Keeled male

Keeled Skimmer
Finally managed to separate the background a bit after 5 visits to the same site. Had to revert to stacking though.
Red in back is sphagnum moss spp, which is essential in this species acid bog habitat.
D7000
Sigma 150mm macro

400th sec @f9
two stacks. Monopod.
PSP and CZM
70% crop.
Cheers
JR

Large version really pops, lovely shot

Great image, and the stacking lifts it to a higher level.

David

Could do with being bigger in frame , for my taste, but excellent stacking technique. In two minds about the BG. On balance I would prefer it to be in focus as well, but others will no doubt disagree.

Thanks all
You are right David - detail in the back and its "messy"
Can't win.
As I said, I spent 5 daysand visits to get rid of the background. Its worse than 3D
JR

Agree with David T on being a bit larger if frame. The BG is a little mesy and the group of green stems right behind the dragons head do not add to the image. I am guessing the angle you took the shot at was stood using the monopod therby the sphagnum is in the BG. Perhaps a lower position would have got another type of BG.....or would it have meant a stomach position! Great stacking and the detail is superb.

Nick.

Nick - there are problems with this subject. Firstly the site is a wet floating bog Secondly , these males never land on perches which are isolated from the backgound heather and asphodel and the ones they do land or are abot 6 inches off the ground. The ordinary skimmers usually land on the ground. If the Keeled acted like Chasers there wouldn't be a problem.
If I could get low enough I wouldn't get up again. Thats why I went back repeatedly and had to do the stacking with the biggest aperture I could get away with.
Cheers
JR

John

Clever use of stacking enhances the image.