Last summer's dragons

Dalantech

I finally got around to post processing a couple of images from last summer -can't wait for the next generation of these guys to come out!





C&C always welcome!

Awais Yaqub

Welcome back Dalen !! was missing your great macros
wonderful i loved 1st

Dalantech

Awais Yaqub wrote:

Welcome back Dalen !! was missing your great macros
wonderful i loved 1st

Thanks Awais!

I need to do some still life macros around the house just to get some practice -I haven't manually focus a lens in months and if I don't start practicing now I won't be ready for the critters... :cry

Skippy

Dalantech wrote:

I finally got around to post processing a couple of images from last summer -can't wait for the next generation of these guys to come out!
C&C always welcome!

Ahhhhhhhhh Mr Dalantech the man with the never ending supply of Dragonflies ..... ya lucky buggar! two beauties ... Skippy
.

Lord Vetinari

Lovely shots Dalantech - something to look forward to for next year

Any ideas on the pose in #1 ?
I originally though this was a threat/alarm pose but was told by someone else that it's a cooling off pose (ie the dragonfly points the end of it's tail at the sun to reduce the radiation hitting the body)
Brian V.

wolfwoods

May I add mine?
I have admired dragonfly photos for some time. Your subjects appear to be much more colorful and interesting than the critters that come to my yard. This was really my first attempt at a shot like this...I don't really have the right lens. We have a small pond garden in the back yard and this guy had successful hunting for a couple weeks. He was a very cooperative subject.

http://www.imagengineer.smugmug.com/gallery/1753657/3/86857274

Comments are welcome.

BPCooper

These are great.

Dalantech

Skippy wrote:

Ahhhhhhhhh Mr Dalantech the man with the never ending supply of Dragonflies ..... ya lucky buggar! two beauties ... Skippy
.

I'm lucky in that there is a bike trail around the lake where I shoot -makes getting close to them easier than if I had to mess with reeds and bushes.

Dalantech

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Lovely shots Dalantech - something to look forward to for next year

Any ideas on the pose in #1 ?
I originally though this was a threat/alarm pose but was told by someone else that it's a cooling off pose (ie the dragonfly points the end of it's tail at the sun to reduce the radiation hitting the body)
Brian V.

Dead on Brian -they point their tails to the sun so that the total surface area that the light is hitting is lower. It's their only way to deal with the heat.



I'm now waiting for the temps to consistently hit 20C and I'll go back to the lake and look for emergences.

Dalantech

wolfwoods wrote:

I have admired dragonfly photos for some time. Your subjects appear to be much more colorful and interesting than the critters that come to my yard. This was really my first attempt at a shot like this...I don't really have the right lens. We have a small pond garden in the back yard and this guy had successful hunting for a couple weeks. He was a very cooperative subject.

http://www.imagengineer.smugmug.com/gallery/1753657/3/86857274

Comments are welcome.

Nice Black Tailed Skimmer! It seems the only time I can get close to them is when they are maiting:






Catch them when they are eating and you can get really close. This one is with a 100mm macro lens and a 25mm tube -about 1.6 times life size and the front of the lens is only abut 5 inches from the critter:

Dalantech

BPCooper wrote:

These are great.

Thanks!

Serrator

Dalantech...your dragon pics are top notch! I enjoyed looking at each one, thanks so much for sharing your great efforts.

Dalantech

Serrator wrote:

Dalantech...your dragon pics are top notch! I enjoyed looking at each one, thanks so much for sharing your great efforts.

Thanks for the props!

Some of my better macros are in this gallery: http://www.dalantech.smugmug.com/gallery/1590111#P-1-15