The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
This photograph of a Blue-eyed Darner was captured in flight at our neighborhood dragonfly pond. Most of the time, the dragonflies patrolling our pond rocket past me so quickly that I often can’t move the camera fast enough. But this one slowed down a little, which made it possible to capture details pretty well.
One might think that the Sonoran Desert is an unlikely place to photograph dragonflies, but where there’s a patch of water, the dragonflies love it. The bright desert sunlight also helps because it makes it possible to photograph at 1/5000th of a second and at the same time maintain reasonable apertures and ISOs.
Specific Feedback
I’m interested in all your comments, including natural history.
Technical Details
OM Systems OM-1 Mark II, Post-processing in Affinity
1/5000, F9, ISO 2000, 150mm, no flash
Critique Template
Use of the template is optional, but it can help spark ideas.
Vision and Purpose:
Conceptual:
Emotional Impact and Mood:
Composition:
Balance and Visual Weight:
Depth and Dimension:
Color:
Lighting:
Processing:
Technical:
Excellent, Russ. I really like the nice clean background and the angle at which you caught the dragonfly. Interesting that they’re always zooming around in your area. Up here in the Pacific Northwest, and in my limited experience trying to photograph them, I’ve found that they have tended to stop and hover when hunting.
Russ: One of your best. Terrific capture of a perfect subject. Like @Dennis_Plank said the wing position and placement in the frame is excellent and the BG is the perfect complement. I would be curious regarding their prey. Around here they have a plentiful supply of mosquitos so they are very welcome for their eating habits and photogenic nature. Great use of your equipment and even more so your skill. >=))>
I’m from the Northwest, too (Mackenzie River, near Eugene). But back then I was doing astrophotography via a telescope in Chile. My favorite pond in Arizona is so loaded with these animals that they’re too busy chasing and attacking each other to do any hovering. That makes dragonfly watching a lot of fun, but dragonfly photographing pretty hard.
We get some mosquitoes in the summer monsoon season, but otherwise they don’t like the hot, dry climate. I’ve got a new friend who’s an entomologist, so I’ll ask him what these dragonflies are eating.
