Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
W. Mountain Gomphid?
‹ PreviousMacro & Close-up GalleryNext ›

W. Mountain Gomphid?

by Charlie Baugh

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted November 8, 2011216 views7 comments
I think this is a Western Mountain Gomphid, Ophiogomphus bison and welcome confirmation or correction to this ID. This was taken in July, 2008 and I have hoped to get a better photo of one of these since, but another summer has past and I have not even seen another let alone gotten a better shot.

My guide says these range only California and Nevada but as we are about 100 miles north of California it is easily possible that this is the ID. Guide states that these settle only briefly on rocks and low vegitation and are only active on sunny days. Perhaps this is the only shot I'll get, so I have processed what I felt was not the best of images. It has been sharpened significantly, noise reduced also significantly and processed with Olympus Studio 2 and Color Efex pro.

Please be critical about anything you feel should have or can be improved.

Olympus E-510.
70-300mm F4 lens
FL 300
1/320 sec @ F6.3
0.0 EV
ISO 100
manual focus
monopod
Cropped about 10% from FF only to the right side.

Large view provided

Comments

7 comments
Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on November 8, 2011 at 7:56 PM
Charlie:
This is a nice looking DF with great pose. Light, perch and bg are all fine. Only wish the focus is more on the eyes than on the wings.
Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on November 8, 2011 at 8:39 PM
Great pose and comp - not much in focus here, though. VERY tough to catch these quick guys.
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on November 8, 2011 at 9:50 PM
Yes Gary and Sandy this has limitations. This was before I used a tripod and would not got to a higher ISO speed than 100. I'm stubborn don't you know. :biggrin: Perhaps next year.

By the way Sandy, do you see this specie often in California and do you know if the ID is correct?
Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments
Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on November 9, 2011 at 12:12 AM
As mentioned, the lack of focus hurts but the pose, perch and composition are all excellent
Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments
Comment posted by Tonia Graves on November 9, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Charlie, not sure about the ID, but what a lovely capture of this dragonfly! I like the perch and the angle of the body. Nice job with this!
Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments
Comment posted by Hali Sowle on November 10, 2011 at 7:57 AM
Great pose and light, really like the perch, not much I can say that hasn't been said about the focus.
Registered on January 9, 2008, 36 Posts, 582 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Moats on November 10, 2011 at 12:46 PM
Hey Charlie, great comp, but as others stated, the body and head need much more sharpness.
Registered on October 20, 2004, 892 Posts, 6324 Comments