photoartflightRecent Dragonfly Images
Here are a few images of Dragonflies and a Damselfly from a few local parks in our area. Most were shot with a close focusing 300mm f/4 lens with either extension tubes to get closer or 1.4X or 2X teleconverter. A few I used a Canon 400mm f/4 DO with Extension tubes and 1.4X teleconverter. The featured image is a female Eastern Pondhawk that was quite cooperative for extreme closeups. Image taken with Canon 7D, handheld, 300mm @ f/8, 1/1000 sec, ISO 400.
Blue Dasher extreme closeup – 2 image focus stack Canon 7D, Canon 300mm f/4 IS, 1.4X teleconverter, w/extension tubes
Blue Dasher extreme closeup – 2 image focus stack Canon 7D, Canon 300mm f/4 IS, 1.4X teleconverter, w/extension tubes (f/11, 1/200 sec, ISO 400)
Damselfly – multi image stack, 400mm f/4 DO with extension tubes, f/8, 1/50 sec, 1600 ISO, camera on tripod
Female Eastern Pondhawk- f/11, 1/320 sec, 300mm f/4 w/ 1.4X teleconverter
Slaty Blue Dragonfly, f/11, 1/160 sec, +1/3 exp. comp, 300mm w/ 2X teleconverter, Single image, flew off before focus stacking images
Slaty Blue Dragonfly, f/10, 1/320 sec, 300mm w/1.4X teleconverter, effective 420mm
photoartflight 
Love your shots of dragonflies (and of the damselfly too), Reed. Your shots with the long glass capture a degree of detail that pretty well matches what I get with my macro lens.
Thanks Mike! I also use 7 different macro lenses, but mostly for my professional studio work. But I tend to like long lenses and stack the images to get more detail. Especially if I am just walking around an area. Most times they are in an area, that for me, is hard to get close and low. 30+ years ago I was in the hospital for over 7 months and they thought I would not make it out. So it is hard for me to “bend” to get close and also do not have full feeling in my feet. So long lenses are easier for me to use out in the field! Thanks again! And I enjoy seeing your images!
Seven macro lenses? Wow. I recently turned 65 and am beginning to understand that my mobility and flexibility are likely to decrease in the upcoming years. For now I am content to bend down, lie dow, or crouch in a stream bed to get some of my shots. I always marvel at the differences in approaches and gear among photographers. There is no magical recipe for getting good results. 🙂
Wow, incredibly detailed shots, Reed. Love them!
Thanks Eliza! They are fun subjects! Especially like getting very close to see the textures in their “eyes”!
All wonderful, I like your closeup photos in particular!
Thanks Belinda! The closeups are fun because you really do not know the detail in Dragonfly eyes until you do get really close!
Wow, awesome close-ups, Reed! Blue Dashers have the prettiest eyes!!
Thanks Donna! They are fun to photograph! The Blue Dashers are my favorite because we had so many of them at the pond in my old yard. It was like my own macro dragonfly studio! You can do a dragonfly search on my blog to see what I mean.