Photographing dragonflies the easy way
The hard way of photographing dragonflies is spotting one and following it around until it sits down, then creep up and take pictures.
There is an easier way: pick a sunny day, sit down and stick up a finger. Once the dragonflies accept your presence, you're just another part of the landscape to them, featuring a nice vantage point for their hunting. One will sit down on your finger within minutes. They don't bite if you don't bother them.
Olympus XZ-1, 112mm, ISO100, f8, 1/160
Note that they will not land if you have DEET on your fingers to combat the mosquitos the dragonflies hunt, so you may get some mosquito bites using this method. Just grin and bear it, the pictures are well worth it.
This is a really beautyful dragonfly.
that's a quality picture @ocrdu, great shot!!!
Thank you.
@ocrdu wow!
I posted about this here but about a damselfly, but I think no one believed me that dragonflies and damselflies really like "things that look like sticks" at that time am so glad that makes use two!
They do! If you're really lazy, set up a tripod and camera with a remote control, stick a long twig in the sand near a lake, focus on the top of the stick, lie in the grass with a good glass of wine, and wait.
Now there is someone hard at work, lol! I'll have to try that next summer, with the wine. :D
I also run, jump streams, climb trees, hang from branches with one hand while photographing with the other, and scale heights when photographing. I need a break sometimes 8-).
You sound like me, looking for mushrooms, lol. Don't get hurt out there! ; )
Nice tip, I have to try it next time :)
It doesn't work as well for damselflies and the really big dragonflies, the latter because they almost never land anyway, but it works great for most dragonflies. It does tickle a bit.
How long did you wait for this one to land on your finger :)
About 2 minutes. I forgot to say: you need to be able to shoot your camera one-handed, if you're not, you need an assistent, or at least his finger.
Dude. You seriously need to do something about those cuticles. :P
J/k..great pic!!
Thanks!
I often rip my cuticles striking sand with the tops of straight fingers. Don't ask.
Haha! Training to be a kung-fu master?