Seaside Dragonlet Dragonflies

These Seaside Dragonlet dragonfly images were from a previous trip to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland. It is a little over a 3 hour trip, but is fun to find a few different types of Dragonflies besides the usual ones by my home. A good spot to photograph dragonflies is around the main observation platform near the start of the Wildlife Drive. It has a long ramp instead of stairs to the main platform. So there are many dragonflies all around the platform. Plus easy access to dragonflies in the plants along the ramp sides. Another spot is the wooded area along the Wildlife Drive that has some water on both sides of the Drive. But dragons along here seem to move around much more and do not stay in one place long. The featured image is a male Seaside Dragonlet. Because of the angle, I shot 4 handheld images at different focus points. When adjusting my files I loaded the 4 images into 1 layered Photoshop file. Then I aligned the layers and then blended the layers for the final base file. All images were taken with a Canon 300mm f/4 lens with a Canon 1.4x teleconverter & Canon 7D.

Screen Grab showing the final finished merged Layer and below that what Photoshop chose as the sharpest areas on each layer.

Female Seaside Dragonlet Dragonfly

Seaside_Dragonlet_v1_4img_focus blend_BWR_8_18

Male Seaside Dragonlet Dragonfly

Seaside Dragonlet FM_300mm_1_4X_7D_MG_5179

Female Seaside Dragonlet

Category: Blackwater NWR, Cambridge MD, Blog, Davidsons Mill Pond Park, Dragonflies, Favorite Locations, Focus Stacking, Image Stacking, Panorama & Stacked Images, Uncategorized Tagged: blackwater National Wildlife refuge, canon 300mm f/4 IS lens, Canon 7D, Canon Series III 1.4X Teleconverter, Male Seaside Dragonet Dragonfly, Seaside Dragonet, Seaside Dragonet Dragonfly

11 Comments on “Seaside Dragonlet Dragonflies”

Hans Wikström
July 27, 2020

Beautiful pictures, especially of the female with her gold-shining wings.

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- Reed Andariese
  July 27, 2020
  
  Thanks Hans! I usually do not see these locally. But they are at a few of the NWRs I visit. Thanks again👍
  
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belindagroverphotography
July 27, 2020

I’ve never seen these dragonflies before. Wonderful shots of these beauties, Reed!

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- Reed Andariese
  July 27, 2020
  
  Thanks Belinda! I really like the coloring on the female dragonfly!
  
  Reply
Eliza Waters
July 27, 2020

I esp. love the coloring on the female. Great captures, Reed!

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- Reed Andariese
  July 27, 2020
  
  Thanks Eliza! I agree, the female is very colorful and more interesting looking!😊
  
  Reply
bayphotosbydonna
July 27, 2020

Amazing details as usual, Reed! And, of course, these are from one of my favorite refuges! 😊

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- Reed Andariese
  July 28, 2020
  
  Thanks Donna! It is one of our favorite NWRs also!
  
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Mike Powell
July 28, 2020

This is a species that I have not seen before, Reed, and your shots are wonderful. Thanks too for including the screen shot of what the merged file looked like in Photoshop. It give me a better idea of what I need to do if I want to create a similar type image from multiple shots.

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- Reed Andariese
  July 28, 2020
  
  Thanks Mike! Once you do a few it just gets very easy to do. Usually dragonflies at rest on a branch, etc. do not move too much. So it usually works well. If it does move a little it can usually be cloned out. Or if it is a change in head position or slight wing position you could “erase” the head or wing” you do not like on that layer.😊 I am not that great at teaching or explaining techniques, but I try!
  
  Reply
  - Mike Powell
    July 28, 2020
    
    Thanks. I think I basically understand the process. Now I just have to remember to take a series of photos so I can test the procedure.