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Blue in the face


Blue in the face
Photo Information
Copyright: Alan Turvey (liquidsunshine) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2047 W: 113 N: 3421] (11488)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-19
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro, Hoya 58mm skylight
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-08-03 14:09
Viewed: 926
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I thought I'd post something a bit different today.
This is a head on view of a common blue damselfly. I wanted to focus only on the head, so opted for a very shallow DOF.
I'm quite pleased with the results, I hope you like it too.

Dragonflies and damselflies can appear alarming to some people, and their old English country names of ‘horse-stingers’ and ‘devil’s darning needles’ suggests they were once feared. This fear probably stems from the long and usually striped abdomen characteristic of these insects and the fact that they can curl their ‘tails’ down as if preparing to sting. In fact, neither dragonflies nor damselflies have the capacity to sting, although they are predatory insects, both in the larval and adult stages. All flying insects evolved originally with two pairs of wings although, in some species, the front pair has become modified to act as wing covers. These species include various beetles, crickets and cockroaches. Other insects have effectively lost the hind pair of wings, having two pin-shaped balancing organs in their place. Dragonflies and damselflies have retained both pairs as membranous wings, both effective in flight. Both dragonflies and damselflies are strong and swift fliers, and both pairs of wings are similar in size. Apart from their smaller size and generally more slender build, the easiest way to distinguish damselflies from dragonflies is the position of the wings when the insect is resting. Dragonflies rest with both pairs of wings held perpendicular to the body, whereas damselflies hold them almost parallel. As the name suggests, the common blue damselfly is one of the commonest species in Great Britain. They can be confused with other blue damselflies and this situation isn’t helped by the fact that the markings on this species are rather variable. Adult males are predominantly blue, spotted with black markings resembling stripes. Adult females are much darker with larger areas of black and usually a green background colour, although there is a blue form, again with larger areas of black.

Notes from Arkive.org

Thanks for looking, have a great end to the week.


Model: Canon EOS 20D
Exposure Time: 1/200 sec
F-Stop: f/3.5
ISO Speed Ratings: 100
Focal Length: 105/1 mm
Date Taken: 2006-07-19 15:02
Metering Mode: Average
Flash: No
Support: Handheld

Raw File processed using RawShooter Premium 2006. Minor adjustments and frame using PSCS 1
SunToucher, RAP, aido, claudine, hester, horia, valy67, Hil, blakitan, dew77, marhowie, chouette, pablominto, SkyF, firelord, coasties, annagrace, Silke, Signal-Womb, gerhardt has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Alan,
I like this the shallow DOF works perfectly especially with the brown grass crossing the entire photo. It also allows the viewer to focus on its head perfectly. The details and the colors are very beautiful.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2165 W: 124 N: 2567] (8208)
  • [2006-08-03 14:15]

I love it Alan,
the pov is good and the dof is great, fantastic job.
gr. jaap

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-08-03 14:16]

Extraña, misteriosa y balla composición a partir de un POV muy especial.
Impactante nitidez en la cabeza del insecto con colores muy vívidos y buen encuadre.
Simpático disparo Alan.
Saludos... Ricardo

Strange, mysterious and beautiful composition from a very special POV.
Impressive clearness in the head of the insect with very vivid colors and good frame.
Nice shot Alan.
Greetings... Ricardo

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1097 W: 168 N: 1218] (4046)
  • [2006-08-03 14:38]

Hi Alan,
Now that's what I call shallow DOF :-) Very artistic approach, from the extreme DOF to the tight vertical format. Great colours, I like it!
Cheers,
Adrian

Hi Alan,
It is quite different from what we use to see from you, in fact. I like this composition a lot! Very impressive POV and DOF. Nice colors. A very original picture, I like it
:-) TFS,
Claudine

Very interesting use of depth of field, Alan. I like this a lot. I've just taken my first damselfly photo today. Great subjects once you can find them!

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2006-08-03 15:32]

Great POV and an excellent DOF. I like this - it is really original

Hello Alan, Nice Job, He looks mean, excllent colors, the shallow DOF works well,, details are crisp, Nice work, TFS Kyle

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3070 W: 231 N: 5861] (19714)
  • [2006-08-03 16:46]

Hello Alan,
A very interesting shot indeed. Very creative!
Amazing POV and absolutely beautiful blue. : )
You did a great job with the DOF.
TFS this great macro. : )

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1318 W: 52 N: 1782] (5276)
  • [2006-08-03 17:10]

Hi Alan !
This is an unusual shot, with this very shallow DOF, but it is very nice. Great focus on the head and the eyes, and wonderful colors - this blue is amazing. Composition and POV are also excellent. Very well done !
Valérie.

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1408] (4839)
  • [2006-08-03 18:57]

Hi Alan

I like the artistic look of this shot, the colours are lovely and the detail on the D/fly's head is excellent, Well Done

TFS
Regards Hilary

Excellent use of the aperature you controlled the DOF very nicely. :)

Very "artistic" macro. I like particularly the colours and the choice of DOF.
Superb, Alan!
Best regards
JJ

Yep - you shoudl be pleased with the results. it is wonderful and stunning. It was really worked well. there is a great sense of depth in this picture and the colours are excepetional.

TFS
Emma

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2081 W: 216 N: 3759] (12472)
  • [2006-08-04 4:14]

Splendid macro, Alan!

I simply love what you've done here with the DOF...really great!
Also superb POV, beautiful colors and very nice framing.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-08-04 4:15]

Hello Alan,
Artistic macro.I liked POV,colors,DOF you managed,framing and composition a lot.
Excellent work!
TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • viv Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 302 W: 3 N: 621] (3122)
  • [2006-08-04 6:39]

Hi Alan,
Indeed a very special composition, you did a great job on it.
I like it a lot.
TFS
Vivian

Hi Alan,
A bold composition, with the limited DOF definitely producing a unique effect :)
I like it!
Very well done...and have a Great Weekend!!

Cute little face! Nice POV and colors. Your low DOF makes your image very original. TFS!

Hi Alan,
Funny composition, I like the effect from the narrow DOF!
Great details and interesting colours, well framed and well done on the macro work!
Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-08-05 7:28]

Hello Alan,
very well composed shot, I like this narrow DOF it works here very well. Great focus on the head of this damsel. Very artistic composition.
TFS..Sky

Hi Alan

Congrats, this is an excellent macro. Dragged my macro lens out of storage yesterday. Had a practise, dumped all my shots into the recycle bin and put the lens back in storage. Just can't manage to get it right! Well done on great work! :-)

Spot on DOF, it's quite amazing. Well seen, my friend. Hope your Saturday was as fun as mine!

Alli

Alan this is so different and it works brilliantly. wonderful perspective on this little wonder of nature. Great work mf.

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1729] (5398)
  • [2006-08-07 7:59]

You have every right to be pleased with the results, Alan! this is a really superb composition! TFS
Silke

I just love this effect. The leading lines and minimal DOF creates a unique capture. Great initiative. Well done. Maybe adjust the exposure +1/3 to get some more light on the subject, but then it can also be my monitor.

Hi,

It is really a different shot, The idea is just amazing and more amazing than that is the composition.

Thanks,

-Varahram

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1029 W: 0 N: 90] (7745)
  • [2006-09-01 7:51]

Hi Alan
Great composition. Great colours, light, POV and composition.
Well done mf

osse

Great macro!
It's a very interesting photo.

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