Dragonflies - first attempts

Dragonflies - first attempts · 10:48 AM

Never tried this before, but I am more or less satisfied with the results

.
Click for larger versions.

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

C&C welcome!

lodi781 · 07-28-2009, 10:55 AM

Nice series.....5 & 6 are my favorites!

foxglove · 07-28-2009, 11:54 AM

Just to be the pedantic entomologist, those first ones are damselflies... but they're all lovely! I wouldn't have imagined that something as large and robust as a dragonfly could get stuck in a sundew. Really nice find, that one!

Julie

**Rense** · 07-28-2009, 12:03 PM

Originally posted by foxglove

Just to be the pedantic entomologist, those first ones are damselflies... but they're all lovely! I wouldn't have imagined that something as large and robust as a dragonfly could get stuck in a sundew. Really nice find, that one!

Julie

Thanks Julie. I know, but just for the sake of a not too long title....

I think that dragonfly in sundew was a very fresh one....

daacon · 07-28-2009, 12:04 PM

Great shots Rense nice Macros.

foxglove · 07-28-2009, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by Rense

Thanks Julie. I know, but just for the sake of a not too long title....

Ah, I might've guessed that you of all people would know...

Good point about the title, and not many would know what you were talking about had you titled it "Odonates - first attempts"!!

Quote:

I think that dragonfly in sundew was a very fresh one....

I wonder if it extricated itself? I've never found sundew goo particularly sticky, but maybe we have wimpy sundews around here...

**Rense** · 07-28-2009, 12:31 PM

Originally posted by foxglove

Ah, I might've guessed that you of all people would know...

Good point about the title, and not many would know what you were talking about had you titled it "Odonates - first attempts"!!

I wonder if it extricated itself? I've never found sundew goo particularly sticky, but maybe we have wimpy sundews around here...

Haha, that was my first title: Odonata - first attempts...

So, you're realy an entomologist? Are you working in that field for a living?

foxglove · 07-28-2009, 12:44 PM

Originally posted by Rense

Haha, that was my first title: Odonata - first attempts...

So, you're realy an entomologist? Are you working in that field for a living?

I'm a freshly-minted PhD, my thesis was on stream insect ecology. Which means that I'm not exactly "working for a living" at the moment. I'm working, in theory - a paper or two to finish, preparation for a course I'm teaching in the fall - but I'm not being paid at present.

I'm sending out lots of postdoc and job applications... I'm sure you know the drill!

**Rense** · 07-28-2009, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by foxglove

I'm a freshly-minted PhD, my thesis was on stream insect ecology. Which means that I'm not exactly "working for a living" at the moment. I'm working, in theory - a paper or two to finish, preparation for a course I'm teaching in the fall - but I'm not being paid at present.

I'm sending out lots of postdoc and job applications... I'm sure you know the drill!

Yep, I know....although not involved personally....
I am working as a field-botanist/ecologist, but I am working on a PhD too (although in the tempo I have now, I will be at least 135 when I finish it...

).

**Rense** · 07-29-2009, 03:48 AM

Originally posted by lodi781

Nice series.....5 & 6 are my favorites!

Originally posted by daacon

Great shots Rense nice Macros.

Lodi and Dave, thanks for the comments!

**dcmsox2004** · 07-29-2009, 03:54 AM

first attempts.... very nice indeed..... i wish all of my first attempts
were so successful....... these creatures make excellent subjects.....

foxglove · 07-29-2009, 05:19 AM

Originally posted by Rense

I am working as a field-botanist/ecologist, but I am working on a PhD too (although in the tempo I have now, I will be at least 135 when I finish it...

).

Oh, I know that feeling! Took me 5.5 years (started in September 2003, finished this March) and that was working full time on it. But perhaps also working you have a little more discipline than I did ("full time" is a slippery concept for a grad student...) and are more efficient.

Just in case you've not encountered it, phd comics is an amusing take on grad student life.

**Rense** · 07-29-2009, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by dcmsox2004

first attempts.... very nice indeed..... i wish all of my first attempts
were so successful....... these creatures make excellent subjects.....

Thank you very much! There were more first attempts in this series, but those were hardly worth showing...

Plankton · 07-29-2009, 02:47 PM

Great captures Rense! I particulary like number 4 and 5.

**Michaelina2** · 07-29-2009, 06:48 PM

Actually, photographing damselflies and dragonflies is easy and fun, if you cue into their habits.

Most are quite territorial. So if your subject takes off, just stand still and the chance is good that it will flit around then return to a perch near you. Quite convenient... Also, once its fixed onto its perch, you can lean into it slowly and get very close.

A close focusing lens like the DFA 100 Macro is perfect and can produce delightful results.

Amazing creatures... Enjoy...

