Dragonflies in flight

Images of undisturbed subjects in their natural environment. All subject types.

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Nezza
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2014 8:07 am
Location: UK

Dragonflies in flight

Post by Nezza »

I've been having a go at some dragonflies in flight this year. Here's a couple. One side on and one banking towards the photographer. Which one do people prefer ?.
Attachments
Southern Hawker in flight.jpg
Southern Hawker in flight 2.jpg

AlP
Posts: 323
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2021 5:48 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada

Re: Dragonflies in flight

Post by AlP »

I like both. Each image serves a purpose on its own. So, I am neutral.

Lou Jost
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Re: Dragonflies in flight

Post by Lou Jost »

Incredibly hard, unless you have a wind tunnel or a known repeated perch. How did you do these?

Sym P. le
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Joined: Thu Jul 04, 2019 9:53 pm
Location: BC

Re: Dragonflies in flight

Post by Sym P. le »

Yes, well done for Dragons in flight. I had some fun with them this summer but the "in flight" images were limited to screen shots of video and were only identifiable by approximation to known local species.

I believe yours is a male Southern Hawker Dragonfly (Aeshna cyanea).

Dragons have remarkable control of their wings so any orientation is great. I imagine a rapid sequence could offer interesting revelations. Both or your images are superb.

Nezza
Posts: 27
Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2014 8:07 am
Location: UK

Re: Dragonflies in flight

Post by Nezza »

Hi. The pictures were taken using an EOS R6 and a Sigma 150-600mm lens. I waited by a pond where the dragonfly was hawking and whenever it hovered for a few seconds manually focussed and then let the animal eye autofocus take over for a burst of shots. You still get a lot of misses and insects with the wings in awkward positions, but with patience you will get some good ones.

Lou Jost
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Re: Dragonflies in flight

Post by Lou Jost »

Thanks for the information, that sounds quite difficult.

MarkSturtevant
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Re: Dragonflies in flight

Post by MarkSturtevant »

Very well done. I understand the eye tracking feature (when it works on insects) is a bit of a game changer for this sort of thing. I would love to try it one day.
Mark Sturtevant
Dept. of Still Waters

Ramos Kenneth D
Posts: 87
Joined: Tue Dec 06, 2022 7:18 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: Dragonflies in flight

Post by Ramos Kenneth D »

Those are some marvelous insects and these are some really good shots! :smt023 Sort of reminds me of a V-22 Osprey. I read or seen somewhere that these things can fly at approx. 45 mph and make a 90º turn while doing it and that all four wings can move in different directions at the same time in flight. :)

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