Takeoff

[Ian Cassell]

Canon 7D
Canon EF400mm f/5.6L
1/1250 sec f/6.3 ISO 500 HH

[WIlliam Maroldo]

Interesting, good timing! Although you did well getting the head in focus, I think cranking up the ISO for a greater DOF (like f11) and getting most of the dragonfly in focus would have been better, but that could just be me. I also think the shutter speed was either too slow ( if you wanted to freeze the motion), or too fast( if you wanted a wing blur to indicate motion). Again, just my opinion. regards~Bill

[Desmond Chan]

Just for the reason that you got this on film...err...sensor is an accomplishment to me. Congrats !

[Lance Peters]

Hi Ian - great timing thats for sure - head/eye is sharp. Agree with William for my tastes would have bumped that ISO to at least 1600 and stopping down some more to get a greater DOF. Aint hindsight wonderful.
I would consider getting rid of the specular highlights in the BG.
DIF - well done :)

[Bob Decker]

Great shot. Specular highlights need to go. I don't mind the shallow depth of field at all.

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks, folks.

Is this better?

[Julie Kenward]

Ian, I copied this thread to the Macro forum - we love the bug images down there and this one is a doozy! In flight - always a hard feat to master - but you've done really well here.

I'd look at cleaning up/lightening the dark area at the base of the right wing and then try a little CCW rotation to see if you can even him up without it looking unnatural or awkward.

Love the repost...just a few more tweaks if you have the time and I think you'll take it up another notch!

[Ian Cassell]

Thanks Jules and I'll pick up the discussion in the Macro forum so as not to totally confuse things with two identical threads.

[Bob Miller]

an outstanding shot! Congrats!