Rense
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07-28-2009, 01:00 PM	#9
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050 Original Poster	Originally posted by foxglove I'm a freshly-minted PhD, my thesis was on stream insect ecology. Which means that I'm not exactly "working for a living" at the moment. I'm working, in theory - a paper or two to finish, preparation for a course I'm teaching in the fall - but I'm not being paid at present. I'm sending out lots of postdoc and job applications... I'm sure you know the drill! Yep, I know....although not involved personally.... I am working as a field-botanist/ecologist, but I am working on a PhD too (although in the tempo I have now, I will be at least 135 when I finish it...).

07-29-2009, 05:19 AM	#12
foxglove Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlantic Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,049	Originally posted by Rense I am working as a field-botanist/ecologist, but I am working on a PhD too (although in the tempo I have now, I will be at least 135 when I finish it...). Oh, I know that feeling! Took me 5.5 years (started in September 2003, finished this March) and that was working full time on it. But perhaps also working you have a little more discipline than I did ("full time" is a slippery concept for a grad student...) and are more efficient. Just in case you've not encountered it, phd comics is an amusing take on grad student life.

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07-28-2009, 10:55 AM	#2
lodi781 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: southern CT Posts: 219	Nice series.....5 & 6 are my favorites!

07-28-2009, 11:54 AM	#3
foxglove Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlantic Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,049	Just to be the pedantic entomologist, those first ones are damselflies... but they're all lovely! I wouldn't have imagined that something as large and robust as a dragonfly could get stuck in a sundew. Really nice find, that one! Julie

07-28-2009, 12:03 PM	#4
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050 Original Poster	Originally posted by foxglove Just to be the pedantic entomologist, those first ones are damselflies... but they're all lovely! I wouldn't have imagined that something as large and robust as a dragonfly could get stuck in a sundew. Really nice find, that one! Julie Thanks Julie. I know, but just for the sake of a not too long title.... I think that dragonfly in sundew was a very fresh one....

07-28-2009, 12:04 PM	#5
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Great shots Rense nice Macros.

07-28-2009, 12:27 PM	#6
foxglove Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlantic Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,049	Originally posted by Rense Thanks Julie. I know, but just for the sake of a not too long title.... Ah, I might've guessed that you of all people would know... Good point about the title, and not many would know what you were talking about had you titled it "Odonates - first attempts"!! Quote: I think that dragonfly in sundew was a very fresh one.... I wonder if it extricated itself? I've never found sundew goo particularly sticky, but maybe we have wimpy sundews around here...

07-28-2009, 12:31 PM	#7
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050 Original Poster	Originally posted by foxglove Ah, I might've guessed that you of all people would know... Good point about the title, and not many would know what you were talking about had you titled it "Odonates - first attempts"!! I wonder if it extricated itself? I've never found sundew goo particularly sticky, but maybe we have wimpy sundews around here... Haha, that was my first title: Odonata - first attempts... So, you're realy an entomologist? Are you working in that field for a living?

07-28-2009, 12:44 PM	#8
foxglove Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Atlantic Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,049	Originally posted by Rense Haha, that was my first title: Odonata - first attempts... So, you're realy an entomologist? Are you working in that field for a living? I'm a freshly-minted PhD, my thesis was on stream insect ecology. Which means that I'm not exactly "working for a living" at the moment. I'm working, in theory - a paper or two to finish, preparation for a course I'm teaching in the fall - but I'm not being paid at present. I'm sending out lots of postdoc and job applications... I'm sure you know the drill!

07-29-2009, 03:48 AM	#10
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050 Original Poster	Originally posted by lodi781 Nice series.....5 & 6 are my favorites! Originally posted by daacon Great shots Rense nice Macros. Lodi and Dave, thanks for the comments!

07-29-2009, 03:54 AM	#11
dcmsox2004 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,522	first attempts.... very nice indeed..... i wish all of my first attempts were so successful....... these creatures make excellent subjects.....

07-29-2009, 02:31 PM	#13
Rense Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Zetten - The Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,050 Original Poster	Originally posted by dcmsox2004 first attempts.... very nice indeed..... i wish all of my first attempts were so successful....... these creatures make excellent subjects..... Thank you very much! There were more first attempts in this series, but those were hardly worth showing...

07-29-2009, 02:47 PM	#14
Plankton Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Shelburne, MA Posts: 131	Great captures Rense! I particulary like number 4 and 5.

07-29-2009, 06:48 PM	#15
Michaelina2 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: SE Michigan USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,300	Actually, photographing damselflies and dragonflies is easy and fun, if you cue into their habits. Most are quite territorial. So if your subject takes off, just stand still and the chance is good that it will flit around then return to a perch near you. Quite convenient... Also, once its fixed onto its perch, you can lean into it slowly and get very close. A close focusing lens like the DFA 100 Macro is perfect and can produce delightful results. Amazing creatures... Enjoy...