Posted by Barry Southon on June 26, 2010 at 10:39 PM
I believe this to be a Black Saddlebag (Tramea binotata)you guy's with your superb efforts with Damsels and Dragonflys have done the business on me. I'm chasing them all over the show. Just desperate to know how the hell do you get them positioned so that the entire image is sharp? I've been providing one hell of a meal for all the other insects.
Posted by Andy Astbury on June 27, 2010 at 3:25 AM
Impressive beasty Barry, and another well processed image - punchy, good colour saturation and contrast - good job
Using a 180 macro to create an image PoV like this and get everything sharp Barry is impossible in one shot - focus stacking is the simplest technique to use.
Try going out really early in the morning looking for what are called tenerals - these are fresh dragons that have just emerged and are in the process of drying out; they can't fly as there wings are still soft.
The secret is to get the main plane of the subject parallel with the sensor plane - that way you make the absolute most out of your available depth of field, which in your case on a 1d3 will be from an aperture of f16 max (I think that's the diffraction limit for that camera but you need to check).
If you find a teneral be careful not to knock the stem it's on; if it falls or gets dislodged it's as good as dead.
Also remember that for the most part dragons can't fly when the ambient temperature is below 9 or 10 degrees, and they struggle to take off if they're covered in dew - so early mornings.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. All good stuff all of which I'll invoke. I'm starting to feel that I have a far better idea of how to work now and I believe its starting to show.
I really appreciate the help.
Posted by Simon Litten on June 27, 2010 at 4:57 PM
Discussion
6 repliesCanon 1D3 Canon 180mm ringflash ISO400 AE manual Handheld.
Critique,Comments or Advice most welcomed.
Thanks for looking
Using a 180 macro to create an image PoV like this and get everything sharp Barry is impossible in one shot - focus stacking is the simplest technique to use.
Try going out really early in the morning looking for what are called tenerals - these are fresh dragons that have just emerged and are in the process of drying out; they can't fly as there wings are still soft.
The secret is to get the main plane of the subject parallel with the sensor plane - that way you make the absolute most out of your available depth of field, which in your case on a 1d3 will be from an aperture of f16 max (I think that's the diffraction limit for that camera but you need to check).
If you find a teneral be careful not to knock the stem it's on; if it falls or gets dislodged it's as good as dead.
Also remember that for the most part dragons can't fly when the ambient temperature is below 9 or 10 degrees, and they struggle to take off if they're covered in dew - so early mornings.
Hope this helps Barry
Thank you for taking the time to comment. All good stuff all of which I'll invoke. I'm starting to feel that I have a far better idea of how to work now and I believe its starting to show.
I really appreciate the help.
Simon
cracking shot of one we dont get over here
I have been following your progress and the improvement has been rapid
As usual Andys advice is spot on
You have 3 or 4 dust bunnies in the shot
Looking forward to seeing the next instalment