Here be dragons! (real ones this time!)

[Overread]

Had a very good few days:
Day One:
All shots taken with Canon 400D + sigma 150mm macro + speedlite 580M2 + softbox
a very short stop in a field which had dozens of dragons in it - end of the day as well, just a shame I did not have longer than a few minutes to shoot - could have spent hours there!

f13, ISO 200, 1/200sec, handheld
link to larger: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3230175932_c0118aae07_o.jpg

f13, ISO 200, 1/200sec, handheld
link to larger: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/3229321585_f9d7c8445d_o.jpg

Day Two:
decided today to switch to a greater depth of field and a smaller aperture- that of f20 - though in the end I think I lost out on sharpness (at full size) more than I really gained in depth of field.

All shots taken with Canon 400D + sigma 150mm macro + 1.4 teleconverter + speedlite 580M2 + softbox

f20, ISO 200, 1/100sec, handheld
link to larger: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3363/3229319875_2004dd43fe_o.jpg

f20, ISO 200, 1/100sec, handheld
link to larger: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/3230171598_efb0b7b54d_o.jpg

now that is one face I would not like to kiss

Any comments and crits welcome - thank you

 

[plastii]

Very nice - I love #2 - good job.

Maybe it's just me, but it looks like the DOF is better using f13 than f20.:er:

 

[Overread]

might be the teleconverter (1.4) in the f20 shots taking effect - I find it great when getting up close, but on the larger insects it does tend to be a bit limiting - just tricky to know what you will find when you get in the field (and sod's law will always take effect )

 

[photo28]

great job!

 

[Markw]

Love the last one. Great series.

Mark

 

[Brutus]

Amazing detail in these, great job!

 

[tpe]

Wow the eyes on the second one a great. The red one is a ruddy darter (sorry i dont know the others), but i guess you found that out trying to keep up with it? they generally spend most of their time protecting their territory from their neighbours. Very nice shots all and very well stalked . I am looking forward to your next hunt.

tim

 

[mack1time]

Amazing Results
#3 is my favorite

I shared a similar experiance last week and found nearly 50 slowmoving dragonflys right before Dusk

Thanks for sharing

 

[Overread]

Thanks for the compliments all
And thanks for the id tpe - though to my they are all ruddy darters the way they move!