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Fascinating beasts, aren't they?
I finally had the luck to get one which was not flying away when I came close. But unfortunately the background didn't make the dragonfly stand out. But at least you get a nice view of its back with the "hinges" of its wings:



Caught with Sigma 150/2.8 at f/5.6, 1/250 sec, ISO 200, -1EV, and no cropping

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Finally found some damselflies today. Seems quite late this year.

I have yet to sort through them, but have this... shell(?) first. It looks like it might have held a damselfly or dragonfly.



I wanted to take it home for a closer look, but as soon as I touched it, it disintegrated. If I find another, I'll have to remember to take it on the leaf.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Very nice additions to our collection, popo!
The last one looks like a large gnat
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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D300+assorted lenses

I wonder if it is young or otherwise still pumping its wings up. They didn't look otherwise damaged. It was very much alive but didn't seem fussed about the attention I was giving it. The regular blue ones didn't like to stick around. Wonder if its worth me taking the 400 out... they want working distance, I'll give them working distance...

Oh, the shell I've since found out is known as exuvia.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

This one was tiny, but was posing for me until I got careless and my drooping strap scared it away... taken at 1.4x magnification and cropped. Camera fill flash.


Alternate angle.


Sunlight only. This one was feasting.


Leftovers...


I've never seen a pink one before...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Still failing to get a decent shot of one in flight.


Not any better at stationary ones. I need a macro lens with about 3m working distance. Fly away if you even look at them.


Damselflies were a little more friendly...

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

That would be a lens than with at least 1000mm focal length
But you're almost there...

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Thinking more about the working distance, I wasn't at 1:1 anyway, but less. So a lesser focal length would be ok. The 100-400 at 400mm is usable with cropping as shown above. And remember I did use my telescope for "macro" before... 1325mm across the room for 0.6x. I'd need IS to handhold that though!

The flight one... it seemed to be covering an area, so I tried both a mix of continuous MF (it was too small and fast for AF) and also pre-focus waiting. The DoF is so thin though it's still very hit and miss.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Went down to the canal again... got bitten, again! Might remember this one from a previous trip.

Anyway, I didn't catch that bug with a camera this time as it didn't stick around once I noticed it. Maybe it didn't get as deep before I got rid of it.

I did find yet more damselflies, including this rather nice coloured one I haven't seen before. This one was even more skittish than the common type.





On the common ones, this pair wouldn't give me a clear shot...

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Same one as that I used in the assignment but this one was from further out. I did let myself play a bit more than normal on the processing of this one.

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Dragonflies still not cooperating with me... this was the only time I found one staying still. Tried to get round for a better angle and it was gone as soon as I moved.

Damselflies weren't very friendly either. I tried a different approach with them. I sat down on the grass in an area they were flying around in, and let them come to me. And the occasional slobbering dog. This also meant I could try out the angle finder, which helped to get a but of a lower perspective than normal but I've not got used to using the combo yet.




"No photos please!"


"Ok... go one then "

_________________
Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

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Nikon D90,SB-600,50mm f/1.8,55-200mm,18-105mm,300mm f/4 AF-IF ED
Flickr page

@TravisD: Flash? It's a bit too obvious.
@popo: The post-processing on the last but one looks a bit overdone to me in the colors.
__________________
Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D300+assorted lenses