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GailFulkerson

Just Resting For A Moment

Close-up of a dragonfly wing

Close-up of a dragonfly wing
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Apr, 2014

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Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in the gazebo that forms one side of the south facing deck at my sister- and brother-in-law's home on the shores of Lake Erie in Ontario Canada.

Time

It was late afternoon on a warm and humid September day. This gorgeous and very large dragonfly landed on some foliage covering the lattice work where we were all relaxing in the gazebo.

Lighting

There was high thin cloud in the sky, dappled shade from the trees and the shade created by the shake roof on the gazebo, that lit the scene and my subject.

Equipment

I used a Canon T2i and a Canon EF 100mm 1:2.8 macro lens. I did not use a tripod, but sat on the coffee table and held the camera, which I kept steady with an elbow on my knee. I depressed the shutter as I held my breath at the end of an exhale. I had read somewhere that a person is at their steadiest at this moment when using a rifle or a camera. It seems to be good advice.

Inspiration

I love dragonflies and was thrilled to have this lovely specimen join us for a time in the gazebo. He or she seemed to need a rest in the shade as much as we did. I was also trying out my newly acquired macro lens and I could not pass up this opportunity to get some close up images.

Editing

I did some post processing using Lightroom 4. I do not recall what I did exactly, but I probably adjusted the exposure and contrast, increased the clarity a touch, and adjusted the colour saturation.

In my camera bag

I have my Canon T2i, an EFS 18-55mm lens, a 50mm 1:1.8 lens, the EF 100mm 1:2.8 macro lens, and my most favourite one of all, the Canon zoom lens EF-S 55-250mm 1:4 - 5.6 IS. It's so versatile. I switched out my neck strap for strap designed for range finders and binoculars. The weight of the camera is spread out over my back rather than my neck. My husband bought it for me when he saw how uncomfortable I was carrying my camera on the neck strap.

Feedback

Take tons of pictures of things that interest you, take some photography workshops either classroom or online, and get yourself some good photo editing software and learn about that, too. I like Lightroom and have used it for about 3 years. Join photo sharing sites like ViewBug. Have FUN learning what your camera, the lens(es) and the editing software can do. I started out taking all of my photos using the auto features on the camera and worked my way up to manual and RAW, and I took my time doing it. I still have a lot to learn about this craft, but I'm in no hurry. Take photos of whatever it is that interests YOU and share them, because your spirit shines through those images, just as the spirit of every photographer shines brightly through the photographs they choose to share with the the rest of us.

See more amazing photos, follow GailFulkerson

GailFulkerson

GailFulkerson

Just Resting For A Moment

Close-up of a dragonfly wing

Behind The Lens

See more amazing photos, follow GailFulkerson

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