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KrakenWaker
June 09, 2013
Really amazing shot, fantastic detail and colour. You should definitely add this to my dragonfly/damselfly project.
ricej2
July 11, 2013
Oh WOW...so jealous....I would love to get a shot like this! Absolutely Amazing! Well done!
OverTheMoon
July 10, 2015
If it weren't for talent like yours, we would never know the beauty that abounds in the macro world.
shema
October 18, 2015
so many insect macros are great detail but truly ugly, this is great detail and beautiful, love the tones and color too
sandytoes34287
December 25, 2015
The colors of small insects are amazing! you've done a fine job capturing them here.
LUVADVENTURE
January 15, 2018
One of the more awesome shot of a dragonfly that i’ve seen in VB. Well done.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this particular photo when I was visiting a nature reserve called Wicken Fen. It's a beautiful place only a few miles from where I live and is host to thousands of different insects, along with many species of birds. If you're very lucky you can also catch a sight of some wild Konik ponies that roam the marshes. A wonderland of nature and wonderful dragonflies.Time
It was about 1pm when I took this shot along with quite a few other shots. I'd been in the reserve most of the morning but had only spotted 2 or 3 dragonflies mid air until I spotted this one.Lighting
I'd like to say the sun was casting lovely shafts of gold but I can't. It was a bit of a cloudy day with occasional glimpses of sunshine, but with it being midday what sun there was was bright and overhead.Equipment
I'm a big bridge camera fan and I took this shot with my old Fuji HS10/HS11. A great camera which I used for about 3 years. I had attached to it a Raynox dcr250 clip on macro lens. If you're on a tight budget then it's a must in my opinion. I never carry a tripod with me but prefer to use what I can to steady my camera. In this case it was my trusty knee as the dragonfly was low down in the grass. Fortunately it stayed still long enough for me to get a string of shots from different angles.Inspiration
The inspiration for this shot is down to a love of nature and all things that are not quite so obvious. One of the most important things an interest in photography has given me is the joy of really opening my eyes to what is around. Corny and clichéd I know but true. There is so much to see everywhere you go and everyday you go there. I've developed an interest in insects and it's a great way to study them and learn more about them when you can photograph them. Beautiful creatures.Editing
The only post-processing was some slight exposure adjustment and cropping at the bottom to remove a bit of the grass leaf. Apart from that it's as it was seen through the lens.In my camera bag
Being a fan of bridge cameras I don't actually have a lot of equipment. Very limited is putting it mildly. I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 which I upgraded to from my old Fuji HS10. I have a Raynox dcr250 macro lens and various filters and have an ND filter attached virtually all the time. I'd like to say I have more equipment but I can't. A tight budget means having to make the most of what you can afford which is what I like to think I try to do.Feedback
The biggest piece of advice I could give is to open those eyes wide, look all around and don't be afraid to get down low. Have a good rummage in the hedgerows and undergrowth. There's a whole mini world going on in there. If you're a bit squeamish with insects just take some time out to watch them going about their business. Always busy but always fascinating. They're wonderful creatures that offer some fascinating shapes, sizes, colours and textures. You don't need to worry about going to exotic locations, just head off in to your garden or a local park/beauty spot and see what you can find. Photography is a great way to learn about your subject aswell. If there's a insect I don't recognise, I'll take a few shots and get a book out when I get home and see what I've found. Most of all just have fun and enjoy what you're doing.