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A busy Couple!


A busy Couple!
Photo Information
Copyright: Helen Matten (Helkoryo) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2010 W: 254 N: 4669] (20648)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-28
Categories: Daily Life, Nature, Experimental, Macro
Camera: Canon EOS 400D/Rebel XTi
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Cool Bugs 2!! [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-04 0:39
Viewed: 245
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Good morning Peeps

While at the local country park last Sunday I decided to try and shoot the beautiful Damsel fly.. One problm here was that it was extreemly windy and the single flies were flitting about and jumpy due to the movement of the long grasses in the wind.

So I am afraid I ended up taking a shot of a slightly sexual nature (well I am sure this is ok as they are insects) Their busy antics assisted me as while it was very windy the two together weighed slightly more and were less active than the single fly.. Indeed thier antics caused them to sit a rest a while which gave me the ideal opportunity to shoot them.

Maybe not quite as sharp as I would have liked. I have the camera in one hand here and am holding the end of the grasses to try and steady it with the other.

One thing I love about macro photography is the detail it brings out. I had no idea these little flys were to hairy!

Details from Wikipedia

The Damselfly (Suborder Zygoptera) is an insect in the Order Odonata. Damselflies are similar to dragonflies, but the adults can be differentiated by the fact that the wings of most damselflies are held along, and parallel to, the body when at rest. Furthermore, the hindwing of the damselfly is essentially similar to the forewing, while the hindwing of the dragonfly broadens near the base, caudal to the connecting point at the body. Damselflies are also usually smaller, weaker fliers than dragonflies, and their eyes are separated.

The head of a damselfly undergos a complete metamorphosis, with an aquatic nymphal stage. The female lays eggs in water, sometimes in underwater vegetation, or high in trees in bromeliads and other water-filled cavities. Nymphs are carnivorous, feeding on daphnia, mosquito larvae, and various other small aquatic organisms. The gills of damselfly nymphs are large and external, resembling three fins at the end of the abdomen. After moulting several times, the winged adult emerges and eats flies, mosquitoes, and other small insects. Some of the larger tropical species are known to feed on spiders, hovering near the web and simply plucking the spider from its perch.

Have a good weekend peeps

I am hoping to visit the regional steam and cart horse rally this weekend (weather permitting) so fingers crossed for nice weather here.

TTFN regards Smurfie
Silke, juyona, thegraduate, photophantom, manujmehta, Janone, yasin, Janice, patshoo, shelbeesmom, c_rapp, Ramdan, lilimih33, Beger, Dingo has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3298 W: 265 N: 6190] (23052)
  • [2008-07-04 0:42]

Very fine composition and superb details in this amusing capture
TFS
silke

  • Great 
  • jone Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1790 W: 65 N: 0] (16663)
  • [2008-07-04 0:43]

Congrats Helen ;)))
Very nice shot of very busy couple...
Have a lovely WE,
J ;)

  • Great 
  • juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 0 N: 768] (12746)
  • [2008-07-04 0:45]

Hola Helen,
WOOW,
efectivo momento, buena macro,
detalles y hermoso encuadre...
saludos

Hi Helen, the weather doesn't look to promising this week end, but you never know, hope it is.

Nice shot of the Damsel flies, they form the classic love heart when doing what comes naturally,

Nice and sharp with lots of detail

Have a good week end
Gil

Beautiful details Helen. Great work.

I can't give you a points this July, it will resume next month coz I overdone it to all deserving images this past June.

Dennis

hello Helen
lovely macro shot
wonderfuly focused and rich in colour
nice depth of field with fine details

regards
Manuj Mehta

  • Great 
  • Janone Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3289 W: 84 N: 2600] (17459)
  • [2008-07-04 2:29]

Good morning little girl.
Fntastic shot of the 'playing' Damsel flies.
Do they do a Polonaise ? Think so.
Have a nice last working day, dear Helen.
Jan

ah, what a naughty title!

never mind! i like the inter-colour bondage here. all of my shots of mating damselflies are of the same colour like this and this.

yours is great! i like the colourfulness.

TFS & have a great weekend
Regards
Agoes

  • Great 
  • yasin Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 24 W: 4 N: 21] (99)
  • [2008-07-04 2:46]

Excellent DOF and macro shot!
Very good composition, Helen. The lights are wonderful and so smooth. Good macro exposure and lovely colours, too.
Best wishes,
Bima

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3158 W: 213 N: 6658] (26310)
  • [2008-07-04 3:03]

Now, this is a good shot Helen - and it is even OK for TrekNature.

BRAVO on your capture - you wouldn't think it was windy at all. It isn't easy to take photos of one Damselfly - and here you have two! And it is so sharp and clear too.

Well done
Janice

Attractive natural event,Clear and crisp macro scene,Very good sharpness and also express beautiful of nature via action of bugs,Well composition too.Good work,TFS.

***I'm blushing*** HAHA! I just love these blue damsel flies, they are so cute...and you got 2 in 1...but isn't the theme 3 in 1? Hmm Me'nage a troi' Very kinky Helen! B-) Nice work!
Linda
B-)

What a wonderfully beautiful capture. great color and amazing details. TFS
Christan

Hi Smurfie,
Nice macro with good colour, details and DOF, I like the composition and you did well to cold the grass and the camera and get such a good shot.
Well done
Regards Andy

  • Great 
  • Ramdan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 673 W: 29 N: 1294] (4919)
  • [2008-07-04 11:18]

Hi Helen,
Love the title, as much as the details and clarity you captured. The burst effect on the background is very interesting - it draws the energetic aura of that busy couple. Kind of WOW shot Helen.
Regards,
Ramdan

  • Great 
  • Beger Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2982 W: 553 N: 3288] (14592)
  • [2008-07-04 20:07]

Hi Helen,
"Lovely" capture!
What I like more with this splendid macro is your very nice composition in diagonal! You rendered the lightness and delicacy of the of the damsel flies and the the stem on which they are. The natural colors and fine details are also very interesting! Congratulations! Annie

Hello Helen!
Excellent capture and wondeful colours, detail and clarity!
Perfcet focus!
Great light!
Best regards!
Lili

  • Great 
  • Dingo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3216 W: 368 N: 2667] (11482)
  • [2008-07-07 14:14]

I also have a couple of coupling damselflies, and I find it very weird to see how they actually copulate, Helen... I see no real sharpness problem here, though I read that 1/500" or faster is really recommended for taking outdoor shots in windy circumstances.
I really like the compo with the in-focus objects placed diagonally (more or less) with that real nice blurry backdrop - I suspect even motion blur, not only DoF-blur. Very well done. TFS

Bonsoir Helen
Très jolie composition. Le mâle se confond avec la graminée sur laquelle il repose, et cette diagonale est du meilleur effet.
Cordialement,
Antoine.

Nice shot Helen, I posted some similar myself the other month, so I can vouch for how hard they are to capture on a windy day!

Have just been looking through your gallery, and it's terrific. The standard of your work gets better and better.
(That's not to say it wasn't good before, but just that you have noticeably improved with all the practice you get!)

Keep flying the flag for Northants mate!

Andy

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