RedRobin's Dragonfly Seasons....

RedRobin

RedRobin

Dances With Dogs
Messages
9,314
Name
Robin
Edit My Images
Yes
A thread I will use to share my best pics of Dragonflies and Damselflies. More info about each image on Flickr. All comments welcome.

If anyone prefers to see an album on Flickr of my efforts please view here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/114775606@N07/albums/72157667697621123

Found a teneral (newly emerged) Broad-bodied Chaser male hanging from one of the thousands (if not millions!) of nettles in my 'BackYard' in coastal West Dorset early one evening.



^ #1



^ #2 - To my delight it was still there on the same nettle early the following morning with light dew. The conditions were cool and overcast.

Broad-bodied Chaser by Robin Procter, on Flickr

^ #3 - A close-up.
 
Last edited:
Love that 1st image Robin, lovely colour and clarity ... the 2nd & 3rd look a bit cool to me :)
 
gramps said:
Love that 1st image Robin, lovely colour and clarity ... the 2nd & 3rd look a bit cool to me :)
Click to expand...

....Thanks, gramps, but check and compare the wing bases' patterned patches and you'll see colour temperature consistency throughout all the images.

#1 was shot in the evening light and #2 and #3 in early morning which started off very cool and very overcast.
 
I know nothing about the intricacies of photographing insects Robin, but I still prefer #1 :)
 
Before moving on to my next Dragonfly/Damselfly subject, here is the last image before it took flight as the sun warmed it up....



^ #4
 
Carlh said:
What a beautiful creature - this last one is so crisp and clean, fab set
Click to expand...

....Thanks, Carl :)

And yet it's taken on a zoom lens @ 300mm with a 21mm extension tube, at 1/200 s on a monopod. It's says a lot about how good Canon's 100-400mm L mk2 is. The image is hardly cropped at all.
 
I started off with good intentions but haven't kept this thread up to date!

So here is my latest shot :

BANDED DEMOISELLE by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
An interesting thread in the making, please keep it going. Damsels are one of my favourite subjects, I love photographing them. We're lucky to have 2 places nearby that have mainly blue ones in one place, and red types in the others. Don't ask me their names, I have no real clue on IDs but I do love damsels.

Dragons too, but we don't seems to get so many, I only saw the odd one last year and always in flight, one or two looked very big.

Some lovely images here already, the light on the last one is magic! One of the problems I get is getting the whole fly in focus at such close distances, I find getting them parallel to the sensor is the only way really, aside from stacking and they tend not stay still long enough for that.

Watching this thread with interest. (y)
 
Dale. said:
An interesting thread in the making, please keep it going. Damsels are one of my favourite subjects, I love photographing them. We're lucky to have 2 places nearby that have mainly blue ones in one place, and red types in the others. Don't ask me their names, I have no real clue on IDs but I do love damsels.

Dragons too, but we don't seems to get so many, I only saw the odd one last year and always in flight, one or two looked very big.

Some lovely images here already, the light on the last one is magic! One of the problems I get is getting the whole fly in focus at such close distances, I find getting them parallel to the sensor is the only way really, aside from stacking and they tend not stay still long enough for that.

Watching this thread with interest. (y)
Click to expand...

.... Thanks Dale. No pressure then :D

Getting the whole insect in focus is a problem we all face but sometimes it's not essential. As you correctly identify, the problem is getting a whole body parallel to the sensor but we have to work with whatever circumstances we are presented with. All wildlife photography is challenging.

Personally I don't use stacking and think that it too often results in unrealistic colours. Similarly I am not a fan of using flash. But there is no right or wrong way but just personal preferences.

If you are on Facebook I Admin a well established group where there are many who can help with IDs : https://www.facebook.com/groups/561222590593478/

Meanwhile, here is another for this thread :

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AND NOT SHY by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
RedRobin said:
.... Thanks Dale. No pressure then :D

Getting the whole insect in focus is a problem we all face but sometimes it's not essential. As you correctly identify, the problem is getting a whole body parallel to the sensor but we have to work with whatever circumstances we are presented with. All wildlife photography is challenging.

Personally I don't use stacking and think that it too often results in unrealistic colours. Similarly I am not a fan of using flash. But there is no right or wrong way but just personal preferences.

If you are on Facebook I Admin a well established group where there are many who can help with IDs : https://www.facebook.com/groups/561222590593478/

Meanwhile, here is another for this thread :

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL AND NOT SHY by Robin Procter, on Flickr
Click to expand...


