MikeCeglady
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Contest Finalist in Springtime Macro Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in The Extraordinary In The Ordinary Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Plants And Critters Photo Contest
Runner Up in Depth Of Field Photo Contest
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MikeCeglady
June 22, 2014
Thanks, I had to contort myself to get the background just right, but it was worth it!
MikeCeglady
June 23, 2014
Thank you, I took this in that late afternoon sun that makes everything glow...
MikeCeglady
June 24, 2014
Thanks! I chased this pair around for about half an hour to get this shot! By the way, love the name.
peggycatrea
March 24, 2015
I have a special connection to dragonflies, my sister loved them, and while living in Vermont, they would light down on her shoulders legs, arms. She passed away 8 years ago, and I see them everywhere. I love them, and have shot a few. Beautifully done here Mike...just stunning...
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Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo on a summer afternoon in Wesley Chapel, Florida. I live in a community that has a number of large lakes which usually have some kind of wildlife hanging around. I had nothing planned for the rest of the day after I got off of work, so I just grabbed my camera and went out hunting.Time
It was late afternoon; the sun was just above the treeline.Lighting
The light was coming in at about a 30 degree angle, and the damselflies were on the west end of one of the lakes. I had to chase them around a bit to get them to land favorably in the light and within the right distance, and get down to nearly water level to get the reflections in the background abstract enough to keep them from being distracting, while making sure the pair was on the blue of the water and not the black of a shadow.Equipment
I used a Nikon D3200 body, and a Sigma 18-250mm lens at 250mm. No flash, reflectors or tripod, though I had to bump my sensitivity up a bit so I could maintain a fast shutter speed while shooting handheld.Inspiration
I hadn't set out to specifically take a photo of damselflies mating, I was out hunting for whatever popped up. When I happened to see these two, I knew it was an opportunity to capture something special that you don't see every day. I try to keep an eye out for smaller things that most people walk by and never notice. Beauty truly is right under our feet.Editing
The post-processing here was in Photoshop, and included adjustments in clarity and vibrance, a cropping to balance the frame with a good amount of negative space on the right side, and some curves adjustment. I actually took about 50 photos of this pair and this particular one was the sharpest with the best reflections in the background.In my camera bag
I spend a good amount of time on the road, so I travel light. I have a LowePro Slingshot 200 backpack that houses my D3200 with the Sigma 18-250 DC Macro/Zoom lens (which I use for nearly everything). I also carry an AF-S DX 1.8 Nikkor 35mm prime, a Nikon SB700 Speedlite, Vello AF extension tubes (36mm, 20mm, 12mm), a Nikon IR remote, several Sandisk 32Gb memory cards, and a Manfrotto MK293A4 tripod (which I hang from the strap). Oh, and bug spray. Don't forget the bug spray!Feedback
Always pay attention to your background! A subtle movement and small background change can make or break an image. And if you think you have the shot and that you absolutely nailed it, take 10 more frames. Small body movements or breeze can lend just that little bit of unwanted blur and make you regret not covering yourself with extra frames.