Dragonflies and Damselflies

[Click]

Excellent shot, Alan.

 

[Pape]

And flailing wildly his arm .Wow wow what is that thingie what follows me
Ill make full images when feeling i got good changed it to full image

 

[Nat_WA]

Black-tailed skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) - stumbled across it when looking for a Bluethroat (bird - for those only aware of dragon-/damselflies )


Due to terrain (and lens I was carrying) I could only approach it from side or top...


7DmkII, S 60-600mm at 400mm and 350mm respectively, f/7.1
W.

 

[Nat_WA]

Common blue damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum) in the same area


7DmkII, S 60-600mm at 250mm f/7.1
W.

 

[Click]

Very nice shots. Well done, Wiebe..

 

[AlanF]

Caught him hovering!

 

[chrysoberyl]

I can't resist uploading another Emperor in flight from this morning. He's got his face slightly turned towards us and I like the look.
View attachment 185566

DIF; very nice.

 

[Nat_WA]

Caught him hovering!

... and I already find it hard enough to catch them stationary
Very nice (set of) shot(s) Alan!
W.

 

[Jack Douglas]

Can't say I ever looked for this thread but there sure are impressive photos here. Some, certainly exceed the beauty of what we have here in Alberta.

Jack

 

[AlanF]

Can't say I ever looked for this thread but there sure are impressive photos here. Some, certainly exceed the beauty of what we have here in Alberta.

Jack

You should join in Jack. I didn't appreciate the beauty and onterest of these insects until I started photographing them last year as it helps to see these larger than life -size images.

 

[AlanF]

I have posted so far just photos of male Emperors (a tautology, I realise). Yesterday, I watched a female fly across the surface of the pond, stop and lay her eggs(oviposit).

 

[Click]

Nice! I really like the second shot.

 

[Pape]

I am sure they suprice you jack. i am sure there are all kinds of fancy species on alberta too . I seen tens different kind of them even i am 64 degree north.

 

[AlanF]

Nice! I really like the second shot.

Thanks Click - you always prefer the portrait to the one in flight!

 

[Jack Douglas]

You should join in Jack. I didn't appreciate the beauty and onterest of these insects until I started photographing them last year as it helps to see these larger than life -size images.

Thanks Alan, I agree and in fact have taken a fair number of shot of these guys and who knows, with my fading memory, I may even have posted something in this thread. Here's one that in my circle didn't garner much praise, but I liked it. I found that at certain times, especially when they were sexually active, they were easier to shoot in flight but my, they are as challenging as shooting swallows catching mosquitoes! Hovering is about the only time my AF could catch them.

Jack

 

[Pape]

RP, 70-300mm 300mm 5 picture focus stack,could used larger aperture ,messy backround . but i turn brain dead on photographing situation

 

[AlanF]

RP, 70-300mm 300mm 5 picture focus stack,could used smaller aperture ,messy backround . but i turn brain dead on photographing situation

Nice one! I have never done a focus stack. Erik does them. It seems a very useful technique for dragonflies.

 

[Pape]

Nice one! I have never done a focus stack. Erik does them. It seems a very useful technique for dragonflies.

Yeah its good for 100-400 and 70-300 ,dragonflys get big with min focus distance. and they like sit very still. smaller insects can get all sharp ,just with small aperture.
and these lenses got just tiny bit focus breathing,makes stack easier

 

[kodakrome]

RP, 70-300mm 300mm 5 picture focus stack,could used larger aperture ,messy backround . but i turn brain dead on photographing situation

Very nice! I've never attempted to do a focus stack with this kind of shot, but maybe I'll give it a try.

 

[kodakrome]

100L, f/13, ISO 800