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Wild Dragonfly

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted November 28, 200978 views10 comments

This is a female Filigree Skimmer (Pseudoleon superbus) that I came across in the early morning late last month. Males tend to have more mottling in the wings. I liked the BG in this shot so I tried an artsy fartsy comp, which is a constant challenge for me as I tend to want to go for the textbook closeup image.

1DMarkII with 300mm f4 + 1.4x TCII
ISO 200
1/250s @ F7.1
Monopod

I cloned out a twig that was behind the DF and then added a touch of Noise Ninja.

Comments and suggestions for improvement welcome. Thanks for looking.

Comments

10 comments

Comment posted by Ellen deBoer on November 29, 2009 at 11:02 AM

What an interesting DF, Sam! I love what you did with the BG. It makes a very nice image!

Registered on March 16, 2006, 419 Posts, 2076 Comments

Comment posted by John Kerr on November 29, 2009 at 1:48 PM

Nice markings on the dragonfly Sam. I too like the BG. I like the neutral color the BG adds to photograph.

Registered on October 28, 2009, 111 Posts, 1070 Comments

Comment posted by Johan Geyser on November 29, 2009 at 7:56 PM

Excellent, Sam!
I am intrigued by the markings on the wings.
I presume the lower wing on the far side is hidden behind the body?

Registered on February 8, 2008, 30 Posts, 71 Comments

Comment posted by Nilanjan Das on November 29, 2009 at 9:41 PM

This is nice Sam, I only wish the wing positions were a little bit different so as not to obstruct the head. I liked the BG too, but in a macro image I wouldn't pay too much attention to the BG unless there is something in it which contributes to the image as well.

Registered on June 5, 2008, 94 Posts, 383 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on November 29, 2009 at 9:48 PM

Sam: I like this DF. Does it only have 3 wings or is the 4th hidden? The markings are beautiful and I love the BG. Sometimes the BG can make or break an image and in this case it has enhanced the comp. Well done

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

Comment posted by Sam Rua on November 29, 2009 at 9:59 PM

Johan and Gary -

This DF does indeed have 4 wings; it just wasn't cooperating in presenting all four cleanly. I usually see these DFs perched on a rock or twig lying on the ground -- I've only see these perched up high on one other occasion. Thanks for the comments.

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

Comment posted by Nils J. Foyn on November 30, 2009 at 11:19 AM

Nice DF Sam. The background together with the markings on the wings make a very nice image

Registered on April 28, 2009, 17 Posts, 56 Comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on November 30, 2009 at 12:15 PM

Very nice shot, with perfect BG. The subject is quite peculiar (at least for us!

)

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Moats on November 30, 2009 at 5:50 PM

Hey Sam, very cool look in the color, like the comp and BG.

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

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on December 15, 2009 at 9:06 AM

Large view looks very good Sam, artistically composed.
I especially like your use of the light & complimentary BG here

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments