I found this dragonfly resting early morning in the dew-covered web of a trap spider. Let me know what you think.
I also have a similar version of this photo, which shows the entire dragonfly instead of focusing on his face. I feel this version has more impact due to the extreme closeness.
Nikon D200
105mm Macro
1/2 sec @ f/20, ISO 100
Posted by Ned Fenimore on August 8, 2007 at 2:57 PM
The background kind of works for me, thought light - but the sharpness of the foreground pulls my interest away from the insect. It never ceases to amaze me to see the eye detail of these guys... The sharpness of the insect is great!
Posted by Richard Sogn on August 8, 2007 at 3:28 PM
Great shot. I like the reflections of the dragonfly in the dewdrops.
Posted by Mark Windom on August 8, 2007 at 6:13 PM
I never realized how ugly dragonflies really are. Amazing detail. Were you using extension tubes??
Mark, no extension tubes this time (though I'll probably get some). That was a pretty drastic crop of a very close-up image from a 105mm Nikon Macro lens. I reversed my tripod and hung my camera upside down between its legs, so I could get right up in there with a high aperture and natural light. This was a technically difficult shot as this insect and web was about 2-3 inches off the ground.
Here's the wider view of the dragonfly, from another image in the series. It's hard to decide which one I like better.
Posted by Mark Hudon on August 10, 2007 at 12:58 AM
Dang! the second one is surreal! Yikes!
Posted by Tom Kloster on August 10, 2007 at 1:03 AM
Ditto! That's a pretty freaky bug! But drops are amazingly sharp, too. Wow! I like the lacy detail on the wings, too.
Tom
Posted by Erik Sogn on August 11, 2007 at 11:53 PM
I reworked this image. After retooling the colors in lightroom, I exported both the f/20 and f/57 images to photoshop, where I blended together the sharper features of the f/20 and the overall clarity of the f/57. I feel this gives the best of both worlds. Also, the crop brings more focus to the subject.
I'm very happy with the result!
Posted by Mike Stovall on August 12, 2007 at 5:34 PM
That second shot is something special ( I like the wider view as opposed to the cropped view of the last one). He looks like some kind of evil alien farmer tending to his crop...
I'm always getting wet and muddy with these low to the ground shots. I'd really like to get an angle viewfinder one of these days so I wouldn't have to lay on my stomach.
Discussion
9 repliesI also have a similar version of this photo, which shows the entire dragonfly instead of focusing on his face. I feel this version has more impact due to the extreme closeness.
Nikon D200
105mm Macro
1/2 sec @ f/20, ISO 100
Really very nice Eric, great macro...
Here's the wider view of the dragonfly, from another image in the series. It's hard to decide which one I like better.
Tom
I'm very happy with the result!
I'm always getting wet and muddy with these low to the ground shots. I'd really like to get an angle viewfinder one of these days so I wouldn't have to lay on my stomach.