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Damsel Fly ( real close ) · **2 Likes**

**TER-OR** · 03-19-2015, 05:47 AM

Very nicely done. Did you catch this one at dawn, still drowsy?

old4570 · 03-19-2015, 02:15 PM

Late afternoon , or early evening ( still daylight savings )

I tried to use the sun to shield me

jddwoods · 03-19-2015, 02:25 PM

How did you get so close? These damsels are hard to approach. This picture of an Ebony Jewelwing was as close as I could get with D-FA 100 Macro WR before it flew away. Come spring which should be soon, I will be on the lookout for these little guys again.

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old4570 · 03-19-2015, 02:57 PM

They have fantastic eye sight , so I try to approach them , so that the sun is in their eyes .
So I use the sun as a shield of sorts , and I always try ( TRY ) to keep the Damsel in direct sunlight ..
You also need to move slowly , especially the last two meters ..

Once you are within 1:1 macro distance , the damsel flies dont seem to mind having their pictures taken , you just cant approach them like a predator ( the Damsel does not know your intentions ) ..
So once you have made the distance , just move slowly ..

**TER-OR** · 03-20-2015, 03:26 PM

Yeah, I take what they give me. Some really don't want you anywhere near them. Others will let you get fairly close.

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jddwoods · 03-24-2015, 05:25 PM

Not a damsel but a dragon and a relative of the damsel. This one flew right up close and posed for its picture.

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old4570 · 03-25-2015, 04:50 AM

Originally posted by jddwoods

Not a damsel but a dragon and a relative of the damsel. This one flew right up close and posed for its picture.

You really got to like it when they pose for you !

**TER-OR** · 03-25-2015, 05:39 AM

Slender Spreadwing at Fermilab. This is another I needed to drop into manual mode for, but it did let me get fairly close as long as I didn't get a shadow close. These damsels are pretty big, at least two inches long.

bluestringer · 03-27-2015, 06:06 PM - **1 Like**

Damsels are a little more skittish than the dragons. During the summer I can find a dragon perching looking for food, and I will stand in front of it and let the gnats start buzzing around me. I'll move in close and the dragon will dart off it's perch and grab a gnat, then go right back to it's perch waiting for another one. As long as I stand there with the gnats around me I can move in close and it will pose for a few shots. Took these last summer using that technique.

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03-19-2015, 02:57 PM	#5
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551 Original Poster	Yeah They have fantastic eye sight , so I try to approach them , so that the sun is in their eyes . So I use the sun as a shield of sorts , and I always try ( TRY ) to keep the Damsel in direct sunlight .. You also need to move slowly , especially the last two meters .. Once you are within 1:1 macro distance , the damsel flies dont seem to mind having their pictures taken , you just cant approach them like a predator ( the Damsel does not know your intentions ) .. So once you have made the distance , just move slowly ..

03-20-2015, 03:26 PM	#6
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Yeah, I take what they give me. Some really don't want you anywhere near them. Others will let you get fairly close. [IMG][/IMG]

03-25-2015, 04:50 AM	#8
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551 Original Poster	Yep Originally posted by jddwoods Not a damsel but a dragon and a relative of the damsel. This one flew right up close and posed for its picture. You really got to like it when they pose for you !

03-25-2015, 05:39 AM	#9
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Slender Spreadwing at Fermilab. This is another I needed to drop into manual mode for, but it did let me get fairly close as long as I didn't get a shadow close. These damsels are pretty big, at least two inches long. Last edited by TER-OR; 03-26-2015 at 03:59 AM.

03-19-2015, 05:47 AM	#2
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	Very nicely done. Did you catch this one at dawn, still drowsy?

03-19-2015, 02:15 PM	#3
old4570 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 2,551 Original Poster	Late afternoon , or early evening ( still daylight savings ) I tried to use the sun to shield me

03-27-2015, 06:06 PM - 1 Like	#10
bluestringer Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Cotton fields of South Georgia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,748	Damsels are a little more skittish than the dragons. During the summer I can find a dragon perching looking for food, and I will stand in front of it and let the gnats start buzzing around me. I'll move in close and the dragon will dart off it's perch and grab a gnat, then go right back to it's perch waiting for another one. As long as I stand there with the gnats around me I can move in close and it will pose for a few shots. Took these last summer using that technique. Last edited by bluestringer; 07-21-2015 at 09:38 AM.

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Macro Damsel Fly ( real close )

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