Why don't we do it this way?

[Inchlaggan]

Today I have mostly been creating a display box for flees- a wee earner. If it works out I'll post the details.
Never having done this before, I applied what little brain-sweat I can produce.
The mechanics were easy enough, it is the artistic bit that I struggle with.
Landscape/ Portrait, background colour stuff like that.
A couple of thoughts came to mind- most of the books show flees in elevation, facing right- the way a right-handed tier would see it in the vice. In our fly-boxes and in the shop we see them in plan view, and this is best way to view/display daddies, mayflies etc.
Considering both points I set off to design my display.
Then the thought occurred, why do we never look at flies (particularly those for use on, or in the surface) the way the fish does- from below? What would we learn?
Try a quick rummage through your "favourites" box, it is quite revealing.

[Part-time]

I sometimes look at flies from a few angles, more often if its one I've tied myself. Admittedly its mainly to see if the fly looks ok from my point of view rather than the trouts but it often leads to thinking about how it looks to the trout as well.

The 'Trout & The Fly' by Clarke/Goddard has some nice pictures that show flies from the trouts viewpoint; dries from underwater, reflections of flies underwater etc.   

[Malcolm]

I do that with any new dry flies I tie. Currently I use a beer glass!

[Inchlaggan]

Glad to hear that you are all smart enough to do so.
Still wondering why the "convention" in publications is elevation or plan.
Surely, when I tie that killer dry of my own invention, I should photograph it from behind and below with the caption "Just look at this, guaranteed 100% trout satisfaction."

[Inchlaggan]

read Jocelyn Lanes book he was  probably the first to make a specialist set up to view his flies,
  breac uaig

ordered, thanks

[SouthFly]

I remember seeing a box online once, it's basically a clear perspex cube the a mirror at 45 deg, you fill in with water and you can see the fly from underneath by the reflection of the mirror.