Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Emerald damselflies Lestes sponsa

  1. #1
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,015
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default Emerald damselflies Lestes sponsa

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Camera Model Canon EOS 7D
    Firmware Firmware Version 1.2.1
    Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
    Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/125
    Av( Aperture Value ) 8.0
    Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
    ISO Speed 320
    Auto ISO Speed OFF
    Lens EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
    Image Quality RAW
    Flash On
    Flash Type External E-TTL
    E-TTL II flash metering Evaluative flash metering
    Flash Exposure Compensation -1
    Shutter curtain sync 1st-curtain sync
    FE lock OFF
    White Balance Mode Auto
    AF Mode Manual focusing

    I have been waiting for some years now to find Emerald Damselflies mating, at last I have got an image. I used a variety of settings on the camera, this one was in manual mode.
    All comments welcome.

  2. #2
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    The Netherlands
    Posts
    1,991
    Threads
    192
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Hi Jonathan, I think I've never seen this species mating (actually I only seem to encounter females), so good find! Also nicely executed. Good position in the frame, nice BG and crisp and sharp where it needs to be! A slightly higher aperture may have gotten that front wing of the female in focus, without doing much damage to the BG.

  3. #3
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Solothurn-Switzerland
    Posts
    1,658
    Threads
    127
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Excellent details and sharpness. Nice moment and a fine image Jon.

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Mifflin, TN
    Posts
    2,799
    Threads
    379
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Jon, this looks good as is and with a few minor tweaks, it should look even better. Overall it looks a bit dark but that should be easily fixed using SH. As Jerry pointed out, the female's front wing is just a bit OOF but some selective sharpening should help that.

  5. #5
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,015
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Attached Images Attached Images
     
    Thanks for your comments, I wondered if this was a little "flashy" as I had set the camera to manual as opposed to AV mode. I will have a go at a re work failing that I will post another similar one baring in mind your comments/suggestions.
    Last edited by Jonathan Ashton; 08-12-2010 at 03:47 AM.

  6. #6
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    765
    Threads
    32
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Great work Jonathan. Lovely detail and I prefer the original post (contrast and comp are better).:)

  7. #7
    Forum Participant
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    West Nottingham, PA, USA
    Posts
    7,038
    Threads
    427
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Congratulations on getting the shot you wanted. Nice.

  8. #8
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Southeast Texas
    Posts
    263
    Threads
    48
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I've been chasing damsels for several years and yet to get any mating so I'm amazed when I see a image like this. The colors on both are wonderful to see...to me this image would be a prize!

  9. #9
    Julie Kenward
    Guest

    Default

    How exciting for you Jon! Lovely image...well cropped and composed. If you want to play with the catch lights a bit to tone them down, choose a shade of the eye next to it with the eye dropper tool and then grab a brush and reduce the opacity to about 15-20% and brush over them. It takes the glare off but leaves the catchlight shape. Sometimes it works; sometimes not so much - but its always worth a try.

    Again, congrats on the wonderful catch.

  10. #10
    BPN Member Steve Maxson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Bemidji, Minnesota
    Posts
    5,801
    Threads
    818
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Nice job getting both in focus, Jonathan, and I like the behavior you illustrated. I don't mind that some of the wings are a little soft - if you had used a higher f/stop, the background would likely show undesired detail. I like Jule's suggestion about toning down the catchlights a little. Well done.

  11. #11
    Macro and Flora Moderator Jonathan Ashton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Cheshire UK
    Posts
    17,015
    Threads
    2,604
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks again everyone, and Jules - good idea I will remember that on subsequent posts - you have already got me doing that on backgrounds - it never occurred to me that it would prove useful on the yes.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics