Posted by Sean Bolton on August 3, 2006 at 6:07 PM
Hi All
Canon 5D, 180mm f3.5L macro, ISO 250, f8, 1/400th, tripod, AI servo focus (centre point expanded mode), cropped to approx 8Megapixels.
The warm and sunny weather returned today so after work I headed off to my local dragonfly hangout for a 2nd attempt at some Southern Hawkers in flight.
My approach is to assess where the males are patrolling, then sit and wait and sooner or later they will come over and check you out as they fly up and down their patch. In fact many times they fly too close and they are inside the minimum focus distance of my lens, maybe I should try some wide angle shots next time.
They are very flightly, but just occasionally they will hover in one spot for 2 or 3 seconds, just long enough to get the camera on them and focus locked (so long as I have manually focused to roughly the correct distance before activating the camera's AF).
In an hours session I got about 3 reasonable shots. Frustratingly they seemed to stop patrolling regularly after about 7pm. Very annoying when the conditions were ideal for photography. I think I need a morning session, maybe this weekend.
No flash this time, I caught the dragonflies in the sunlight so plenty of light for this type of shot.
cheers
Sean
p.s. for the dragonfly afficionado's there is a variation on this shot here ;
Very nicely captured and well positioned in the frame.I feel the wing movement adds to the image also.
Looks like he's even smiling for the camera too
Found your accompanying words useful too,particularly the fact that they're harder to come by after 7pm.I shall certainly remember that when next out specifically looking for dragonflies.
Posted by Sean Bolton on August 4, 2006 at 8:20 AM
Hi Justin
Yes I have found these Southern Hawkers to become less active towards the end of the evening, but on the plus side there is more chance of finding one resting on a perch somewhere. Also the pond I was at gets quite shady after 7pm so maybe the lack of sunlight has an effect too.
HHello Sean
I'm busy with 1200 images of the local agricultural show (and HRH), but still got time to add my admiration for this shot.
There are certainly some excellent images coming from this site.
Best wishes
Phil
Hi Sean,I have spent many hours getting dragonflies in flight so now how difficult it is to get one this good,well done,have never used tripod myself with dragons ,think it would slow me down
Regards
Barrie
Posted by Larry Corbett on August 4, 2006 at 5:05 PM
Hi Sean
Really enjoyed seeing this shot, I spent an hour or 2 last month by a pond with my 1d2 & 300mm f2.8 and never got a single shot of either the emporer or broad bodied chaser that kept buzzing me, to get a shot as good as this takes remarkable skill and effort not to mention persistance and patience..it was well worth all the hard work..hats off to you!
Also nice to think that the 5d is capable of such fantastic shots, now i know i've made a sound investment
Posted by David Kjaer on August 5, 2006 at 3:37 AM
Hi Sean
Really nice - had a brief session with these last week and never got an acceptable image!
David
Posted by Colin Pickett on August 5, 2006 at 9:11 AM
Hi Sean
A great shot of a difficult to catch Dragonfly I’ve spent many hours trying to capture them myself. They have an amazing energy system that enables them to fly and patrol for hours at a time only resting when the sun disappears. My only minor nit is I prefer them flying towards me, this one looks as if he's flying away .
A difficult shot and one that takes great patience, you have done very well, the bg is great, only minor nit is that I would have prefered a slightly more frontal viewpoint...
Yes I have found these Southern Hawkers to become less active towards the end of the evening, but on the plus side there is more chance of finding one resting on a perch somewhere. Also the pond I was at gets quite shady after 7pm so maybe the lack of sunlight has an effect too.
Discussion
10 repliesCanon 5D, 180mm f3.5L macro, ISO 250, f8, 1/400th, tripod, AI servo focus (centre point expanded mode), cropped to approx 8Megapixels.
The warm and sunny weather returned today so after work I headed off to my local dragonfly hangout for a 2nd attempt at some Southern Hawkers in flight.
My approach is to assess where the males are patrolling, then sit and wait and sooner or later they will come over and check you out as they fly up and down their patch. In fact many times they fly too close and they are inside the minimum focus distance of my lens, maybe I should try some wide angle shots next time.
They are very flightly, but just occasionally they will hover in one spot for 2 or 3 seconds, just long enough to get the camera on them and focus locked (so long as I have manually focused to roughly the correct distance before activating the camera's AF).
In an hours session I got about 3 reasonable shots. Frustratingly they seemed to stop patrolling regularly after about 7pm. Very annoying when the conditions were ideal for photography. I think I need a morning session, maybe this weekend.
No flash this time, I caught the dragonflies in the sunlight so plenty of light for this type of shot.
cheers
Sean
p.s. for the dragonfly afficionado's there is a variation on this shot here ;
www.seanbolton.co.uk/uknp2006/southernhawker3.jpg
I couldn't decide which one to post....
Very nicely captured and well positioned in the frame.I feel the wing movement adds to the image also.
Looks like he's even smiling for the camera too
Found your accompanying words useful too,particularly the fact that they're harder to come by after 7pm.I shall certainly remember that when next out specifically looking for dragonflies.
Yes I have found these Southern Hawkers to become less active towards the end of the evening, but on the plus side there is more chance of finding one resting on a perch somewhere. Also the pond I was at gets quite shady after 7pm so maybe the lack of sunlight has an effect too.
cheers
Sean
I'm busy with 1200 images of the local agricultural show (and HRH), but still got time to add my admiration for this shot.
There are certainly some excellent images coming from this site.
Best wishes
Phil
Regards
Barrie
Really enjoyed seeing this shot, I spent an hour or 2 last month by a pond with my 1d2 & 300mm f2.8 and never got a single shot of either the emporer or broad bodied chaser that kept buzzing me, to get a shot as good as this takes remarkable skill and effort not to mention persistance and patience..it was well worth all the hard work..hats off to you!
Also nice to think that the 5d is capable of such fantastic shots, now i know i've made a sound investment
Really nice - had a brief session with these last week and never got an acceptable image!
David
A great shot of a difficult to catch Dragonfly I’ve spent many hours trying to capture them myself. They have an amazing energy system that enables them to fly and patrol for hours at a time only resting when the sun disappears. My only minor nit is I prefer them flying towards me, this one looks as if he's flying away .
It has taken incredible technique and I guess alot of patience to get this image, but boy has it paid off.
Really super image and the wing movement just adds that finishing touch.
well done
Regards
Rob
Thanks Sean.