Dragon Fly

[407370]

I have been on the hunt for a good Dragon Fly pic. Hundreds of failed attempts later (these things dont stay still for very long). I managed this:

I know the leaves are waaayy to bright but Dodging / Burning just makes it look weird, to me.

All comments welcome

CHEERS
JBO

 

[jeffashman]

I have been on the hunt for a good Dragon Fly pic. Hundreds of failed attempts later (these things dont stay still for very long). I managed this:

View attachment 278126

I know the leaves are waaayy to bright but Dodging / Burning just makes it look weird, to me.

All comments welcome

CHEERS
JBO

Nice shot! The challenge, or one of them, is the lighting direction. If the lighting source were behind you, the dragonfly would be more illuminated and the lighting on the foliage would be more balanced. They are a bugger to photograph with their incessant moving around. I pass up on shots precisely because the sun isn't where I want it, and I don't want to wade into the pond...

 

[greybeard]

I love those little animals and have never been able to get a pic of any of them.

 

[Jeff15]

A very nice shot ...

 

[Thiophilos]

 

[petrochemist]

I find the position of the wings at rest a much easier way to identify the two.

 

[Thiophilos]

I find the position of the wings at rest a much easier way to identify the two.

Eyes, wings, size - all are giveaways.

 

[MitchP]

Nice shot. Congrats!

 

[petrochemist]

Eyes, wings, size - all are giveaways.

Size isn't always reliable. Demimoselles share the eyes & wings of damsels but are the size of dragonflies.
I think the lovely shot above may well be a 'beautiful demimoselle' similar to this one which is dragonfly size.

Both are difficult to photograph, especially on the wing

 

[407370]

I am now on a mission......

Decent Dragonfly shot at rest and on the wing. I will be going back to that spot today and this time I will bring provisions for a longer stay.

CHEERS
JBO

 

[wobe]

Beautiful capture! Personally I don't mind the leaf highlights, it's offset to dramatic effect by the matte black and muted bottle green of the fly.

 

[petrochemist]

I am now on a mission......

Decent Dragonfly shot at rest and on the wing. I will be going back to that spot today and this time I will bring provisions for a longer stay.

CHEERS
JBO

Dragonflies often follow repeatable patterns. If you watch them for a while you sometimes can spot a point where they hover on each circuit. The only on the wing shots I've ever managed were by catching them at the hover (and using a camera that focuses quicker than my older models) Good luck!

 

[407370]

Just to keep forum informed. Total bust this afternoon. Very windy and cloudy. Will keep trying.

Here is a consolation BEE pic:

CHEERS
JBO

 

[fishing4sanity]

I have been on the hunt for a good Dragon Fly pic. Hundreds of failed attempts later (these things dont stay still for very long). I managed this:

I'm right there with you on the frustration. I think they're very interesting to watch. If I don't have a camera I can get close to them, bring a camera and they never cooperate.

 

[MitchP]

I am now on a mission......

Decent Dragonfly shot at rest and on the wing. I will be going back to that spot today and this time I will bring provisions for a longer stay.

CHEERS
JBO

It's always a challenge!

Dragonflies

Google says they're possibly Green Darners.

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