Drags and Dems

[Walj]

I am pleased to share the following series of Odonata with all members. All pictures were taken with Canon EOS 5D Mark II + EF 300mm f/4L USM IS Telephoto zoom lens on tripod without flash:

Dragonflies


Pic #01 Trithemis aurora_Female


Pic #02 Crocothemis Servilia_Male

Demselflies


Pic #03 Libellago Aurantiaca_Female


Pic #04 Dysphaea Dimidiata_Male


Pic #05 Heliocypha Perforata_Male (Pardon me for the water reflection in the foreground due to direct / strong sunlight over this rocky river..)

Your C & C would be appreciated. Thanks.

Cheers.

Walj

[Mutley]

Great set, thanks for sharing

[Geoff F]

I would crop slightly tighter, Walad, to position them less centrally and reduce distracting out of focus background/foreground areas. Maybe using a different image size ratio (5 x 4 ratio) in some cases?

Otherwise, they look good to me.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Walad,

Not sure I'll ever get mine this good

I agree with Geoff, cropping is about the only suggestion that can be made.

I'd put the bottom edge of the leaf in #3 into the lower right corner.

I'd take a fair bit off the left and bottom edges of #4

And a bit all around on #5

Ironically, I'd lose some on the left of #1, which makes it more central

[Walj]

Great set, thanks for sharing

thanks Mutley.

[Walj]

Hi Geoff and Dave,

Thanks for viewing and your comments. I appreciate it very much. I'm sure there are more stuff I can learn and pick up from you guy. Btw, with regard to cropping I usually do it once I think it is necessary especially when I need to remove unwanted areas to improve the composition. I should have improved my last image of #05 as I realized the water reflection is too distracting. FYI, most of the photos were captured with Canon FF of 5D Mark II. It was on purpose I did not crop it if unnecessary as to avoid the image not to look too big or too tight to the surrounding frame. I left more space at the bottom for the watermark. I avoid using flash too if unnecessary due to reflection and to remain its original color.

[terrib]

The clarity in 2, 3 & 5 is really great. This is a hard subject and you've done a great job. I really love the reflections in #3.

[Walj]

The clarity in 2, 3 & 5 is really great. This is a hard subject and you've done a great job. I really love the reflections in #3.

Hi Terri,

Thanks for viewing and your comments.

[Plumcrak]

#3 & #5 look as if they were chrome plated
Excellent set!!!

[Walj]

#3 & #5 look as if they were chrome plated
Excellent set!!!

Thanks Jon. Glad you like it. FYI, all demselflies were caught in their habitat of shallow water and rocky river about 20m wide during their display hours. The weather was pretty hot when the pictures were taken. It was exposed under hot sun and direct sunlight.

[Otavio]

Hello, Walad. I am trying (but not finding a way) to imagine how pacient you was to obtain these pictures with a tripod! These insects (well, at least here in Brazil) never stop and when they do, they do it for a couple of seconds and fly again! How long time this series took you to produce?
The pictures are very nice. Very well done! I would crop #3 and #4 a bit tighter.

Cheers...

[Bobobird]

Beautiful set.

#1 I would give it a bit more headroom. #4 and #5 a tighter crop.

I am a bit confused about the lens - 300mm/f1.4 ?

[Walj]

Hello, Walad. I am trying (but not finding a way) to imagine how pacient you was to obtain these pictures with a tripod! These insects (well, at least here in Brazil) never stop and when they do, they do it for a couple of seconds and fly again! How long time this series took you to produce?
The pictures are very nice. Very well done! I would crop #3 and #4 a bit tighter.

Cheers...

Hi Otavio,

Yes, I'm aware of that too. Some of the species are very skittish. Do not use short lens. I usually use 300mm with extension tube for skittish insects. You can use at least 180mm macro lens.. Try out again this time. Good luck!

[Walj]

Beautiful set.

#1 I would give it a bit more headroom. #4 and #5 a tighter crop.

I am a bit confused about the lens - 300mm/f1.4 ?

Hi Bobo,

Sorry if I confused you. Hehehe... Should be f/4 instead of f1.4. Thanks for alerting me. I will amend accordingly. Owe you 1 (Will bring you around if you coming over here).

[Bobobird]

Thanks Walad. I have been to Singapore a number of times, last visit was 2011, but that was before I took up a camera.

Now that I have a camera there are many places that I want to revisit but...

[Walj]

Thanks Walad. I have been to Singapore a number of times, last visit was 2011, but that was before I took up a camera.

Now that I have a camera there are many places that I want to revisit but...

Which part of Singapore have you been? And where are you intend to go this time if you are coming here? Do PM me in advance.