Accidental Dragonfly

CharlaCharla Registered Users Posts: 238 Major grins
edited August 11, 2006 in Wildlife
I thought I was done with shooting dragonflies for a little while, and I went out on Saturday with every intention of shooting flowers but this one was just too good to pass up! This was the most amazing dragonfly I'd ever seen and it just happened to stay in the same spot for nearly ten minutes.

Shot w/ tripod, only slight cropping and no other adjustments in PS.

Thanks for looking :D
Charla

Dragonfly12.jpg
Camera make: KONICA MINOLTA
Camera model: MAXXUM 5D
Flash used: No
Focal length: 180.0mm (35mm equivalent: 270mm)
Exposure time: 0.020 s (1/50)
Aperture: f/16.0
ISO equiv.: 400
Exposure bias: -0.70
Whitebalance: Manual
Light Source: Daylight
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: aperture


Dragonfly11.jpg
Flash used: No
Focal length: 200.0mm (35mm equivalent: 300mm)
Exposure time: 0.033 s (1/30)
Aperture: f/22.0
ISO equiv.: 400
Exposure bias: -0.70
Whitebalance: Manual
Light Source: Daylight
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)


Dragonfly10.jpg
Flash used: No
Focal length: 300.0mm (35mm equivalent: 450mm)
Exposure time: 0.0080 s (1/125)
Aperture: f/13.0
ISO equiv.: 400
Exposure bias: -0.70
Whitebalance: Manual
Light Source: Daylight
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)


Dragonfly9.jpg
Flash used: No
Focal length: 300.0mm (35mm equivalent: 450mm)
Exposure time: 0.013 s (1/80)
Aperture: f/14.0
ISO equiv.: 400
Exposure bias: -0.70
Whitebalance: Manual
Light Source: Daylight
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

Comments

  • saurorasaurora Registered Users Posts: 4,320 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    Wow, Charla...you are right! This is an amazing looking fella!!! You got some great shots...it's too bad he isn't more isolated, but it's interesting how your background has some of the same shade of green! Very cool shots! clap.gif
  • gluwatergluwater Registered Users Posts: 3,599 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    Great catch, what you have there is a Common Green Darner (Anax junius).
    Nick
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  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    Beautiful dragon!!!

    I do wish the background was more isolated and there was a little more detail. Any chance you could take a shot of that species at F5.6 to F8 and ISO 100?
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  • raptorcaptorraptorcaptor Registered Users Posts: 3,968 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    Very nice! clap.gif
    Glenn

    My website | NANPA Member
  • Dick on ArubaDick on Aruba Registered Users Posts: 3,484 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    Beautiful series Charla. Dragonfly's are just one of the most beautiful flying insects around.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Dick.
    "Nothing sharpens sight like envy."
    Thomas Fuller.

    SmugMug account.
    Website.
  • CharlaCharla Registered Users Posts: 238 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    gluwater wrote:
    Great catch, what you have there is a Common Green Darner (Anax junius).

    Thanks for the link Nick, I was going to ask if anyone knew what this was. I think I've seen these in flight around the lakes I normally go to but I've never seen one land so I didn't know they were so spectacular. I was surprised to see this one in a park that is at least a mile from any bodies of water.

    Charla
  • CharlaCharla Registered Users Posts: 238 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    Dalantech wrote:
    Beautiful dragon!!!

    I do wish the background was more isolated and there was a little more detail. Any chance you could take a shot of that species at F5.6 to F8 and ISO 100?

    I will definitely keep those settings in mind if I ever run across another one of these. :): Thanks for the suggestion.

    I did take your previous advice and switch back to manual and aimed the focus on the "bullseye" right above the eyes.

    I really appreciate all of your advice, I'm getting better everytime I go out to shoot :D

    Charla
  • CharlaCharla Registered Users Posts: 238 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    saurora wrote:
    Wow, Charla...you are right! This is an amazing looking fella!!! You got some great shots...it's too bad he isn't more isolated, but it's interesting how your background has some of the same shade of green! Very cool shots! clap.gif

    Thanks Saurora! I agree the background is busy but I almost like that better than the murky greenish water backgrounds I've had in my previous dragonfly shots. Not a very appealing color! :puke1

    Thanks again :D
    Charla
  • CharlaCharla Registered Users Posts: 238 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    Glenn & Dick - Thanks so much for the comments! I'm glad you enjoyed these :D

    Charla
  • SteveFSteveF Registered Users Posts: 466 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    Interesting colors - I haven't seen one like that before
    Steve
    www.finesart.com
  • NappaloniaNappalonia Registered Users Posts: 96 Big grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    He's gorgeous!
    http://nappalonia.smugmug.com/gallery/580776

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  • Awais YaqubAwais Yaqub Registered Users Posts: 10,572 Major grins
    edited August 8, 2006
    Great accedent ! great find well photographed iloveyou.gif
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  • LIPhotomanLIPhotoman Registered Users Posts: 38 Big grins
    edited August 9, 2006
    WOW!
    Not much else to say here.
    http://www.liphotoman.smugmug.com
  • DalantechDalantech Registered Users Posts: 1,519 Major grins
    edited August 9, 2006
    Charla wrote:
    I will definitely keep those settings in mind if I ever run across another one of these. :): Thanks for the suggestion.

    I did take your previous advice and switch back to manual and aimed the focus on the "bullseye" right above the eyes.

    I really appreciate all of your advice, I'm getting better everytime I go out to shoot :D

    Charla

    You're shots are looking good! :):
    My SmugMug Gallery

    Looking for tips on macro photography? Check out my Blog: No Cropping Zone.
  • CharlaCharla Registered Users Posts: 238 Major grins
    edited August 10, 2006
    Thanks so much for all the kind comments everyone! Very much appreciated. :D:D:D

    Charla
  • Fusion_UKFusion_UK Registered Users Posts: 249 Major grins
    edited August 10, 2006
    Great Dragonflys
    I don't find the backgrounds at all distrating in fact I think it puts the fly into a natural context and tells me more about it. Thanks for sharing. Ian thumb.gif
    Ian :photo
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  • CharlaCharla Registered Users Posts: 238 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2006
    Fusion_UK wrote:
    I don't find the backgrounds at all distrating in fact I think it puts the fly into a natural context and tells me more about it. Thanks for sharing. Ian thumb.gif

    Thanks Ian, I liked the natural setting as well. :):
    Charla
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2006
    Nice bug. thumb.gif

    But where is the "bonus deer"? rolleyes1.gif
  • LCDLCD Registered Users Posts: 494 Major grins
    edited August 11, 2006
    Lucky you! These darners do not typically perch. Probably the reason that we do not often see them. Good thing you broke down and shot him, these shots are great!!

    The only one I've seen was "downed" when it was attacked by another one. I hate that they call them "common". I don't think they're so common.ne_nau.gif

    Great job!thumb.gif
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