AHK Loc: Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

Any tips on settings etc. on shooting Dragon Flies in Flight. I ok on Birds in Flight.

Like most I take adequate photos when they are considerate enough to be stationary.

I shoot with the Canon R5 and their dedicated 100-500 lens...so it's not the equipment it's me.

jjanovy Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

The right place, plenty of time, patience (a lot of patience!), high capacity card, multiple-exposure setting, something to sit on, sunscreen, etc. Oh, and luck. If you can find a place where one or more are returning to the same twig, you’re in luck.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

It's next to impossible and only luck and timing has ever gotten even a few inflight dragons for me.

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

I always used my Nikon 70-300 with whatever body I had at the time. Used f8, along with whatever shutter speed was called for - I also set the ISO at 1,000 - 1,200

User ID

Your big gear for birds may be too big for bugs. This is from a Sony with a normal lens. Try to get them flying against the breeze cuz it slows them down, but you still hafta pan, and expect to crop a bit !

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ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

I've shot many in flight - was a learning/experimenting experience. Your 100-400mm lens is good. Stand at least 15ft back from where they are flying. Start with the 100mm length as it is easier to track them. I've found hand held is easier than on a tripod. Use the panning VR setting. Experiment with the various types of focus settings to see which locks on better - they dart around so quickly that locking on may only be for a second but you should get some if you're persistent. Good luck and keep at it.

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

How to photograph dragonflies in flight - tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o56Y3vkEw7I

by a Canon Shooter with an R5 and a Canon 100-500mm Telephoto lens
SS = ~1/1000 to 1/2000; f/5.6 Using AIS (eye auto-focus) albeit it's a bit tricky.. Please listen to Fabian carefully
btw, 20 fps (electronic shutter) though listen to the end about an occasional issue with rolling shutter on the R5...

Hope this helps...
All the the best on your photographic journey AHK ..

Thomas902 Loc: Washington DC

Canon Shooter with an R5 and a Canon 100-500mm Telephoto lens

SS = 1/1000; f/5.6 Using AIS (eye auto-focus) 20 fps (electronic shutter) by Fabian Fopp

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JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

One thing to look for is a dragonfly that repeatedly returns to the same landing spot. I have seen them doing this many times. It allows you pick the best spot for the camera and to set up manual focus for just the right distance.

Good luck!

AHK Loc: Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

Thanks

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Well, now we know what doesn't work!

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I found this post on Quora.com. Never heard of this site before, but I saw this response to dragonflies returning over and over to the same spot. And most of the time I have seen this, there is water nearby and small gnat like insects are hovering above the water and the dragonfly charges into the group of insects and then immediately returns. I have seen this so many times.


Ade Black
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Dragonflies are sight hunters. They have one of the most advanced eyes in the insect kingdom. They are carnivorous and hunt other flying insects by sight.

When hunting they find a place where there are other flying insects, gnats, midges etc. These often congregate in groups. When they find such a group they find a suitable ‘perch ‘ nearby from which they will observe the group and select a suitable target for a meal.

From this perch it will fly to it's selected target, almost invariably catching it, return to its perch, eat it, then select another target.

It can eat 15 /20 + smaller flying insects during one feeding session. Fast flight takes a lot of fuel.

It will also select a perch that is in the sun, the heat from the sunlight will help its muscles perform optimally.

So two reasons,

First it's perch is in a sunny spot.

Second it's perch is near a food source.

Here is a shot of a Dragonfly that was doing the returning trick and I watched it do this time after time after time and always return to the same spot. There was a river right beside this and the dragon fly would take off at warp 9, fly out over the river, but would soon return somewhat slower. This image is actually from 11 years ago and the camera I had along on this business trip to South Korea wasn't suitable for flying captures. But I was ready for him when he landed. But had I had a suitable camera with tripod, it would have been easy to setup and wait for him to fly through the correct spot for the picture.

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AHK Loc: Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

Thank you

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Just like any other wildlife, observing and understanding behavior is key to consistently getting good results. Even then it’s hard to get good results of “DIF”. With a bird in flight you might see it coming from a distance and be able to track it until it gets close enough. That doesn’t happen with dragonflies. You usually can’t see them until they’re close and they’re moving to fast to pick up and track. I’ve found that if you find a good spot at the edge of a pond or stream that has a lot of dragonfly activity and you watch you’ll see that they will often keep returning to the same spot where they’ll hover for a couple of seconds before darting off again. If you prefocus in that spot and wait you’ll be ready when they return.

AHK Loc: Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

Thanks