dancing and fishing

Forum: Nature Photography

Upstate New York Fly Fishing

Graham_Owen — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 18:15:57 GMT

I spent an enjoyable ten days in July in beautiful Upstate New York, hundreds of miles away from New York city. Next year I might visit and enjoy Manhattan again, but this time a relaxing country vacation was in order.

I love New York countryside, it's amazingly lush and green, and teeming with life, in the air, water and land.

I fished a variety of streams with my friend Luke, starting with the Ausable in the heart of the Adirondack national park, as well as Oatka Creek and Spring Brook in western NY.

Below are a few of my favorite photos from the trip, and yes, the fishing was good, the fish were beautiful, and all were released unharmed...

Ausable River

Luke fly fishing the Ausable

Pretty brown trout

A delightful afternoon!

Wild brownie

Oatka Creek

Releasing a beauty

Pretty girl

Glowing fins

Luke releasing a nice trout

What a gem

Fly fishing Tupper Lake at sunset

I caught a nice smallie on an extended body green drake dry fly, photo by and copyright Lucas Carroll

End of a Great Day

Adirondack sunset

It was a great trip!

Forum: Fly Fishing

Pyramid Lake

dougdraper — Thur, 08 Jul 2010 02:19:38 GMT

Does anyone on this forum fish Pyramid Lake. I started this year and it it is all that I want to fish lately. Too bad it is a 7 hour drive.
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/577077677zrFEgJ

Forum: Fly Fishing

Fun with Bugs

Graham_Owen — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:45:16 GMT

I've been tying some realistic bugs to bring along on my upcoming Adirondack trip, not to lure fish with, instead to lure insects, for photographing. Last year it was unusually cold and windy in New York, and the Hex mayflies hatched a week after I left, and the dragonflies were amazingly absent and inactive. Im hoping this weeks heat wave stirs up some insect activity before I arrive.

I plan to bring a couple of dragonflies, hex mayflies, and a dozen houseflies. Last night I finished tying 30 houseflies, 20 to fill an order, and ten for me, and I will likely photograph those later this afternoon.

Heres a few of the bugs Im bringing

Pair of Hex

Dragonfly

I'm hoping to get shots similar to the ones below...

Forum: Nature Photography

Underwater Photography

Graham_Owen — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:08:57 GMT

Ive been practicing my underwater photography, with a EWA-Marine bag, the largest one they make, which allows me to insert any sized SLR, with room for a flash on top. Instead of mounting a flash I mount a PocketWizard radio transmitter, with a motor drive cable, and keep a second transmitter in my vest pocket (in a ziplock bag). This allows me several options, including submerging and leaving my camera underwater, either near my feet, to allow for leading fish back and forth in front of the lens, while firing away, or, leaving a camera mid-stream while I stand on a bridge or shore waiting for fish to swim past.

On stream, I typically shoot a D300 above water, in aperture priority mode, while my D200 goes underwater, with every setting on fully automatic, including ISO. Initially I hoped my 17-55 f/2.8 lens would be my underwater workhorse, for various reasons, but it really didnt work out as well as desired. The slightest pressure on the front of the lens, including swift current, pushed the lens in, and my preset for 20mm would go tight, to 55mm, leaving me with bits and pieces of fish. So, I bought a dedicated lens for this type of photography, a Sigma 10-20 f/4. When the front of the lens is pushed in, it does the opposite of a Nikon, it goes wider as opposed to tighter. I like to leave it set at 15mm to diminish wide-angle lens distortion.

