Damselfly Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

While walking down the path that goes from the waterfall of Fonissa (see ***WHERE APHRODITE USED TO TAKE A BATH***)in Kythira, right beside the small river on Neraida, that after 30-40 minutes walk, reaches to the "Great" waterfall, I passed beside some tiny lakes. Dozens of colourful damselflies, some in the colours of the one in the photo, others in a fantastic "electric" blue, were offering a unique spectacle. At first I thought they were dragonflies, but a friend who knows better told me that they were damselflies ( ***MORE INFO FROM WIKIPEDIA***). In Greece we call both damselflies and dragonflies, "λιβελούλες" (libelullas)

Although I have no special equipment (macro lens, ring flash), I decided to give it a try in macro photography. Like some great Greek wildlife photographers and "macro" specialists (Giorgos Patroudakis and Giorgos Avagianos) taught me, most of the people have a wrong idea about macro photography, believing that it's all about wide apertures, while they use small apertures and flash. That's why I chose a small aperture (f/18) and my external flash. From that close, you can still have a "blurry" background, but at the same time, you can have almost the whole insect or flower, perfectly sharp.

I found quite pleasing the result. I even got a photo of 2 damselflies in a "hot" love scene, I am not sure that I 'll upload it in the future, this might look quite "explicit" :-)

***WORKSHOP***- Different POV.

Copyright © 2009 – Hercules Milas. The reproduction, publication, modification, transmission or exploitation of any work contained herein for any use, personal or commercial, without my prior written permission is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved.

ChrisJ, Gerrit, macondo, denisn72, vasilpro, Emile, bostankorkulugu, Dashab, dip, dareco, Budapestman, bakes888, antua, Charo, ymrk, Urs, amaryllis has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ChrisJ (70271) 2009-08-06 4:45

Hi Hercules

A superb macro of the damselfly, with good use of a shallow dof, & impeccable sharpness. This might be more suited to TN? Wonderful colour, & well composed. Tfs!

gilou530 (35242) 2009-08-06 5:00

salut hercules
une superbe libellule dans un milieu verdoyant sous une lumiére et des couleurs saturées, belle prise
amitiés
gilbert

jasmis (50440) 2009-08-06 5:07

Beauty of this damselfly is obvious. And your photo is perfect.
Regards.

Gerrit (35733) 2009-08-06 5:21

Hi Hercules,
excellent macro with wonderfuil details and colours.
The dragonfly is shown in all his glory.
Regards, Gerrit

delpeoples (6082) 2009-08-06 5:37

Hi Hercules, this is one of the best macro shots I've seen in a long tme. You really know how to work that Mk III. Beautiful detail here, even the hairs on the insects legs are apparent and the BG blur is superb. Congratulations and thanks for sharing yet another treasure, Lisa.

macondo (13117) 2009-08-06 5:45

Hello Hercules.
We don't see many shots of insects on TE. But yours is a beauty, so delicate and sharp. The light has been very well caught, showing so clearly the tiny details on the leaves and insect's wings. I read with great interest your notes, especially about the use of the flash with a very small aperture. It gave a great result in this case. I wonder if you had the flash unit pointing away from the subject. Anyway, it's an excellent close-up. Well done.
Regards,
Andrew

coco (27864) 2009-08-06 6:17

Kalispera Hercules.

Recuerdo que una vez ya explicaste esto mismo sobre la fotografía macro.
Toda una lección, como la foto en sí.

Por cierto, va tomando más cuerpo: 18-20 (ó 21) en Grecia. Mis amigos quieren ir a Santorini... ¿alguna recomendación alternativa?

Ta leme, file mou.

