Some Dragon Flies

vStiles · Dec 12, 2021

So I've never been good at getting decent dragonfly images. I got a couple last year that were... ok. This summer I discovered that a close to home spot is a literal breeding ground for them. Hundreds on a nice sunny day actually.

After the first day I think I figured it out. I feel confident enough to post them in a wildlife forum 😋 , but I'm A-Ok with any feedback / CC.

Shot with Nikon 70-300mm on a D5600. Thanks for looking.

jeffashman · Dec 12, 2021

A very nice set! Getting those suckers in focus is a challenge, because they rarely stay still long enough. If you can identify a location that they frequently land on, then you can pre-focus for the shot, but you have to sit and wait. Of do like me and find a deceased one...

Jeff15 · Dec 13, 2021

Very nice set.....

K9Kirk · Dec 13, 2021

Nice set, sounds like a nice place for a lot of shots. If they keep coming out oof I would seriously start investigating as to why they are.

PJM · Dec 13, 2021

Nice, I think I like the composition in #1 the best.

vStiles · Dec 13, 2021

jeffashman said:
A very nice set! Getting those suckers in focus is a challenge, because they rarely stay still long enough. If you can identify a location that they frequently land on, then you can pre-focus for the shot, but you have to sit and wait. Of do like me and find a deceased one...

That's basically how I did it. I just parked it right up to the pond and sat still. After a few minutes they were landing quite close and it was definitely an "AH HA" moment.

K9Kirk said:
Nice set, sounds like a nice place for a lot of shots. If they keep coming out oof I would seriously start investigating as to why they are.

Thank you. Oof was never the issue, I was trying to catch them in flight lol. Getting there pre sunrise isn't in the cards most days to get them in the torpid state. Every time I moved towards one, it would bail ; so I didn't know how these guys were getting these shots lol.

Within a hour of the first day there, I clued in they were quite regularly resting in the grasses right next to the water. I had zero idea they landed and rested so often.