A mix of dragons

Dalantech

I did a lot of experimenting this year with different lenses and techniques. First up is a 100mm macro lens plus a 500D diopter:








I liked the overall image quality of the 100mm and diopter, but the working distance was short and some dragons are easier to get close to than others. So I switched to a 70-200 F4 L with a 500D. I ended up going back to the 100mm because it's sharper than the 70-200 (I've got the IS version of the 70-200 coming in the mail -finally saved up enough money for it!).







One last photo, this one taken with an MPE-65mm lens.



For next spring I'm only going to carry two lenses, the MPE-65 and the 70-200 F4 L IS with a 500D diopter.

Giphsub

beautiful shots

#3 and the last are my favourites. They are fun creatures to photograph eh!

Lord Vetinari

Wonderful series John
Brian V.

Dalantech

Giphsub wrote:

beautiful shots

#3 and the last are my favourites. They are fun creatures to photograph eh!

Thanks

Would you think I'm odd if I said that they seem to have a personality?...

Dalantech

Lord Vetinari wrote:

Wonderful series John
Brian V.

Thanks Brian! :cool

Giphsub

Dalantech wrote:

Thanks

Would you think I'm odd if I said that they seem to have a personality?...

no, in fact I knid of know what you mean. They tend to have favourite spots too. So often, even if you scare them away they'll buzz back to the same spot.

Dalantech

Giphsub wrote:

no, in fact I knid of know what you mean. They tend to have favourite spots too. So often, even if you scare them away they'll buzz back to the same spot.

There was a woman at the lake who became frightened by them -there are so many in the late summer that they cover the bike path at the lake. The one I was shooting had just taken off so I got her attention, held out my hand, and when the dragon landed on my finger I told her that they are harmless :cool

Skippy

Dalantech wrote:

I did a lot of experimenting this year with different lenses and techniques. First up is a 100mm macro lens plus a 500D diopter:

I liked the overall image quality of the 100mm and diopter, but the working distance was short and some dragons are easier to get close to than others. So I switched to a 70-200 F4 L with a 500D. I ended up going back to the 100mm because it's sharper than the 70-200 (I've got the IS version of the 70-200 coming in the mail -finally saved up enough money for it!).

One last photo, this one taken with an MPE-65mm lens.

For next spring I'm only going to carry two lenses, the MPE-65 and the 70-200 F4 L IS with a 500D diopter.

Ya lucky guy John, you just have this never ending supply of dragonflies don't you

We've recently had quite a bit of rain, so hopefully as summer is heading our way we might see more bugs around than we have over the past few years.

Excellent Series .. Beautiful Work .... Skippy
.

teamracephotos

Number 3
I like number 3.... seems to be smiling at you! MM

Giphsub

Dalantech wrote:

There was a woman at the lake who became frightened by them -there are so many in the late summer that they cover the bike path at the lake. The one I was shooting had just taken off so I got her attention, held out my hand, and when the dragon landed on my finger I told her that they are harmless :cool

Nice one! I used to be petrified of them when I was small. That is a great shot BTW

Dalantech

Skippy wrote:

Ya lucky guy John, you just have this never ending supply of dragonflies don't you

We've recently had quite a bit of rain, so hopefully as summer is heading our way we might see more bugs around than we have over the past few years.

Excellent Series .. Beautiful Work .... Skippy
.

Thanks Skippy! :cool

A friend of mine in Sicily keeps asking me if I've taken any photos of preying mantises -they are all over his property and I haven't even seen one here...

Dalantech

teamracephotos wrote:

I like number 3.... seems to be smiling at you! MM

...or wondering what I taste like...

Dalantech

Giphsub wrote:

Nice one! I used to be petrified of them when I was small. That is a great shot BTW

Thanks! The tough part was taking it one handed...

Giphsub

Yeah, I bet! I had a similar problem trying to take a big old noisy cicada who decided ot land on my shirt and proceed to climb up my neck! Was trying to get a pic of it with me showing too, so I couldn't really see where I was pointing my little PS...

I have a lot of dragonflies around all the time here in Hiroshima. I'm gonna miss the little fellas and the photo ops next year once I move back to Aus.

Awais Yaqub

Wow great work buddy

Dalantech

Giphsub wrote:

I have a lot of dragonflies around all the time here in Hiroshima. I'm gonna miss the little fellas and the photo ops next year once I move back to Aus.

No dragons down under?

Dalantech

Awais Yaqub wrote:

Wow great work buddy

Thanks my friend! :cool

Giphsub

Dalantech wrote:

No dragons down under?

Yeah we have them, but not like here in Japan. They are everywhere here!

Dalantech

Giphsub wrote:

Yeah we have them, but not like here in Japan. They are everywhere here!

Any samples? I'd be curious to see them!

Giphsub

No macro, but here are a few











There are a few more in the following gallery:

http://giphsub.smugmug.com/gallery/3282017#182092029

Dalantech

:cool

patricia kay

Beautiful shots and what amazing colored damsel flies you have...

Patricia.........:D

Giphsub

Was that one of my damsel flies you were referring to Patricia? What colour are they in your neck of the woods? I only know them from here...

patricia kay

Sorry ...I am a bit dizzy at times....I meant dragon flies and here in my part of Sweden....near to Stockholm...I have green and a red/brown color..no pretty blue ones....

Where are you?

Patricia.........:D

Giphsub

I'm in Hiroshima. Yep, we get beautiful blue ones, yellow ones. Big black ones. Yellow and black ones. Green ones, and a couple of varieties of red ones! Amazing creatures.