Here Be Dragonflies

[Scottes]

The birds were uncooperative, (as is The Editor) but I got some dragonflies - my first.

http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/Dragonfly_8616.jpg
http://www.itsanadventure.com/postimages/Dragonfly_8629.jpg

I was wishing that I had my 500D or extension tubes, but I had to make do with the 100-400 alone.

[PacAce]

Heck, Scott, what are you complaining about. I think they came out beautifully, especially the 2nd one. The subject (and the object on which it rests) is nicely in focus and very sharp and the background is pleasantly blurred. And the colors.....just absolutely marvelous! :shock:

[PhotosGuy]

Very nice shots.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Geez.. they land??

Very nice!

[Conk]

Wow ! Excellent photos. :D

[LazyPhotographer]

Those are great... ya gotta love the 100-400! :D

[Nana]

Nice Scottes. :D
It's cool to see dragonfly that close and pictured from front.
Good shots! :D

[marie]

Heck, Scott, what are you complaining about. I think they came out beautifully, especially the 2nd one. The subject (and the object on which it rests) is nicely in focus and very sharp and the background is pleasantly blurred. And the colors.....just absolutely marvelous! :shock:




I agree with all which is said above
these are really wonderful

8) :)

[JZaun]

Nice DF's Scottes,, almost as good as a Goldfinch :?



JZ :) :)

[stoneylonesome]

WOW! fantastic, those are really tough to capture, all I ever see is the blur of them as the fly past. Nice job.. :D

[ssim]

These are great Scott. I tried a couple of these when I was away and they didn't come out nearly as nice.

Nicely done.

[PhotosGuy]

CyberDyneSystems: Geez.. they land??

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Scottes]

Well, thanks everyone! I certainly wasn't expecting this. I guess that I still had my birder hat on, and these were just a little fling with whatever came along. (I'm such a photo-slut.)

I think that I'll have to go back and re-edit these - I honestly didn't think they were that good, so I didn't spend much time on them really.


And to note - I wasn't complaining about the photos, I was complaining that I'm not smart enough to be better prepared. I've been travelling too light lately - the yellowleg shots from last week were well within range of a 20mm tube, maybe even a 36mm. These dragonflies were easily within such range, and the Sigma 100mm Macro would have kicked some butt. I need to carry a little bit more gear.

[PhotosGuy]

I honestly didn't think they were that good, so I didn't spend much time on them really.

OK, so they weren't "GREAT!", But, they were "Excellent", given the difficult subjects, which gives you extra points from the Romanian judge! :lol:

As to, "I need to carry a little bit more gear.", I can see it now...
Looking for birds – spot dragonfly – change configuration – dragonfly takes off - bird lands - change configuration – bird takes off – dragonfly lands - change configuration - dragonfly takes off - bird lands - change configuration… repeat ad nauseum!

So, in your future I see a second body set up for close-ups, tripod, a “gun bearer” to carry your 3 cases of equipment, beaters to herd the wildlife toward you, an elephant with a shooting platform for mobility, & Gunga Din just to complete the picture!
:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Scottes]

So, in your future I see a second body set up for close-ups...

Oh, you laugh... Not too long ago I would trudge off with tons of stuff. I've got a LowePro Omni Trekker, and I'd carry almost everything. My only decision was "100-400 or 70-200?" The bag weighed 32 pounds. Plus a rather large tripod and a humungous head. I was lugging well over 40 pounds of gear.

Well that sucked.

Lately I've been traveling light - the OmniTrekker stays in the car, and I take what I think I'm going to use that moment - camera, lens, maybe monopod, maybe tripod. And I've been paying for it.

So I think that I'll dust off the photo vest and go back to using that. As long as the weather cooperates. Then I'll be prepared for most things, without carrying 40 pounds around.

[PhotosGuy]

Oh, you laugh...

Yeah :lol: :lol: :lol: 'cause I know just what you're going through!

This is what I used to carry when I was being paid (plus a tripod):

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/Case_outside.jpg

The top was filled with all sorts of stuff that I "might need" 700 miles from home:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/Case_Top.jpg

For personal pics, I'd usually just hang one body with a 20mm on one end of the cam strap, & another with a 70-150 close focus lens on the other end & leave the bag at home. (Why not two cam straps you ask? Well, I just thought it looked cool!) :wink:

Then I added an “Aspak” (big, photo fanny pack) which would hold several lenses & film, and… and…

So I have to admit that I’m a gear slut, too! It’s all part of the fun, right?