My First Dragonfly !

[Clicker]

I am a bit loathe to post in such exalted company  of our Macro  Royalty but I was chuffed to capture this on the coping stone of a wall next to a lake  in the Forest Of Dean..The sky is reflected in the water   ... Mercifully It kept still long enough for me to catch it with my Pana FZ 1000.... though I have no idea what it is ....  other than a dragonfly

[JohnP]

Well captured... it's a male Common Darter.

[NannyFerret]

I think you've done really well, and in so close too.

[colinb]

Looking good over here too.

[JohnP]

The only lake I can think of with a wall like this is Mallards Pike Lake... am I correct? Either there or Cannop Ponds where there is the odd bit of walling.

[Clicker]

You are correct John....Mallards Pike Lake it is ...A lovely spot it was too.

[Paul]

Well done! Now you have been bitten by the bug, you'll want to do more and more.  

Paul.

[fuzzyedges]

There is some lovely colours in there and in focus as well smashing 

 

[Clicker]

Well done! Now you have been bitten by the bug, you'll want to do more and more.  

Paul.

Ooooh Do they bite?

Thanks for the encouragement everyone.. I might have to go and get a macro lens for my Alpha  though ... and I probably won't want to take portraits of ugly bugs .. Y'know... the scary ones .heheh

This is the original before I cropped it ...

[Kobione]

Well done, great colour. Came up really well from the crop too

[FUJI]

Well Done you......this is just how I caught the Macro Bug, not long after I acquired my Alpha55 .....the dedicated SONY 2.8-100 macro lens is pricey.

But, you can have cheaper,  fun by using vintage M42 screw thread lenses, used with adapters and vintage extension rings....or....invest circa £60 in a RAYNOX 250 like Nanny Ferret.

All available from EBay sellers.......focus and settings are done manually.

 

FUJI

[JohnP]

You are correct John....Mallards Pike Lake it is ...A lovely spot it was too.

As you probably know there are two lakes at Mallards Pike, in July last year I was walking along the feeder stream to those two lakes when I came across and photographed Golden-ringed Dragonflies. I'd never seen any before or since.

Here's a photo.

http://www.pbase.com/john1946/image/156388484

[Paul]

...and no, they won't bite.  

Paul.

[Clicker]

That's a great shot of a golden ringed dragonfly John ....that's two I know how to identify now .

AThanks Fuji.. And for the info on the lenses.  Hmmm  ......  better start making a birthday present list .... 

Hi Kobione ... Thanks for your comments .... Appreciate you taking the time..... So sorry about your recent loss too ....thank God for our hobby... a conduit to enable us to recall our memories of the past with the clarity of images from our cameras.

...and no, they won't bite.  

Paul.

All this talk of being bitten by the bug .... had me worried 

 I'll have to investigate the lenses etc ... 

[JohnP]

That's a great shot of a golden ringed dragonfly John ....that's two I know how to identify now .

I've been into insect photography for years, I reckon it was about 7-8 years before I happened to spot three where I took that shot... so keep looking...

[ChrisLumix]

Well done! Now you have been bitten by the bug, you'll want to do more and more.  

Paul.

Depends on the bug, but most creams will take the sting out...

[Clicker]

 

 

Depends on the bug, but most creams will take the sting out... 

   

By the way  John .... We spent 5 hours walking Hough wood yesterday on your advice about where to find butterflies... What a fabulous place ... A great walk and I got some decent pics of common blues too! Loved it ... Hubby says thanks too as we are always looking for new walks ! 

[JohnP]

 

 

   

By the way  John .... We spent 5 hours walking Hough wood yesterday on your advice about where to find butterflies... What a fabulous place ... A great walk and I got some decent pics of common blues too! Loved it ... Hubby says thanks too as we are always looking for new walks ! 

Polly... I'm glad you managed to find Haugh Wood and enjoyed it, I go to quite a few woods etc but this wood is far and away the best place for butterflies I know of. Did you walk in the wood opposite the car park as I find that's best for butterflies, there seem to be more species there than the other wood by the car park. Having said that there are nice walks that side as well. I'll see what the weather is like this coming week as I would like to go there or the Forest of Dean.

[Clicker]

I did both sides..... Funnily enough I got most of the Blues on the car park side ...at one point there must have been a couple of dozen in camera range.... I was so surprised to see so many. Thank you so much for tip... Magical afternoon it was ..we took a picnic too!