First try for Dragonfly

[tchuanye]

This is my first try. Appreciate any comments to improve composition, technique etc...any tips, comments are deeply appreciated. All taken with FZ10 with close up filter.

#1: Red Dragonfly on yellow leaf (Nikon 6T)


#2: Red Dragonfly, flash on (Nikon 6T with SIGMA APO Close-up)
I personally think the flash is too harsh. Agree/disagree?


#3: Yellow Dragonfly (Nikon 6T with SIGMA APO Close-up)
The wing covers the eye...is that ok?

[y0ngcheng]

hi, not bad for 1st try on dragons. imho, ur flash is too harsh on #2 and need a little fill flash on #1. overall still good! keep shooting my mate

[Stoned]

Like #3.

I think for #1 its too dark, needs flash
For #2 i think its a bit OOF. and flash overpowered.

[tchuanye]

Thanks for the comments.

Personally I like #1 for the composition, and #3 for the sharpness. What do you all think?

Also, for Dragonfly shots, must I always have the "light" reflection in the eye? Therefore, meaning I must always use flash? Or is it possible to take the shots w/o flash?

More comments from anyone please.....very keen to improve my shots....Thanks!

[LifeWorld]

Like #1 and #3
#2 flash too harsh. Hey, will it blind the dragonfly?

[Newguy69]

Veri good for 1st attempt! Comments as others have already mentioned. So keep on shooting and posting

Cheers

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by LifeWorld Like #1 and #3 #2 flash too harsh. Hey, will it blind the dragonfly?

er.....not too sure it was blinded, but it did flew off ....but it never came back.....maybe it couldn't find his way back....


anyway, thanks guys for the comments!

[marcwang]

Thats a crazy first try. How the *beep* did u get so close ?

I love picture 1 , and I reckon u dont need any flash. I like it as it is.

[Sif]

Hey the pix are cool! The 2nd I see liao my eye pain man. I am very new to photography too so I hope my comments help. How on earth did you get so near to the dragonfly?

[tchuanye]

Hi guys, Thanks for the comments.

The close-up filter helps magnify the image, but yet allow me to have a stand-off distance. But even so, it is VERY difficult to get close to them, as they flew off when I approach them.....good thing they came back.....but sometime after a very long time!

I did a technical trial yesterday, and this is the stand-off that I measured from lens end to subject:

FZ10+Nikon 6T close-up: 29cm (Pic 1)

FZ10+Nikon 6T close-up+Sigma APO close-up: 20cm (pic 1 and 2).

Without the close-up, at wide zoom, I need to be 5 cm from subject! ...too close and cannot use flash. At full zoom, it will be at 2m from subject, and cannot reach the kind of magnification as inthe pics.

Hope this info is useful.

[megaweb]

1st one is nice did u use flash ? external or internal ?

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by megaweb 1st one is nice did u use flash ? external or internal ?

No flash used for first one.

For other 2 using external flash.

[icer]

I also like #1.

#2 the flash is too harsh?

#3 is not very focus right? How come you said you liked it because it's sharp?

Anyway, does the close up filters make it difficult for you to focus?

[tchuanye]

Originally Posted by icer I also like #1. #2 the flash is too harsh? #3 is not very focus right? How come you said you liked it because it's sharp? Anyway, does the close up filters make it difficult for you to focus?

I was looking at the eyes....dunno, to me, #3 eyes look sharper than #1 eyes.

With rgds to focusing, I don't think the closeup makes it difficult to focus. This was my first try, so maybe not used to camera yet....