I think the biggest advantage of EW-Marine bags is the relatively low cost when compared to dedicated customized housings, including the ability to insert a variety of cameras and lenses without having to purchase individual ports and domes, as well as being able to insert a radio transmitter. The biggest negative is having a 77mm flat glass port, which really is not conducive to over-under shots. Perhaps someday, I will dunk my head and peer through the viewfinder to achieve nice over-under shots, because my spraying and praying has not worked out all that well. That said, I often like to fish alone, and I have found it much easier to capture pleasing fish photos underwater, than above water, by myself using the transmitter.

the photos below were shot from bridges, while my camera was left mid-stream

One more tidbit, the PocketWizard motor drive cables have a switch on them, which allows for keeping a cameras internal workings constantly energized, including continuous focus, metering, etc. Last fall I spent a couple of enjoyable hours watching small Kokanee swim past my camera in a clear Sierra stream. It was during the second hour that waves of migratory fish swam past, while I stood on the bridge happily clicking a transmitter, thinking Id hit the jackpot. Well, I have to admit, I was bummed, upon realizing the battery in my D200 had lost power and it didnt fire during the most opportune times. I wont do that again! Now Im looking forward to returning to this beautiful steam in late September when the Kokanee run, and plan to secure 16 of tippet to the top of the bag, with a red marabou streamer attached. I know from previous experience that these fish will savagely attack red streamers and I would love to capture this underwater.

Forum: Equipment and Techniques

Welcome Aboard

Graham_Owen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:54:58 GMT

I have numerous activities that I'm passionate about, including nature photography, fly fishing, and fly tying, and if you share any of these passions, please feel free to join in and discuss and share your activities, photos, flies, fish, comments, etc.

Over the years I have met many new friends through the internet, including my good buddy Ulf Hagstrom in Sweden, who is an amazing fly tyer, a great dad, and a fine person in general. The type of person I can confide in with trust, he is a moderator here, and someday we will meet face to face, hopefully along a trout stream....

Cheers,

Graham

Forum: General Info

Introductions

Graham_Owen — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 02:03:17 GMT

For the past three years I've worked as an artist, creating life-sized detailed realistic insects for the major movie studios, for use as props.
http://www.Filmflies.com

I bought my first SLR camera in 2006, and it changed my life, for the better. I have always enjoyed being outdoors in beautiful natural surroundings, often fly fishing, and the challenge and thrill of capturing the beauty I see brings me deep pleasure and joy. When Im indoors working at my fly tying desk, my mind wanders, and presents images that I feel compelled to try and capture photographically. Every once in a while I meet the challenge, which re-fuels my passion, desire and joy. Studying and trying to learn from mistakes also boosts my energy level, and yearning to keep practicing. I love photography and I love the subjects that attract me.
http://www.GrahamOwenGallery.com

I worked for 27 years as a solar energy contractor / installer in Los Angeles, even designed and installed the first grid-connected solar powered home in L.A. Currently I offer expert solar consulting services... http://www.GoSolarCompany.com

Forum: General Info

New for 2010

Ulf_Hagstrom — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:33:59 GMT

In Sweden we have a long dark fall and winter which leaves us away from fishing trout and grayling for many months. And eventhough I do fish in my home waters for pike and sea trout in fall and winter I still regard this period as a big fly tying period for me. The past years I have aimed to get one or two new patterns out during this period, to have with me when the shows of the spring comes. This year was no different and one of the new patterns that I did was this heavily weighted down Caddis puppa.

Hook: Partridge CZ but on the photo I have used the Partridge 16BNX
Thread: Sheer 14/0
Gills: Grey ostrich
Body: Deer creed Supa Suede
Legs: Whiting Bird fur
Wingbuds: Medallion sheet
Antennas: Coc de leon fibers

Forum: Fishing Flies

framed

Johan — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 18:43:06 GMT

Henk van Bork, framed one of my flies again.
This time it was the dragonfly.

Johan

Forum: Realistic / Artistic Flies

Mantis

pvd3sche — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:17:06 GMT

Another one I'm quite happy with. This one was just forfun....has little to do with fish food.

Forum: Realistic / Artistic Flies

Another Hex

pvd3sche — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:12:35 GMT

This is a fly I did some time ago.
I will try a new one....with Owen style wings

Forum: Realistic / Artistic Flies

dragonfly

Johan — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:00:21 GMT

here is my lates, the wings took way to much time.
but I loved every minute of it.

Johan.

Forum: Realistic / Artistic Flies

Fly Box

Graham_Owen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:29:04 GMT

I just photographed a fly box in my backyard, but today it is so cloudy, and the flies look too dark. I'll try again later...

Forum: Realistic / Artistic Flies