Shots

There be Dragons

June 23, 2014 Chris 0 Comments Butterfly, Canon 100mm F2.8 USM, Canon 650D, Damselfly, Dragonfly, Emperor, Keeled Skimmer, Large Red Damselfly, Large Skipper, macro, Ramsdown, Scarce Chaser, Slop Bog

A mid week visit to Slop Bog and Ramsdown nature reserves, on a hot and sunny day – perfect to get the Dragon and Damselflies up and flying. The challenge being to get one at rest. The first visit was to Slop Bog, nr Ferndown, and just entering the boardwalk proved they were out. Lots of large red damselflies were about, along with some blue ones. The following Large Red Posed on the boardwalk, before I found a mating pair, also perched on the rail.

Large Red Damselfly. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F6.3 1/320 in Natural Light.

Large Red Damselfly on boardwalk. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F6.3 1/400 in Natural Light.

This mating pair shot is a panorama of a total of 4 images stacked and merged in Photoshop CC.

Large Damselflies Mating. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F6.3 1/400 in Natural Light. Panorama stack of 4 images in Photoshop CC.

Walking further around I also saw some Chasers flying, and some Silver-studded blues about on the wing, these proved illusive, but on the heather I found an Emperor Dragonfly clinging on.

Emperor Dragonfly. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F5.6 1/640 in Natural Light – cropped.

Emperor Dragonfly in Panorama format. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F5 1/800 in Natural Light – cropped to panorama.

Returning down the boardwalk, and on the nearby reeds, another Dragonfly was resting up – a Keeled Skimmer.

Keeled Skimmer. Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F6.3 1/400 in Natural Light.

This flew a short distance, after a few shots, providing a different perch to allow itself to show itself off from.

Keeled Skimmer (2). Taken on Canon 650D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 400 F5 1/800 in Natural Light. (Slight crop).

This was the last subject taken, before a spot of lunch and then a visit to Ramsdown Heath. Again several dragonflies were about, including a Male Emperor, which I just missed getting a shot of. In fact the first thing that I took was a Large Skipper Butterfly, sunning itself on some bracken.