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Competing for the Roost

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted September 6, 2009420 views17 comments

Two male Twelve Spotted dragons competing for the same high spot. One on the roost, one inflight above..
F/9, 1/2700th, ISO 1600
Canon 1D Mark III with a 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x tele. No flash, just bright mid-day light from directly above. But I had to shoot into a shadowed area. Approx 25% crop.
Not perfect, but I enjoyed watching the interaction. They went at it 3 or 4 times, then it was over..

Comments

17 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on September 6, 2009 at 11:07 PM

Sweet light and a sweet BG

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Windom on September 6, 2009 at 11:27 PM

Not perfect? I'm not sure what you could have done to improve on this. Nice!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 176 Posts, 2302 Comments

Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on September 6, 2009 at 11:50 PM

excellent Howard

Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments

Comment posted by Sam Rua on September 7, 2009 at 12:13 AM

Fantastic capture, Howard. If this isn't perfect then it has to be pretty darn close.

Registered on September 9, 2006, 130 Posts, 2281 Comments

Comment posted by Rosemarie Arbur on September 7, 2009 at 12:39 AM

What a capture, Howard! --and with composition, detail, and background that are certainly "perfect enough" for this great behavioral shot.

Registered on March 19, 2008, 189 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on September 7, 2009 at 12:56 AM

I like the drama. Great shot especially keeping the one in flight focused.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Ganz on September 7, 2009 at 9:04 AM

I really like this as a great behavioral shot that you have captured. I have seen them compete, but all I get are bits and blurs of the one that is buzzing the other.

Great job on the comp and isolation

Registered on November 1, 2003, 339 Posts, 759 Comments

Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on September 8, 2009 at 3:03 AM

Terrific behavior shot and great detail and comp. This is wonderful. They duked it out in front of a nice bg for you, too. I'd say it's too close to perfect to call.

Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Moats on September 8, 2009 at 7:27 AM

Hey Howard, what a great shot, very good jobe on getting these guys in focus. Great BG also.

Registered on October 20, 2004, 892 Posts, 6324 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Graham on September 14, 2009 at 6:05 PM

Great action shot. Congrats on the EP

Registered on August 22, 2006, 842 Posts, 2824 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 15, 2009 at 12:20 AM

Yikes, i can't even catch ONE d.fly in good focus and with an interesting perch!

Congrats on a wonderful image, and a well-deserved EP!

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on September 15, 2009 at 12:44 AM

A difficult one to pull off Howard, well done.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Sandra Hendrikse on September 15, 2009 at 3:54 AM

You've captured these dragons very well. Nice clean background and lovely composition.
Congratulations on the EP.

Registered on January 23, 2008, 48 Posts, 769 Comments

Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on September 15, 2009 at 3:15 PM

Wow, a fine capture indeed with nice & sufficient DOF to keep the DFs sharp enough.
Congrats on EP !

Registered on January 4, 2008, 98 Posts, 1403 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on September 18, 2009 at 8:49 AM

Wonderful work
Love the light and the sharp details :)

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on October 12, 2009 at 8:53 PM

Hi Howard

Going back checking the E.P winners, I almost missed your amazing shot. You truly deserved to win . superbly crafted