Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
Sunday morning, I went out early to see if any dragonflies were molting. (I had seen several Blue Dashers molting over the last week, but couldn’t get close enough for photographs.) I saw this dragonfly fully emerged from its exuvia, but far from ready to fly. It was close to the pond edge so I could set up to fill the frame as it continued to harden it’s wings and body. Surprisingly that process took all day, so I had lots of photo opportunities. This view is late in the afternoon, when it had enough color in it’s abdomen so that I could identify it as a Female Great Blue Skimmer.
Specific Feedback
Probably fitting for an insect that is highly vulnerable to predations before it can fly, this lady was in the midst of a thick cluster of Iris leaves, which limited photo access, since I wasn’t about to disturb her by moving leaves for a cleaner look.
Technical Details
R5, 180 mm macro, 1/15 s, f/9, iso 800, tripod. A 20 shot stack to get her fully sharp.
Critique Template
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Hi Mark, thanks for posting this excellent photograph of dragonfly emergence. Odonates are endlessly fascinating, aren’t they!
Excellent image, Mark. The leaves aren’t a distraction, so there would be no need to mess with them. They just form a nice environmental frame for the dragonfly. Beautiful work.
Hi Mark, really great behavioral shot showing this emergence. Fine sharpness, the stack worked very well. I’ve wanted an emerging shot like this but so far no luck. Well done!
I have never even witnessed this before, much less get to point my camera at it so I sure appreciate getting to see this. Well done, Mark!
I always like finding freshly emerged dragonflies with their folded wings. Stack and comp look pretty good to me. Awesome shots!..Jim
Mark: Count me among those who haven’t witnessed this phenomenon. I’ve seem many butterflies emerge but usually their wings harden within the first couple of hours so I was surprised to hear how long this took. Marvelous opportunity and a superb capture and presentation. >=))>
You caught it at just the right angle. A superb shot of this rarely seen behavior, Mark.
Bill, the Blue Dashers and smaller dragonflies do seem to get their molts over in a couple of hours (or less). I’ve now watched two of the larger dragonflies take many hours. It that typical or unusual??? If I get lucky, my pond may produce more Great blue Skimmers and/or Shadow Dragons so I’ll get more viewing chances.
