Dragonfly suggestions?

Nikon D-300
180 mm Tamron Macro with 1.4TC
5:36Pm 7/7/09
1/320 sec at F5
ISO 640
Cropped
Noise reduction in Define 2.0

I am posting this to get general feedback. This is the first time I have tried photographing Dragonflies ( Damselflies) and would like any comments about the photograph itself or post processing suggestions. Also If anyone has worked with dragonflies and can offer any tips it would be greatly appreciated. What about a 300 f2.8 with TC and extension tubes?:)

Hi Bob,
I like your image and capture. You got yourself a mighty fine dragonfly...I use a Nikkor 300mm f/4 D IF ED lens, with a Nikkor 1.7 T/C for my dragonflies...Your subject is a tad on the soft side near and around the head and body section...I took the liberty in making a few minor adjustments to your base image...I started by cropping the perch and cropping the top and left side of your frame. This places more emphasis on your little guy...also increased the saturation and contrast levels just a tad and selective sharpened the eye...I opened up the shadows and adjusted the mid-tones, and toned town the warm spots on the tips of the flowers in the perch...see if this presents best to you... :cool:

Bob, you are a lucky guy - Gus is an awesome DF photographer! I do like your capture and it looks like you are well on your way!! I would only add to Mr. Cobos' fine critique and repost that the bright blob in the BG is a bit distracting. Looking forward to more!

Hi Bob, If you did this well on your first try, I can't wait to see your second, and third, and fourth...
I like Gus's repost too, though my taste is for less contrast.
Go find some more of these guys!

Hi Bob - like it a lot - BG doesnt bother me too much - Gus repost does improve although I would only sharpen the dragon fly and a little less sharpening for my tastes :)
Looking forward to seeing more :)

Hi Bob

That is one fine perch .... can recall seeing one on a better one !!!!

Difficult to have the perch and insect within the dof even if you stop all the way down, would try to focus on the insect rather than perch !!!

I like what Gus was trying to do sharpening a bit more but once is a little soft they never come back normal and would go with the flow ... maybe just going after the bugs head !!! Looking forward to the next !!! btw setting up get as parallel as you can for getting the entire bug within the dof or take several images ... check out the next assignment !!!!s

btw behavior wise you can count on these guys coming to the same perch over and over. If one leaves just sit tight and should be back in seconds !!! Also look for a head tilt, they love doing that and if you shoot when its tilted the head will be out of focus !!! Sometimes they tilt up/down or left/right !!!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and encouragement. A special thanks to Gus for taking the time to give such a thorough review. I am learning alot from your comments.
I think i like a little less contrast but I agree that sharpening is needed on the eye and the shadows need opening on the body. The suggested crop is right on!
Gus...How exactly are you opening up the shadows on the body and how exactly are you sharpening? if you have the time i would appreciate knowing your method of doing this.....Thanks!

Here is a repost showing some of the changes everyone suggested. I went with less contrast than Gus but did sharpen up the head and do the crop. I also cloned out some of the hot spots in the flower and decreased its contrast a bit. Reactions?

Bob, I liked it a lot to begin with, but you have improved it quite a bit. The shadow detail is better, the contrast and saturation is more to my liking, and the composition is more appealing to me as well. I think you did a nice job reworking this image. Let's see some more!

Thanks for the encouragement Ron! Thanks to everyone I am much happier with the image and feel like i have learned a few things about post processing. I hope to shoot some more dragonflies this weekend.

Hi Bob:

I can't tell you any piece of advice about post processing, but I want to tell you that I like your picture very much, the colors of the whole frame are incredible and the drangonfly and the flower seem pretty sharp. Very well done. I like also your repost.

Best regards,

Thanks very much! Hope to see you posting soon!

Thanks again !