Dashab (951) 2009-08-06 6:19

Hello Hercules,
A superb photo and a helpful note on your technique and subject. Thanks! Dasha

atha2pan (3407) 2009-08-06 6:24

Poly sostos stin pliroforisi sou oti afora to anoigma tou fragmatos.
Apithani makro fotografia....
Filika
Sakis

bema (8760) 2009-08-06 7:19

Jassu Hercules,

really a very pretty motive, captured in a very likely way..

wish you a fine day, filika Bernd

denisn72 (6979) 2009-08-06 7:22

Hi Hercules,
Impressive details and colours of this damselfly. It looks like a dragonfly. It like the way it stands. The focus is excellent and the blurred background helps to put the emphasis on the main subject. Cheers!
Best regards
Denis!

amazon (10653) 2009-08-06 7:46

perfect shot and colours and note and....
thanks g,
a.

agustos07 (971) 2009-08-06 8:13

Excellent shot!Bravo!

mkamionka (4534) 2009-08-06 8:24

Hi Hercules,
insects are the only thing which I don't like about Greece :)
Beautiful shot, fantastic colors, you can really look into eyes of this creature.
TFS
M

ciakgiak (10714) 2009-08-06 8:49

Hello Hercules,
only if you are a great photographer can do a similar macro!
Colours and details are really superb so as the control of the DOF.
Congratulations my dear friend.
Friendly regards.
Giorgio

vasilpro (8760) 2009-08-06 14:26

Γεια σου Ηρακλή,
Υπέροχα χρώματα σε αυτή την πολύ καλή μάκρο φωτογράφιση.
Καλό σου βράδυ, Βασίλης.

Emile (19995) 2009-08-06 15:52

Hola Hércules.
Espectacular macro-foto de la libélula en perfecto foco, muy buenos colores y un magnifico DOF. Tu WS tomado desde otro POV también es una excelente macro. Parece que te dio suficiente tiempo para tu cambiar de POV y no irse del lugar.
Abrazos.

gneufeld (15173) 2009-08-06 18:27

Hi Hercules,
A stunning closeup of this "dragon fly"? Excellent clarity and striking colors. Very well done and TFS. Gerald

bostankorkulugu (33598) 2009-08-06 21:11

i am a damselfly, and i will be flying to my beloved island tonight! >:D... beautiful close up giritli bro mou... and i want to see the "doing it" shot too!>:P... take care... bostani

dip (12584) 2009-08-07 1:25

Geia sou Irakli,
den mas exeis sunithisei se macro,alla an valeis einai tou epipedou sou!
katapliktiki oksutita,fotismos kai yperoxa xromata,
to kolpo "megalo f kai flas" to exei diavasei kapou sto internet,edo vlepo to apotelesma,
fantastiki lipsi!
se xaireto,
Dimitris.

dareco (17104) 2009-08-07 21:51

Amazing detail!! WOW! Great job and very nice dof giving this blurred bg. Good timing! TFS

Budapestman (41974) 2009-08-08 8:03

Hi Hercules,
Amazing macro photo with fantastic details, spectacular composition and beautiful colours, great quality, Congratulations. Tfs! Have a nice weekend!
George

berek (28909) 2009-08-08 21:38

Hi Hercules,
wov very good macro. I can see all small details from your picture. I love background blur effect and strong green. also your timing is okay.
Have a nice Sunday.
Burak

bakes888 (18221) 2009-08-10 2:04

Hi Hercules. Great photo, excellent sharpness and detail. Good handling of light and colours. Nice work and thanks for sharing.
Have a good week, Paul.

quillo (7174) 2009-08-10 13:45

-

Hola Hércules ----------------->

Un gran macro, un gran trabajo, una magnífica imagen
en la que los colores tienen todo el protagonismo,
felicidades por la foto .... el WS es también muy
bueno pero la pose del "Caballito del diablo" en esta
me gusta más.

Un saludo amigo.

-

COSTANTINO (22709) 2009-08-12 4:57

Geia sou Hrakli,

Mia uperoxi makro foto, me poles leptomeries , apithanous xrwmatikous sundiasmous,kai polu kalo fwtismo.
xairetismous,

Costantino

TGULUMSER (12512) 2009-08-12 10:50

Hello Hercules,
I want to say that this is one of the best macro shots that I've seen recently, congratulations,
Best regards,
Tulay

Dragut (1967) 2009-08-12 22:33

Hi Hercules

Beautiful .....du détail, de la couleur elle semble si fragile cette libellule verte....

pablominto (40732) 2009-08-12 22:36

Hello Hercules,

This is an elegant pose!
Macro job is well done, DoF is accurate and isolates the insect nicely...
Good light renders fine details and natural colours, and the scene is well framed!

