Ruddy darter front end :)

[bugmeister]

As the title, this is the front end of a ruddy darter dragonfly.

 

 

EOS 5Dii, Sigma 105 @ f5.6 @ 1/500s

[Leon]

wow...How on earth do you get s close????

[Ian]

WOW!! that's a cracker.

 

Extension tubes ?

 

I saw a load of them today so stopped to take some photos, BUT made a big mistake,  the dog was panting hard wanting a drink so I put some water in her bowl, turn round to go take some nice photos only to find they had all gone

[Phil]

Triple WOW

[bugmeister]

wow...How on earth do you get s close????

 

 

Extension tubes ?

 

I saw a load of them today so stopped to take some photos, BUT made a big mistake,  the dog was panting hard wanting a drink so I put some water in her bowl, turn round to go take some nice photos only to find they had all gone

 

No tubes, just move very slowly and the occasional one will let you get really close

 

This was from about 40-50cm and is quite a heavy crop because the tail and wings were so blurred due to depth of field.

[Terry]

Stunning

[JohnP]

That's a cracking shot... 

[FUJI]

I have also discovered, that you need to move really slowly to get close to insects, even the normally quick of the mark Housefly will often allow a lens very close. Also, if you observe insects over some time, you will note that they often return to exactly the same spot, usually in the sun.

Slowly-Slowly.....catchee monkey.

FUJI

[JohnP]

Something else I've found out, you can get closer to Dragonflies if you keep your eyes covered by the camera, what I do is always use the viewfinder... never live view via the LCD screen. I start off some way away and take a shot keeping my eye on the viewfinder and gradually move in closer taking shots at the same time... just don't be tempted to move the camera to one side and look at the Dragonfly, always look through the viewfinder... I'm sure eyes spook them. Sometimes you will be surprised just how close you can get using this method.

[NannyFerret]

I think they like the shine of the lens too. my one and only dragonfly kept moving towards the lens. I just sat on the rock type seats that they had put in Fairy Glen for the children to sit on when they visited with the school.
I sat with my eye to the viewfinder too.