Variable Dancer Chilling
I was walking slowly down a trail when I spotted this small lad flying around. It finally landed in the sun and allowed me to get within inches for this shot!...
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I was walking slowly down a trail when I spotted this small lad flying around. It finally landed in the sun and allowed me to get within inches for this shot!
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Canon EOS 80D
Aperture 56/10 ISO 320 Shutter 1/500 Focal Length 55/1 
Lindenwold, New Jersey, US
Jun, 2020Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken just a few minutes from my house at a local nature park in Lindenwold, NJ.Time
I really love this image because I set out near mid-day for a short trip around the local lake/nature park in hopes of captured some really cool macro shots. There were a few male Variable Dancers floating around, whisking too and fro in the warm late morning sun. One male finally landed and allowed me to get close enough to capture this shot at 11:08AM on June 14, 2020.Lighting
I really wanted a head on shot that allowed for even lighting overall but still had contrast. So with the aid of flash, I was able to highlight the light around where the damselfly was sitting while allowing for slightly darker, more contrasty light to fill the background and foreground.Equipment
This was shot on the Canon EOS 80D, with the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 with a macro convertor and built in flash. Nothing else was used.Inspiration
I really wanted to capture a shot of a dragonfly or damselfly head on after a friend managed to. The ability for such a shot to look magical despite it being off such a common, eastern ode really intrigued. I also longed for the challenge of creeping slowly closer by the second in order to capture the perfect angle and image without the damselfly, flying away.Editing
Put point blank, I did not do anything to this image other than up the contrast a tad, raise the exposure a bit, and sharpened the image. Other than that, it is untouched.In my camera bag
I always bring the Canon 75-300mm f4-5.6 and the Canon kit lens, 18-55mm f3.5-5.6.Feedback
Be prepared for shifting in lighting as forest floors are usually dark with random patches of bright light. Flash is a must for macro photography if you do not want to raise your iso any higher than absolutely necessary. Built in flash works okay and even better with a homemade diffuser. Always, always, always approach slowly and at their level. The image looks static otherwise and you risk your shadow or looming shape chasing the insect off. Although top down shots can be really nice. Use your judgement and do your best to not stress out the subject.
