I found this dragonfly early in the morning, which was great because it meant the light wasn't as harsh as it usually is for my DF photos. I liked how he was looking up a little for this shot, made it slightly different from the usual DF pose. Usually I crop tight, but I decided to go with a looser crop this time. Any C&C are welcome!
Olympus SP-550 UZ
f5.6 @ 1/100, ISO 200, -0.3 EV
Aperture priority mode, pattern metering, cloudy WB
Processed in PS CS2; cropped, curves adjustment, and slight saturation boost, noise reduction, and a little cloning on the BG
Chris....This is a really nice df image. I am jealous that you are able to get these nice closeups. I have been trying but nothing this close. What kind of camera is the Olympus Sp-550UZ? What focal length?
Did well Chris I'm fine with the crop It looks cropped not clipped. Angle wise its a tough one since dof feel is shallow giving you the front of head sharp (which is) but not the eye area. On this bugs you generally want to have the eyes sharp to show all those hexagons, maybe stopping down a little more.
Also don't be afraid to get closer, just move in slowly, when they move they usually return to the same perch over and over !!!
On the tech side using flash will always help with sharpness and filling shadows !!! Looking forward to the next one !!!
Bob - Chris's camera is what is commonly referred to as a Bridge Camera - not quite a point and shoot and not quite a DLSR - has more in common with a P&S than a DLSR.
Has a large 20X + Zoom - which is OK Nothing great - But really shines with MACRO as do a lot of the P&S - inherent differences in how they work mean that the DOF is much greater at any given Aperture.
Chris - Agree with AL'S fine Critique - wish the eye's were the sharpest part - like the crop :)
Hi Chris,
I like the capture angle...agree with the techs. and good advise given...I too believe that the critical focus point here are the eyes...looking forward to your next one...:cool:
Bob, as Lance said, my camera is a bridge camera. The focal length is 28-504mm.
Al, I usually do try to get in as close as I can. Sometimes I'm so close the lens is almost touching the DF's wings, but even then I usually have to crop some to get a real close up photo. Unfortunately, using the flash isn't an option because in super macro mode, the flash is disabled since the lens would then cast a shadow over the subject.
Bob, the main trick is just moving slowly. Yes, some will fly away, but with patience and perseverance I can usually find a few that allow me to get in close. Small dragonflies like this one are the easiest because they perch a lot and will frequently return to the same perch over and over. Large dragonflies like the darners I find almost impossible to photograph because they're constantly flying! :D
Assignment: Macro - Another Dragonfly
