Wide-angle Dragonfly (+ REPOST)

This is the result of further experiments around the idea of 'wideangle macro', something that I find very appealing. This is a Brown Hawker dragonfly taken very early in the morning with a fisheye lens. A difficult technique to get right (not least because the lens has to be only 3-4 inches from the dragonfly).

Here's a 1100 pixel version.

Canon 7D with Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens at 17mm, f11, 1/640, ISO 400, liveview, tripod.

I would be very grateful for comments and critique on this image.

Matt

Hi Matt,

A great technique! I really like this image. Perhaps try and get a bit more detail out of the Brown Hawker as it appears a little dark on my monitor.

The one thing I find a little distracting is the suns relection in the water. Maybe a little toning down would help, my eye just keeps getting drawn to it.

Shaun

I like this Matt - works well.

I'd agree with Shaun about the sun - perhaps a second shot 8 stops under gently blended on the right side in a separate layer in PS would tone things down a tad, but the shot concept works very well - nice one Matt

many thanks Shaun and Andy. I agree about the sun's reflection and tried several ways to reduce the glare but on each occasion it just didn't look quite right. I'll try your suggestion Andy.

Shaun, I was in 2 minds about whether to get more detail in the dragon or not. I have other versions where I used a reflector but the lights looks a bit artificial given the position of the sun. In the end I went for more of a silhouette on this version but I'd be interested to know if others would like to see more detail on the dragonfly.

Matt

I Like it Matt, but I do think that just a little fill from your reflector would have helped, not a lot mind....

Would conditions have allowed focus stacking? Still a really atmospheric image anyway. Very nice indeed.

Really works I think. I'd be interested to see a repost with AA's suggestion for the sun highlights, but a great shot as it stands

Now that's a good shot Great vision and technique.


Simon

Hi Matt

Very nice as posted - some good suggestions which might improve it a little. I like it!

David

I really like this shot, Matt. Works very well. Agree about the reflection of the sun, but Andy has given you a good suggestion to improve that. The Brown Hawker looks fine on my screen.

I like it very much Matt.Sun's reflection covered,the hawker looks fine to me as you can see that it is brown with a little detail and so not just a silhouette.Maybe just a little separation between the wings and the trees/reflection on the left hand side?

Phil.

Yes all been said. I find the level of the hedge in the background a little awkward as it crosses the line of the main subject. I love wide angle insect stuff.
JohnR

Cracking shot Matt


Nits covered already so wont go over them again.

I shot some Southern Hawkers in flight last year with an 18mm lens, they were just so nosey that they were coming to with in 4 to 5 feet of me.

Hi Matt,

I've given this image a little bit more thought as I like it so much.

One way of toning down the sun highlight would be to use a 50% Gray Gradient layer and use a medium brush setting the opacity low to say 5-8% and brush out to reveal the gray grad where you want it.

I hope this helps.

Shaun

Great looking image as is, Would like to see the reflector image as well to compare

Dave

many thanks for the comments. I've done a few fairly quick adjustments to dampen the highlights on the water and to lift the shadows on the dragonfly.

Here's a 1100 pixel version.

Hi Matt

I do prefer the second photo, looks just that bit more natural, a few subtle adjustments has made all the difference, the only thing that slightly detracts from the image for me is the lake foreground, I find my attention drawn to the bottom right of the image. Otherwise, I really like the technique you have used, hope you post some more like this.

Heath

A really different aspect to macro photography. Good imagination Matt. Really like this and prefer the second image.