First time, How bad?

[Stoneward]

I have just started MIG welding, and this was the first weld bead I ran (or pictured anyhow). How bad is this?

 

[Angusdog]

Easily as good as most people's first attempts. The steel should be a bit cleaner (Makes the weld much tidier and stronger, so good practice even when you're practicing). Is it gas or gasless? If it's gas, it looks a little sooty but that may be the scale etc on the steel. As you get some practice under your belt, your hand movements will become smoother which always makes the weld look nicer. However, yours look like you have the settings about right.

 

[Andy from Workshopshed]

soot?

So is the brown crusty stuff around the weld typically an indication that there is an issue with the gas flow?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Andy, that brown soot is often caused by incorrect torch angle (canted over too far).

Stoneward, looking pretty good but as Angusdog says, clean your steel a lot more than that, dirty steel will give you allsorts of issues and makes it difficult to judge your progress.