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Steve Maxson
07-14-2009, 12:29 PM
This is a Common Baskettail (Epitheca cynosura) emerging from its larval skin. This is one of the first species of dragonfly to emerge (usually in late May) in northern Minnesota. The white "threads" are breathing tubes. The dragonfly hangs like this for about 30 minutes while the legs harden. The colors of emerging and newly emerged dragonflies are are quite bland. I removed some flash-generated specular highlights. 40D, Canon 180 f/3.5 macro, 0.5 sec, f/16, ISO 400, tripod, mirror lock, cable release, macro twin flash set at 1/16 power for fill. Comments are welcome.
Thomas Herou
07-14-2009, 02:18 PM
Nice capture!
Perfect comp and wonderful greens in the bg.
Julie Kenward
07-14-2009, 08:06 PM
Steve, this is really an outstanding image. Not only did you catch something that most of us never stop to see but you did it perfectly. The comp, the BG, the subject matter - it all works and I find myself staring at every little inch of it. It is truly a fascinating image and so well constructed. My hat is off to you!
Stephen Stephen
07-14-2009, 10:01 PM
Well done Steve. I love the details against the green BG.

I've never seen this although I must admit that I've never looked too hard. Perhaps it's one fo those things that you find time and again after your first one.
Kaushik Balakumar
07-14-2009, 11:04 PM
Excellent image. Nice use of flash to bring out every ounce of detail in the subject.
Good sharpness.
Michael Pancier
07-15-2009, 04:41 PM
what crispness. must have had perfect conditions to shoot this.
WIlliam Maroldo
07-15-2009, 11:01 PM
Absolutely exceptional work. Superb technique, composition, exposure, I could go on and on. Obviously you know what you are doing! regards~Bill
Stuart Frohm
07-16-2009, 06:25 AM
Absolutely stellar!
I've never seen this in the field or in a photograph.
Thank you very much.
Mike Moats
07-16-2009, 06:26 AM
Hey Steve what a great find, and love the nice sharp details and perfect BG. Well done.
Anita Bower
07-16-2009, 07:09 PM
Very nice. The comments I made on your later image of this same dragonfly apply to this image also.
Bruce Enns
07-17-2009, 12:06 AM
As I said in your second post of this series...absolutely beautiful!!!

Cheers!
Bruce