Pendent Dragonfly
Pendent resting on a grass seed stalk.
Pendent resting on a grass seed stalk.
Read less
Read less
Aug, 2015Views
4132
Likes
Awards
Lucky 3 Award
Winner in Dragonfly Wings Photo Challenge
Featured
Contest Finalist in Sharpness Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Absolute Masterpiece
Magnificent Capture
Superior Skill
Outstanding Creativity
All Star
Genius
Emotions
Impressed
Top Ranks
Top 30 rank week 1
Top 20 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 2
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
On occasion a Halloween Pendent Dragonfly will visit my backyard so I left a small patch grass growing wild to attract the dragonflies. This female was hanging around for a few days then early one I saw her in the grass patch. I had to lay on my belly using a thick towel to give the lens support and protect it from the heavy dew on the ground. I was wet from the dew but I was a small price to pay for getting the shot I was after.Time
The shot was taken in the first few hours of sunrise.Lighting
The sun was still low in the morning sky and it was lighting the wings with perfect golden hour light. The low angle of the sun was giving the dragonfly wings the warm look plus extra glowing of the golden veins I was trying to achieve. Just being a few inches off the ground the grass was a nice giving bounce back light to the underside the dragonfly.Equipment
The camera was a D800e with the Nikkor 300mm F2.8g VRII and I only used a towel folded a few times to hold the lens just a few inches off the ground.Inspiration
The Halloween Pendent Dragonfly is my favorite to photograph as the wings are oversized and mimics a butterfly in flight and at rest. The females wings are black and amber with golden veins. The female is a little larger than male and the more photogenic and if you do not like her pose just wait she is always changing her wing positions.Editing
I use Photoshop CC along with Lightroom CC plus and I still use a very old Microsoft Photo Suite 10 only to clone and brush color in spots. This photo needed some grass stalks clone out little bit color cloning and just the basic color correcting and slider adjustments in Lightroom to make it popIn my camera bag
D810 and D800e with Nikkor lenses 16-35 F4.0G VR, 24-70 F2.8G, 85mm F1.4G, TC-14E III and 300mm F2.8G VRII. I also carry a flash with a magnifying lens and I never travel without a good tripod and monopod.Feedback
I would advise using time shutter release with delay on mirror lockup on a tripod. Always use the lowest ISO plus a flash with a magnifying lens during low light times. The DOF is always important so be aware and use the right F-Stop to gain maximum DOF for subject plus keep the shutter speed high enough to still freeze action. I know it is a balancing act to get the Speed plus good DOF at the lowest ISO but It is rewarding when it all comes together. My next project is getting in focus dragonflies just before landing with legs stretched out reaching for the perching twig and I am getting close to making this happen.