Greetings,
Pablo -

antua (470) 2009-08-13 2:18

Geia sou Irakli,

panemorfi lipsi me katapliktika xromata kai foveres leptomereies.Isos einai i proti fora pou paratiro ena entomo me toso megali leptomereia.
Kai episis oi plirofories pou dineis sxetika me ton tropo lipsis einai poly xrisimes!

Filika,
Antonis

CatherineD (4860) 2009-08-13 15:03

Geia sou Irakli,
This is a very nice photo which would be appreciated on TrekNature... A Calopterys, if I'm not wrong... If you like to post "hot" shot of dragonflies or other animal species, don't hesitate on TrekNature! You will be not the only one, including me... About the flash, there are different opinions amoung the specialists. Some do not like the "artificial" light of flash. In my opinion, the flash is good in difficult light conditions and for some macro shots, like small insects. I know one Orchids photographer who use a small reflector. Very usefull to eliminate bad shadows.
Se xairetw,
Katerina

Charo (31671) 2009-08-13 18:06

Hello Hercules,
Wonderful macro of this beautiful dragonfly. I like the composition, has excellent details and colors. Great job!
Best regards,
Charo

ymrk (8761) 2009-08-15 2:57

jajajaj,it's bingo!You'd a shot beautifuly to it kirie Hercules...To be honest i've surprised that.I've been affected of it's legs! :D
Take care of yourself!

Y.

syrus_persia (2164) 2009-08-16 0:40

Salam Doste man Hercules
Excellent clarity and striking colors.
Beautiful detail here.
And your photo is perfect.
Regards.
Mamnoooooon
Cyrus

g_panakia (3992) 2009-08-17 5:33

a!!!
poly kali irakli, oi leptomereies exoun grapsei pragmatika katapliktika kai to leo ayto giati prin liges meres travi3a paromoies foto alla oso ki an to prospa8isa o fakos mou den mporouse na mou dosei tosi leptomereia...sygxarhthria & mou aresei kalytera i lipsi ayti apo to ws
georgia

tober (3954) 2009-08-17 6:42

Hi Hercules, I really admired this skillfully taken macro shot, which makes me think once again that even the insects have their own world, they do have one tiny brain, two olive eyes, legs more than we do have and also wings to fly. Maybe it sounds funny but after seeing this sort of high-quality shots, I watch my steps while walking in a forest or garden not to give any harm to a passer by:)

Best regards,

Tolga

bergese (527) 2009-08-18 13:17

Quelle image fantastique.
Je découvre ta galerie et je suis impréssionnée.Que mon chemin est encore loin...

Bonne soirée Isa

danyy (68802) 2009-08-18 23:55

Bonjour Hercules,
vraiment rien à dire sur la qualité de cette photo, tout saute aux yeux, tellement précise qu'elle se glisserait bien dans une encyclopédie de luxe sur les insectes.
Excellentes lumières et DOF appropriée pour donner un maximum de relief.
Regards.
Daniel.

jafadabret (39669) 2009-08-22 2:49

Bonjour Hercules.
Cette macro est d'une beauté rare. Quelle élégance ! Cette libellule est tout en délicatesse. J'aime les couleurs irisées de ses ailes.
Excellent travail !
Jacques

Urs (2870) 2009-08-22 8:27

My dear friend Hercules

Excellent capture of this - how you called it - damselfly - you could tell me anything when it comes to bird or insect, I will belief everything because I have no idea what is what. The only thin I know, this insect is watching the viewer very intensively. I like it. Ant the sharpness could not be better, the same goes for the vivid colors. Using the right aperture you got the BG out of focus - well done

Best regards
Urs

amaryllis (17521) 2009-08-22 23:37

Bonjour Hercule
une macro superbe de ce papillon aux ailes non déployées, en "équilibre" sur cette branche et feuille, un cadrage fabuleux et des couleurs sublimes
excellente réalisation
bon dimanche
juliette