Golden Dragon

[Larry Heath]

I haven't had much time to get on line. So I though I'd put this one up to see what people here think?



Thanks for looking.
Later Larry

[davidh202]

Lovely!!

[Christoph C. Feldhaim]

Am I wrong or is it flirting with you?

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Nice capture, Larry!

[Larry Heath]

Am I wrong or is it flirting with you?

Yeah, flirting for sure; it does look a bit like there is a bit of lipstick on “her” mouth, but given the voracious winged predators these things are its more likely blood!

Later Larry

[wolfnowl]

It's actually a male, so if he's flirting, well, that's up to you... 

Mike.  Nicely done, BTW.

[AFairley]

Simply beautiful.  I'd be interested to learn a litte about the setup.

[Christoph C. Feldhaim]

Simply beautiful.  I'd be interested to learn a litte about the setup.

I once did a similar image with an old  3 megapixel Nikon Compact which was my first Digital Camera (10 years ago or so ..).
You don't need much technique for such a shot - just a macro, patience and a calm hand ... and your eyes ...

[Larry Heath]

Simply beautiful.  I'd be interested to learn a litte about the setup.

Setup is really pretty simple. I was using the D800E with the new 80-400mm AFS lens. ISO set at 400 and in program mode. This shot is at 400mm focal length with exposure ending up at 1/250 at f8.0 I was shooting on a cheap Smith Victor MP-100 monopod. The dragonfly if memory serves right was about 15’ away and the edge of the pond (Ollie’s Pond) was about 20’ to 30’ behind that. Post in LR 5.2.  Point and shoot, oh how I do like the new VR and AFS on the new 80-400 lens.

So basically for walk about I carry the D800E with either the 80-400 or the 24-120 on the body and the other lens and a TC 1.4 in a bag on a Think-Tank belt. I have everything covered from 24mm to 520mm in a two lens plus TC kit. The quick connect monopod serves either as camera support for the long lens and/or a walking stick. It’s about as simple and light as one could ask for.

Later Larry

[Chris Calohan]

Love Dragonflies and Damselflies..nice capture!

[sdwilsonsct]

Setup is really pretty simple. I was using the D800E with the new 80-400mm AFS lens.

This forum is very hard on my wallet, having already sent me off to get two new lenses, and now pushing me towards a third.

Great detail and composition here.

[Larry Heath]

Well if it's any consolation, I wouldn't sell mine for half again as much as I paid for it and I don't think you will regret it, if you do get one.

Further, although I don't think I should/could call myself a "professional" I do make a bit of extra money with photography, and the lens has pretty much paid for itself already. I surely can't make any comparison of image quality between the 80-400 to the latest 400 f2.8, that almost $9000 price tag for the latter sure is a major stopper for a lens that I can’t use on a fairly constant basis like the 80-400 and that doesn’t even get into the lug factor. Not that I don’t lust mightily after more than a few of the ultrafast long lenses.

Later Larry

[Paulo Bizarro]

Very nice shot.