Dragonfly Sex - from all angles

[Loupey]

While the first 3 are of the same couple, I don't recall if the 4th one was of the same pair.

Anyway, quite a mosquito bloom going up right now. Dragonflies of all types have converged for a party of eating, fighting, and mating.

I'm rather pleased with the first two here. The lighting was perfect. I knew I couldn't get the female in focus at the same time so I shot these in a way that makes "sense" visually. I hope so at least - please let me know.

The other two images are really to round out the series. I don't feel they worked too well.

Thanks!

[Knight]

They get no privacy from you do they Loupey lol As you said the lighting is working it`s magic here. Loupey i have learned of a trick used by many Pros and its a simple one but i have not tried it yet my PS skills are not at that level yet , it consist of taking two images , one of each dragon in focus and merging the two images together. One drawback is that a tripod would have to be used but i think you may be able to without with practice hehe :thumbsup:

[AmberC]

Hmmm... how'd you get them to land?! They never stay still... at least the ones in Virginia do not lol and I can never get a good enough shot cause I am just not fast enough to keep them in the shot!

Great images!!

Amber

[nps474]

These are stunning. I have never seen dragons captured under such perfect lighting conditions....just fantastic.

[Loupey]

Knight - Nothing is off limits for me Thanks for the info about the photo-merge. No thanks tho - too much manipulation for me. Besides, for a shot like this, the image would look too contrived IMO. The image would go: out of focus, in focus, out of focus, in focus - would look weird? Still, there could be sound applications for it elsewhere

Amber - thanks. Perhaps the Ohio ones are just too lazy You're probably seeing them as they go to and from their egg laying sites. Try to follow them to their water source where the females need to deposit her eggs (below water). If they are not harrassed too much by the other creatures, they can actually rest for quite some time.

NPS - thanks for the kind words. Lighting, subject, background, equipment doesn't all come together too often. I was glad to get it when the sun reached the right spot (for about 20 minutes).

[nps474]

Here is an article on the methods Knight was discussing (compositing macro images in PS)
http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/article2.htm

The same writer happens to be an outstanding bug photographer (my favorite)

http://photo.net/photodb/member-phot...02&include=all

His wasps and dragons (espec. portraits) are out of this world.

[polarbeardiggers]

great great great shots,everything was on your side for sure,such great detail is so fun to watch definetly eye candy for the day,i'm full now,.

[Canon_Bob]

WOW! Fantastic shots Loupey! Talk about nailing the DOF!

[Bevb]

Outstanding as usual Loupey! everything goes together brilliantly here, and the detail is amazing, along with the superb lighting.

[Bevb]

Here is an article on the methods Knight was discussing (compositing macro images in PS)
http://www.mplonsky.com/photo/article2.htm

The same writer happens to be an outstanding bug photographer (my favorite)

http://photo.net/photodb/member-phot...02&include=all

His wasps and dragons (espec. portraits) are out of this world.

Thanks for this links nps474, there is amaing work here, and i can get some good tips here for my Dog and animal photography!! excellent.

[Loupey]

Bev, Bob, polarbear - thanks for looking and thank you very much for the comments. When I got got home and saw the series that the first image came from, I knew it was one of those rare, special moments that I happened to stumble across.

nps - thanks for the link. He is quite a photographer and now I see where you get your inspiration. Quite the "face" guy he is