Stalking
Perched and looking for dinner.
This dragonfly was sitting in our backyard after a spring storm blew through. I had been watching for an hour or...
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Perched and looking for dinner.
This dragonfly was sitting in our backyard after a spring storm blew through. I had been watching for an hour or so. It kept going around the backyard looking, catching and returning. I tried several times to get a shot head on and when I attempted it would decide it was time to fly and find something else. However, it always came back to the same branch and sat in the same direction. So as they say in the Navy, I stayed to it's starboard rear quarter.
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This dragonfly was sitting in our backyard after a spring storm blew through. I had been watching for an hour or so. It kept going around the backyard looking, catching and returning. I tried several times to get a shot head on and when I attempted it would decide it was time to fly and find something else. However, it always came back to the same branch and sat in the same direction. So as they say in the Navy, I stayed to it's starboard rear quarter.
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NIKON D5600
Aperture f/11 ISO 1600 Shutter 1/125 Focal Length 4000/10 
Cumming, Georgia, US
Dec, 2019Views
63
Likes
Awards
Zenith Award
Spring 21 Award
2020 Choice Award
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Behind The Lens
Location
This was shot at one of my frequent year round parks. White Street Park in Suwanee, GA. This park has a nice nature trail, a section that has orchard trees, that when in season are free to harvest. It also has a section that is for farming plots, that are privately maintained.Time
This was taken late morning on a fairly calm day.Lighting
It was a high ceiling for clouds of very thin wisps. So a very natural and bright light,Equipment
I shot with a Nikon D5600 25MP Camera using a Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD lens. I use a Vanguard Alta Pro 263AT Tripod with a Vanguard Alta BH-250 Ball Head. This was shot at 400mm, ISO 1600, F11 at 1/125 second. No Flash, No Filter(s). Shot in Manual Mode.Inspiration
I had just been walking around the park and saw this critter flying off and returning within seconds, maybe 4 or 5 times. Each time it flew off it would return and stay maybe 30 or so seconds and then repeat. What I found interesting, was it would return to the same branch and facing the same direction. This went on for about an hour.Editing
Loaded into Lightroom and cropped, adjusted color and lighting. Then loaded into Topaz Labs DeNoise to remove the noise.In my camera bag
I normally carrying a Nikon D5600 and a D500 cameras. A Nikkor 30mm 1.8, a Nikkor 40mm 2.8 Micro, and the Tamron 18-400mm lens. I carry Circular Polarizer filters for all lenses. In addition, I carry a good selection of filters for multiple shooting occasions.Feedback
I have been a photographer for about 57 years. I love this hobby. I have used it while in Junior High and High School, throughout my many years as a U.S. Marine and after. I do miss shooting film most of all. I guess what I am trying to say is get out there and shoot. If your camera is not on your mind and in easy reach this is not even a hobby. Think about what you see each and every day, think of what it would look like as a photo. As a photographer you create art, you create the photo, you express your emotion to the viewer. Take classes whether online or in person. The internet is full of resources. Pay attention to the technical aspect of photography, as it will teach you how to take a photo. What you do NOT want to do is become a "Technical Photographer". Use your imagination, remember you are an artist. Train mind, body and soul. THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE IS: Just have fun.
