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Mating Damselflies - before and after

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    Mating Damselflies - before and after

    Many of you will know that I always like to get as clean a background as possible with my wildlife images and the opportunity arose today at Barnes wetlands to demonstrate how with some gardening and reframing a messy shot can become a clean one. We saw these two damselflies mating and knew as they were otherwise engaged I could take time to get the shot I wanted

    This first frame, whilst the damselflies are sharp enough, they are not quite side on and due to lots of blades of grass behind them, there are a lot of distracting highlights. Really not worth keeping and only fit for the bin.



    But by reframing and then removing all the offending bits of grass that are close behind the subjects it is possible to get a much more acceptable shot

    both were at 1/20, f8, ISO 400, 100mm, hand held



    I have not got a definite ID at the moment but they are probably common blue

    Stan
    Stan - LRPS, CPAGB, BPE2*

    http://neptuno-photography.foliopic.com/
    flickr

    #2
    Re: Mating Damselflies - before and after

    Incredible shots Stan and a great tutorial.

    Bill.
    7D, 400D, EF-S 15-85 f3.5/5.6, EF 100 f2.8 USM macro, Sigma 10-20 f4/5.6, Sigma 70-300 f4/5.6 APO, Sigma 50 f1.4, EF 28-90, EF 90-300, Sigma 150-600C, 430 EXll, Yongnuo 568 EX ll, Yongnuo Triggers, Yongnuo YN14-EX Ring Flash

    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/94610707@N05/

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      #3
      Re: Mating Damselflies - before and after

      thanks for looking Bill

      Of course you couldnt do all this with every insect as most of the time they would be off as soon as you got too near

      Stan
      Stan - LRPS, CPAGB, BPE2*

      http://neptuno-photography.foliopic.com/
      flickr

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Mating Damselflies - before and after

        Nice one Stan. I agree a clean background makes such a difference. Really makes the subject pop.
        Actually for a bit of extra info for those interested the position the damselflies are at in your shot is them in tandem linkage preparing for mating.
        They have to do the wheel formation to actually 'mate'. Clever little things..
        Canon 5D Mark III | 24-70 f2.8L II | 70-200 f2.8L IS II | 135 f2L | MP-E 65 f2.8 1-5x Macro Photo | MT-24EX | 600EX-RT | ST-E3-RT

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          #5
          Re: Mating Damselflies - before and after

          Nice set Stan and equally a nice write up explaining your work flow.

          Tom

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            #6
            Re: Mating Damselflies - before and after

            Cheers Guys

            Actually for a bit of extra info for those interested the position the damselflies are at in your shot is them in tandem linkage preparing for mating.
            didn't know that....a bit of foreplay then

            Stan
            Stan - LRPS, CPAGB, BPE2*

            http://neptuno-photography.foliopic.com/
            flickr

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Mating Damselflies - before and after

              Great work Stan

              Mike
              www.mstphoto.zenfolio.com

              http://www.flickr.com/photos/27554645@N05/

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                #8
                Re: Mating Damselflies - before and after

                thanks for looking Mike

                Stan
                Stan - LRPS, CPAGB, BPE2*

                http://neptuno-photography.foliopic.com/
                flickr

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Mating Damselflies - before and after

                  Very good Stan - Regards John

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Mating Damselflies - before and after

                    thanks for looking John

                    Stan
                    Stan - LRPS, CPAGB, BPE2*

                    http://neptuno-photography.foliopic.com/
                    flickr

                    Comment

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