damselfly shots with 60mm + mpe-65

[macro junkie]

Damselfly - canon 60mm..Im pleased with this shot and i dont say That often..I took today in the full miday sun,i had to work really hard,,if i remember right fec was on - 2,yep..a hole 2 stops under exposed..as well as that i had Exposure Bias Value on -1EV..
f/8
shutter speed 200
iso 200

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2191/2493401214_287808349f_o.jpg

now a few soft shots from mpe-65.not very happy with these tbh.there pretty soft where i forgot to change the apputure after shooting body shots.:rolleyes:

5:1 life size at f/13 :oops::oops::rolleyes:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2247/2493205830_7426365629_o.jpg

3:1 life size at f/11

not 100% happy with this image..the blown out spots in the background spoil it somewhat..i was just happy to get 1 of these critters at 3:1 life size.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2492304339_4418391a1d_o.jpg

[racketman]

the full body shot is certainly well exposed but it has to be said there are an awful lot of very similar images around - need to find them doing something a bit different or otherwise find a new angle on these much photographed beauties. Even the classic heart shaped mating photos look generic now.

[macro junkie]

the full body shot is certainly well exposed but it has to be said there are an awful lot of very similar images around - need to find them doing something a bit different or otherwise find a new angle on these much photographed beauties. Even the classic heart shaped mating photos look generic now.
alot of people maybe shooting them but i didn't have them in my portfolio ;) i have now :) these are the 1st damselfly shots i have ever shot..:) i need to biuld up my folder.hoping to find dragon flys also this year..iv never shot them either.

[LindaB]

Gorgeous full body shot MJ - Im not so keen on the face shots but hey, I have taken loads of rubbish shots lol.

People may well be shooting/posting lots of damsel shots, and I fully understand how excited you are at photographing them for the first time, but you can never see too many of these shots, they really dont get boring. Its good to see how different people take these shots with different set ups and how their post processing affects the ultimate result, so none ever look the same, so I have to disagree with Toby Im afraid.

Keep shooting them and keep posting them, your shot really is superb in colour, lighting, composition and detail.

By the way, changing the subject altogether, I saw your post in the 40D thread in the other section - I didnt realise you were saving up for one, but I have made the decision to get one now, as I am so impressed with what I have seen and read about it. I just love the colour and smoothness of the shots being posted on here, and apparently the AF points are very accurate, which is even more important in macro. So, go get one too :-)

Linda

[macro junkie]

Gorgeous full body shot MJ - Im not so keen on the face shots but hey, I have taken loads of rubbish shots lol.

People may well be shooting/posting lots of damsel shots, and I fully understand how excited you are at photographing them for the first time, but you can never see too many of these shots, they really dont get boring. Its good to see how different people take these shots with different set ups and how their post processing affects the ultimate result, so none ever look the same, so I have to disagree with Toby Im afraid.

Keep shooting them and keep posting them, your shot really is superb in colour, lighting, composition and detail.

By the way, changing the subject altogether, I saw your post in the 40D thread in the other section - I didnt realise you were saving up for one, but I have made the decision to get one now, as I am so impressed with what I have seen and read about it. I just love the colour and smoothness of the shots being posted on here, and apparently the AF points are very accurate, which is even more important in macro. So, go get one too :-)

Linda
yer i probely will..i like how its better at higher iso..just need to save up some more money:)

[eccles]

I looked at the first shot and thought "Oh that's really nice.". Damselflies may be two a penny but a shot at this sort of magnification and detail is always welcome for me. Those jaws are really something too. It's a male azure damselfly by the way. :)

[macro junkie]

I looked at the first shot and thought "Oh that's really nice.". Damselflies may be two a penny but a shot at this sort of magnification and detail is always welcome for me. Those jaws are really something too. It's a male azure damselfly by the way. :)
thanks for iding it for me.how do u know males from females?

[macro junkie]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/2493795286_d12ec0d96d_o.jpg

[johnkermit1]

nice shots MJ. i never grow tired of seeing shots like these, but i agree that they are very popular subjects.

[macro junkie]

nice shots MJ. i never grow tired of seeing shots like these, but i agree that they are very popular subjects.
the forum goes through stages..at 1st it was bees and wasps..now its damselfly's :D soon it will be grasshoppers and crickets..:)

im looking forward to the dragon.im also looking forward to giving the mug shots another go..this time with a small aperture..f/13.what was i thinking :rolleyes: i got a long way to go to get mug shots like brians.

[johnkermit1]

you are capable of great shots MJ. all it takes is a good opportunity, and for me, a subject that stays still..

[macro junkie]

female mating

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/2493904414_00d7ed500a_o.jpg

[LordV]

Womderful series Scott- esp like #1 and the red damselfyl shots but the face shots are good too :)
Brian V.

[macro junkie]

Womderful series Scott- esp like #1 and the red damselfyl shots but the face shots are good too :)
Brian V.
the face shots are crap..soft as ****...back to the drawing board:)


heres another one from yesterday

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2494318240_05c03a08ea_o.jpg

[alliec]

All good shots MJ, face shots are not bad at all, still plenty of detail there and look plenty sharp enough. Love that last one.

[macro junkie]

im still waiting patiently for u to give me run down on this hand stacking..mayby a couple screen shots on how u do it.:)

[alliec]

im still waiting patiently for u to give me run down on this hand stacking..mayby a couple screen shots on how u do it.:)

How do you grab a screen shot?

[macro junkie]

How do you grab a screen shot?
next to scroll lock its called prt scr..then go to photoshop..go to new the paste it on to the blank layer..:)..lately your images are amazing..teach me how to do it :) please:) brian told me but it dont make sense cause im a retard.

[eccles]

MJ, sex determination of damselflies depends to a certain extent on the species. Azure males have much more of the azure colouration than females. Large red females have yellow bands near the abdominal segment joints. But you can always tell the sex of a damselfly by looking carefully at the first abdominal segment near the thorax. If there is a lump on the underside there, it is the male secondary sex organ. It deposits sperm there in preparation for joining the female in a mating loop. You can sometimes see it tuck its tail up to do so while in flight.
When in the mating loop it is the male who clasps the female's neck while the female tucks her tail up to join with the male.
Many damselfly species remain in tandem while the female deposits fertilised eggs under vegetation in the pond. By doing so, the male is making sure the kids are his. :)

[johnkermit1]

yep, that last one is a real good one MJ.

[red_fan]

Love the close-ups of the large red.

How far away were you when you took these shots? Have you cropped them at all? I find getting close to them when they are on there own difficult enough, never mind when they are mating! :-)

S

[macro junkie]

Love the close-ups of the large red.

How far away were you when you took these shots? Have you cropped them at all? I find getting close to them when they are on there own difficult enough, never mind when they are mating! :-)

S
cropping?dont insult me :lol: lol jk..yer i never crop..cause i use mpe-65 if i want more mag i just twist the lens..its bloody great..:)

i was about 1 inch away from subject on the 4:1 shots..:)

timing has alot to do with it.and u need to be good at stalking..i know what u mean tho..put it this way..if u want good close ups dont shoot them in the midday sun..:D

u need to go out in the morning before sun rise..i had them on my finger today,,that was only because it was cold out and it would rather sit on my warm hand.if u can find a place that has a few there all u need to do is go there in the morning and at night. evenually your get some close ups

[newb2pro_1day_or_so]

That is just amazing, wow. Great shots. What's the difference between a damselfly and a dragonfly? Are dragonflies a lot bigger? If so, I saw one last week and scared it off.