Certainly is challenging, one of the reasons I have grown very fond of wildlife photography.

A belting image that last one. Is that with the R?


Group joined too, looks like a great resource.
 
Dale. said:
Certainly is challenging, one of the reasons I have grown very fond of wildlife photography.

A belting image that last one. Is that with the R?

Group joined too, looks like a great resource.
Click to expand...

.... Thanks for the compliment. Not shot with the EOS-R but the EOS-M5 (now sold with my 7D-2 to help pay for my EOS-R). Info is on the Flickr link.

The mirrorless performance of the M5 crop sensor was flawless but I found its body size just a bit too small and especially out of balance with my most often used longer EF lenses. Personally I am happier with the full-frame EOS-R and even with the battery grip and 100mm Macro + 1.4x (140mm) it still fits in my Lowepro Toploader holster for a quick draw for close-ups if I am tolerated following more distant shots on my 100-400mm L II + 1DX-2. That's how I roll for dragons & damsels.

You are now a member of my Facebook group and I hope we can help with any questions you may have and that you enjoy it anyway. The standard of photography varies enormously but the best is seriously good! And the worst is seriously bad!! I started the group entirely on a whim in September 2017 and now there are over 5,500 members.

We are strict about the group rules of W-W-W (What-Where-When) but they make the group the helpful resource it is. Occasionally someone kicks off but we know how to deal with them :D

Here's another of my pics to follow the thread's subject - An early one in 2014 taken on my first digital camera, a Canon 70D :

EMERALD DAMSELFLY by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
Interesting to hear your thoughts on the M5, it is a body I have considered to replace my 7D and as a back up to my 5Div. I think the M5 would make a great little camera for use in my hide.

I'll take an in depth look at the FB group now, thanks for the add. (y)

Lovely colours in that last one, I don't think I've seen one of those.
 
What absolutely brilliant images - these really are amazing; well done!
 
AN EMPEROR AMONG FLIES! by Robin Procter, on Flickr

AN EMPEROR AMONG FLIES!

A female Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) busy ovipositing while much smaller flies which are potential prey go about their business. Wiltshire UK.

[Many thanks to everybody who faves and/or comments on my images. Always very much appreciated]
 
SILVER WINGS ON A BOKEH OF GOLD by Robin Procter, on Flickr

SILVER WINGS ON A BOKEH OF GOLD

A Four-spotted Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata) overlooking the sparkling peat swamps at Thursley Common in Surrey.

[Many thanks to everybody who likes and/or comments on my images. Always very much appreciated]
 
It's about time I added something to this thread!

I shoot a lot of photos, specialising in wildlife, surfers, and railways and so have a permanently long queue of images to post-process as I exclusively shoot RAW.

Info on my Flickr page :

DRAGONFLY GOBBLING UP A DAMSELFLY by Robin Procter, on Flickr
 
Just got a macro lens for the EM1 MK2 Robin and am catching the bug (pardon the pun).

It's a steep learning curve but fascinating.

Actually found my Godox FT-16S receiver last night so I can employ my Godox TT685 for Sony with the M4/3 gear.
 
RedRobin said:
It's about time I added something to this thread!

I shoot a lot of photos, specialising in wildlife, surfers, and railways and so have a permanently long queue of images to post-process as I exclusively shoot RAW.

Info on my Flickr page :

DRAGONFLY GOBBLING UP A DAMSELFLY by Robin Procter, on Flickr
Click to expand...
Fabulous Robin, your photos never fail to impress.
 
Fabulous set, keep posting please :)
 
Lovely pictures
 
Gav. said:
Nice find, that must have been a hell of a chase. (unless it took it from plant)
Click to expand...
.... I only witnessed it from the moment it had landed on this particular plant to eat.

From what I could see of the feasting among lots of them, dragonflies, demoiselles and damselflies tend to capture their prey in flight.
 
RedRobin said:
AN EMPEROR AMONG FLIES! by Robin Procter, on Flickr

AN EMPEROR AMONG FLIES!

A female Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator) busy ovipositing while much smaller flies which are potential prey go about their business. Wiltshire UK.

[Many thanks to everybody who faves and/or comments on my images. Always very much appreciated]
Click to expand...

I missed these.Robin. What a fantastic set. I've highlighted this one because of a caption.... "He's behind you ".... :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top