Posted by Andy Astbury on June 20, 2008 at 5:17 PM
I'm very disappointed with today - I went specifically for the males and only managed to get the camera to three from 5.00am until 5.00pm.
All day I've been plagued with the dragon photographers two nightmares - a swirly breeze and no dragons to see - I just couldn't find shelter from it no matter where I went, and the first one didn't show until past 11am. Then the males were doing their usual thing of living their short lives at mach 9 pants-on-fire, ripping chunks out of each other and ripping the "you-know-what" out of me
By comparison this little lady was like the Caramel Bunny - she came onto my finger and I put her on a nice Bilberry stem and she sat there good as gold whilst I rattled of about 60 odd frames to try and make sure I got one without those nasty wind effects - if I'd tried that with a male today he'd have ripped my finger off up to the elbow
None of the male shots are up to standard - to be honest 2 were screwed by the wind and one by yours truly on the comp of all things - what a prat, as it shows all the chunks taken out of the wing trailing edges in fights with other males.
She isn't showing her face on this shot, but it wasn't white anyway as she's fresh, just plain old yellow.
Hope to get back before these beasts season finishes - hopefully with no wind and a brain inside my head that works!
D2Xs
180mm macro
ISO 100
1/15 @ f11
PP Bibble Pro and CS3
What a sad old story Andy. What you looking for some symphathy?
Well all in all it looks as though your day paid off as this looks to be a fine shot in deed.
Not really one to comment on these things but it looks pretty good to me.
Discussion
20 repliesAll day I've been plagued with the dragon photographers two nightmares - a swirly breeze and no dragons to see - I just couldn't find shelter from it no matter where I went, and the first one didn't show until past 11am. Then the males were doing their usual thing of living their short lives at mach 9 pants-on-fire, ripping chunks out of each other and ripping the "you-know-what" out of me
By comparison this little lady was like the Caramel Bunny - she came onto my finger and I put her on a nice Bilberry stem and she sat there good as gold whilst I rattled of about 60 odd frames to try and make sure I got one without those nasty wind effects - if I'd tried that with a male today he'd have ripped my finger off up to the elbow
None of the male shots are up to standard - to be honest 2 were screwed by the wind and one by yours truly on the comp of all things - what a prat, as it shows all the chunks taken out of the wing trailing edges in fights with other males.
She isn't showing her face on this shot, but it wasn't white anyway as she's fresh, just plain old yellow.
Hope to get back before these beasts season finishes - hopefully with no wind and a brain inside my head that works!
D2Xs
180mm macro
ISO 100
1/15 @ f11
PP Bibble Pro and CS3
JR
Well all in all it looks as though your day paid off as this looks to be a fine shot in deed.
Not really one to comment on these things but it looks pretty good to me.
Major.
If it was easy - everyone would do it
A fine result for your perseverance. I'm assuming it's the Sigma 180 macro (am I right?)
Barrie
On my screen I could imagine I'm there peering closely at the real thing.
Another dragon I'd like to see - especially the male.
Good, quality image.
Regards
Ian
Dave
Matt
Barrie - yes it is, but they never do me any favours so I've stopped doing them any
Alan
It is a little tight for me too. I would have been tempted to pull back a bit, and perhaps less DoF to isolate the dragon a bit more from the perch?
Greg
Edwin Kats
Very nice indeed and a very worthwhile result even if it did take twelve hours to achieve.
Mark
Danny