Smile!
Jun 15, 2019 07:19:20 #
Jun 15, 2019 07:37:02 #
Jun 15, 2019 07:38:43 #
Jun 15, 2019 07:54:35 #
Tomfl101 wrote:
Amazing! Can you give tips regarding your focus technique?
Yes, most of the time I use manual focus. With extreme closeup/macro you don't have a lot of DoF to play with so you pick the spot you want to have in sharpest focus and manually focus on that spot. For dragonflies I want the eyes as sharp as I can get them. I want to be able to see all the little facets of the eyes in my image, if possible. If you are shooting on a sunny day this becomes easier because their eyes will reflect the sun as two bright spots. I usually get them as sharp as I can. From there I simply lean in and out until the focus is sharp and squeeze the shutter release. Sometimes I get one like the one above. Not all will be keepers, for sure.
Jun 15, 2019 08:21:35 #
dhroberts
Loc: Boston, MA, USA
Have you tried using continuous release for the shutter to maximize the odds of getting a really sharp shot? Or does the sound of the camera inevitably frighten the dragonfly away?
Jun 15, 2019 08:26:45 #
Jun 15, 2019 08:36:16 #
dhroberts wrote:
Have you tried using continuous release for the shutter to maximize the odds of getting a really sharp shot? Or does the sound of the camera inevitably frighten the dragonfly away?
I have been out with others that use that method, but for me, I just get more images out of focus that I have to cull out later. I think that most people, like myself, try several approaches and then find the one that best suits them. Bottom line is that you get those images in sharp focus with as many keepers as possible.
As far as the sound is concerned, I do not think this is a factor. Some dragonflies are natural posers and others are quite nervous. One thing to note is if you are patient, most will come back to sit where you first saw them. Just move slowly. I find when I do that I can lean into the dragonfly and get those extreme closeups. I use a diffused flash in my normal setup and sometimes I think the dragonflies become a bit hypnotized by the flash. I have seen very few that seem to be adversely affected by the flash. The fact that I use the flash is another reason that high speed shutter release does not work well. The flash needs a bit of time to recycle.
Jun 15, 2019 09:23:08 #
Jun 15, 2019 14:04:01 #
Jun 15, 2019 15:38:21 #
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Jun 16, 2019 07:01:06 #
Jun 16, 2019 07:02:26 #
Jun 16, 2019 07:09:29 #
Great photo! I also use the "lean in/lean out" method with my 55mm f2.8 AI micro Nikkor. I only shoot when I see crisp focus.
Jun 16, 2019 08:51:57 #
randave2001 wrote:
Happy dragon...
WOW...great macro!!
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