Was looking up the royal humpy today for a refresher, and caught myself skipping the videos, because with the loading time, inane commentary on many, and sometimes poor camera angles with shooting video solo, I find that I much prefer step by step photo tutorials like FAOL posts in the FOTW.
Which do you prefer and why? First person experience, video tutorial, step by step photos with text (FOTW), fly pattern sheet with single photo, fly in hand, combination, or other?
Corollary…do you prefer internets or other media? I love having the iPad, set it up next to the vise all slim and trim, and follow along with FOTW or Charlie’s Fly Box (lefties make it harder grin).
If it’s a fly that’s completely different than anything I’ve ever attempted before (like married-wing salmon flies), I prefer a good step by step. Need to see how the proportions are laid out and sequences go; whether it’s on-line or in a book doesn’t matter too much, although it’s cheaper to find a website than buy a book (and, if you have a laptop or similar device, you can keep it near the tying area and not worry about it folding up on you ).
There are lots of great videos out there - Craig Mathews, Hans Weilenman, Davey McPhail, Wally Wiese, etc, that are well photographed and narrated and these can be great tying tools as well (there are sadly, many, many more that aren’t worth the pixels there encoded on).
Guess I’m ‘old school’. I much prefer the hardcopy books. Of course it must contain good quality photos with accurate step-by-step descriptions. A few that I can think of quickly are by Eric Leiser, Poul Jorgensen, Mike Valla, Dick Talleur, Radeneich, Darrel Martin. The books are there. The pages are easy to get to and go back to time after time without going on line, going to a site, ssearching, then finding the exact spot that contains what you’re looking for. The book is also tangible but maybe that means more to me than others. Now, I will certainly admit that for a refresher or even a first glance, a well produced on line video is excellent. However, I prefer not to view and tye at the same time so I just look at the video. It’s too bad (although maybe this exists) that the producers of some videos don’t take photos of the major steps and put them in a book with a destailed description of what was done in that step. Hope I’ve answered the question.
While I do like the videos for picking up the occastional neat tying technique, I usually prefer the step by step photos for much the same reasons stated by maodiver.
I prefer a good quality SBS. In fact for flies that just use standard materials and techniques, a picture with a materials list and a few tying notes is fine. Many of the videos are too slow moving and it’s hard to “skim” a video for essential information.
I am pretty impartial. I like watching videos because they show little tricks and tidbits that other tyers use. Some videos are painfully long. My favorite two videos tend to come from Tightlines (featured on Orvisnews.com weekly) and the video’s that Intheriffle.com put out. In the Riffle also has a large set of videos that were done by other people.
Both locations do a very good job of showing the materials needed and keep their videos under 6-7 minutes.
I was fortunate to spend several hours every Saturday morning from late November through March for a good number of years watching really good local tiers do demos at Jimmy’s All Seasons Angler in Idaho Falls. In person demos became a cornerstone of my fly tying, and are still my prefered method of learning.
To the extent that videos are well done ( compact, informative, good lighting and shooting angles, and appropriate narration ) they can be a good substitute for the in person experience. Of course, you don’t get the banter and ideas that a live crowd that has spent a lot of time together provides.
I like step by step also. I don’t have my computer at my tying desk but if I did I would not like pausing and reatarting the video. Some flie patterns that I can only find on a video I make my own instructions so I can have it by my side when tying.
Oldster
I like being at a tying meeting to see what folks are doing. Many times I need an example a fly to get proportions.
Second I like step by step better. If there is a step that I have trouble with or I don’t know it gets printed off.
I will say this about videos…It is ANNOYING when two minutes into the video the tyer still hasn’t put thread to hook. Then half way through the video the guy stops and rambles about something that has nothing to do with the pattern for another two minutes. Those videos I can do without.
YouTube has lots of Videos on flytying. Usually you can find videos for specific patterns, and variations there of.
When I see stuff like pheasant tail nymphs taking anything over 5 minutes, I don’t even bother. I learned more from watching Charlie Craven tying his Pheasant Tail in 1 minute 30 seconds than any others I’ve seen.
If I’m just looking for general info/technique/entertainment I will look at videos. If I want specific details and info I like SBS and books that I can refer to without all the other distractions inherent in videos.
wcglass
Actually, Charlie is right handed and ties under the therory that the material hand should be the dominent hand. Haven’t seen the second book, but the first book photos were flipped by the publisher to have the traditional right hand look.
Why either or? Books/magazines, on line step by step stills and video clips all have their pros and cons. Use as applicable (and available).
To explain certain, often subtle, technique nuances in written word can be mighty tough, and often very long winded - while demonstrating it in a video, with some well chosen narrative, can get the essence across in mere seconds.
I vote for videos - done well, of course. You see (in most cases) material handling techniques, material preparation methods, material cutting techniques, etc., etc.
A lot of these important actions are left out of step-by-steps in books, articles, etc. as the number of photos would be beyond space allowed.
The only problem is that many really good tiers don’t have the ability to make videos or are too humble to do so.
My two pennies worth.
Both Step by Step and Video. Video has become a fantastic addition to tying instruction. I use it all of the time, and just started filming my own tutorial video. It is the nex best thing to sitting beside the tyer.
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