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Gentleman Southern Hawker


Gentleman Southern Hawker
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11751)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07-21
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Sigma 50 mm 2.8 EX Macro, Digital ISO 400, Kenko 2x MC7 Teleconverter
Exposure: f/18.0, 1/50 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-07-25 13:46
Viewed: 1516
Points: 66
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Southern Hawker, Aeshna cyanea is a large dragonfly with a wingspan of over 100 mm. Their flight season is long and can span mis-June to October. Males are quite curious and will often approach people, hovering whilst taking a look, tehn returning to their regular "beat". It's common to find these Hawkers in woodland rides and they will breed in ponds, lakes and canals. The species is common in the south of England and Wales and is thought to be moving further north with isolated populations being found up to Scotland.

This is one of my favourite British species as it's not too difficult to find one perched and with a little patience you can get very close. The closer you get the more beautiful they are and I find myself torn between looking at them and taking a photo. I've never seen a photo that does the eyes justice, to the naked eye the compound eyes of these Dragons have a look that resembles coloured-molten glass.


I got very close to this one, there was a little wind and he and his perch kept blowing on to my hand. After I took a couple of shots and spent 5 mins looking at him I slowly put my hand beneath him and took his weight. He then took off and on my hand I could feel the breeze created by his wings.

I hope you like him as much as I do.

manyee, carper, Marche, sAner, phlr, christophe, novaman, wishnugaruda, marhowie, ddg, gerhardt, Signal-Womb, red45, LordPotty, AndyB, chouette, sway, dew77, puffy, Comandante, momos, naki, Fisher, electra, RAP, marjan has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Kirsten: Thanks!PDP 4 07-25 16:18
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3068 W: 231 N: 5840] (19618)
  • [2005-07-25 13:49]

Wow... stunning macro, Paul. The colors are so vivid, and the details are razor sharp. Excellent POV. Congrats and TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2167 W: 124 N: 2567] (8208)
  • [2005-07-25 13:53]

it's a beauty Paul,
I have then seen but they where flying and flying and the photofrpher, that was I was looking and looking to this fantastic flyers,
very good capture Paul the details are nice, the colours are good, Your a lucky man I know,
good job,
gr. Jaap

Bonjour Paul,
Magnifique macro. Superbes couleurs et détails extraordinaires des ailes. Amicalement
Martine

Wow, awesome shot. cograts

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2005-07-25 14:08]

Wow, this is just stunning Paul. So close, so sharp, such superb colors ...! Well done & TFS!

Regards,
Pieter

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2306 W: 324 N: 4306] (16850)
  • [2005-07-25 14:15]

Paul, a very beautiful and pleasant picture.

Excellent sharpness, great detalis, vivid colors.

Very nice interaction between you and the guy. Congratulations on everything.

Anothere great macro Paul.The details and the colors are perfect.
TFS.

Wow wow wow,
that's absolute perfect.
So near and clear, amazing.
I don't have words - only - PERFECT!
Congratulations
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • ddg Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 880 W: 23 N: 926] (4989)
  • [2005-07-25 14:44]

Bonjour Paul, magnifique close up sur le dos de cette belle libellule. Vivid colors and very good sharpness. Very well done. TFS Didier.

It's moments such as these that you described that keeps me going. :)

Paul, this is an interesting POV and shows lovely details. I love the way the wings destorts the BG, never seen that before. I don't have anything to add that you might benefit from except that I wish I could get a shot like this. :)

hey paul, nice filling shot :)
the details are outstanding, focus and sharpness are realy good,compo maybe better if the head was pointed to the right,but it's also good this way ,dof is very good and so are the colours.well done.

Love the tight composition and stunning colours Paul, detail is of course marvelous and wonderful. Very good shot, great note.

Hi Paul!
Amazing supermacro! IO'm still amazed of your effort to show me world of the wild nature so close!
Thank you very much!

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2806 W: 75 N: 7857] (26309)
  • [2005-07-25 16:45]

Paul, another sure winner! I love details and sharpness, especially veins on its wings. Yellow and black colours look great. Impressive work.

A very special moment for you.
Isn't it a great feeling.
The shot is awesome.
A great POV and fantastic detail.
We don't have many large dragonflies here,but when I see one again I'll try damn hard to capture it...just for you.

  • Great 
  • Kris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 193 W: 0 N: 129] (1806)
  • [2005-07-25 17:25]

Excellent macro, good shot.
Perfect sharpness, pretty composition.
I greet , Paul.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1592 W: 32 N: 1361] (3978)
  • [2005-07-25 19:45]

Hello Paul,
Its a great capture.
Superb colours and excellent detail.
Very nice indeed!
TFS

Hi Paul, this is a superb macro! Outstanding details and sharpness.Beautiful colors and excellent composition.
Congratulations!
Helene

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 5 N: 2144] (11868)
  • [2005-07-25 23:40]

Superbe prise de vue sur cette insecte. Les couleurs sont spectaculaire et magnifiques.

Félicitations !!1

  • Great 
  • sway Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 316 W: 88 N: 308] (1212)
  • [2005-07-26 0:04]

WOW !
Fantastic details, it is nice to see the working parts of a dragonfly up close.
Great colours.
Fantastic composition.
:)

Great macro, Paul.
It's an unusual POV and angel but I like it.
Nice colours, very good details and DOF.
Excellent work.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2005-07-26 3:48]

Hello Paul!
This is a magnificent macro.Details are crisp clear and razor sharp.POV,framing,DOF and composition are excellent.TFS...:-)

  • Great 
  • puffy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 314 W: 0 N: 352] (1349)
  • [2005-07-26 5:50]

Superb macro shot Paul, excellent colours, the details, sharpness and DOF are just perfect. Very well captured and nice composition. Well done my friend, thanks for sharing. :)

Hello Paul!
Wonderful close up.POV,details,sharpness,colors and composition are perfect.Thanks for sharing.

Hi Paul
Excellent capture, details and fantastic colors
TFS
In a friendly way Christophe
PT

Great work Paul! I enjoyed your note on the Hawker and your details about the experience..

  • Great 
  • momos Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 57 W: 58 N: 172] (705)
  • [2005-07-26 8:31]

Φανταστικά χρώματα και πολύ καλή οξύτητα έχει η φωτογραφία σου Paul. Πολύ όμορφη!!! (gr)
Christos

  • Great 
  • naki Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 421 W: 27 N: 783] (2688)
  • [2005-07-26 9:36]

Hi Paul, what a moment you described with this hawker, and what a breath taking beauty it is.
Excellent shot. magnificent colours and details and finaly, very good composition.
Very well done.

Hi Paul,
Well done on the composition. I like the angle achieved. The details are crisp and clean. You did well on this capture. The subject is well exposed.
Excellent work on this beauty.

Mike

Hello Paul
Very nice composition. Nothing to say as habitual with your excellent work.

Hi Paul,
this is an exellent Macro of a dragonfly. Exellent Job. And thank you for sharing it.

  • Great 
  • jsec (0)
  • [2005-07-26 18:26]

I`ve never seen anything like it. Superb.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-07-25 15:00]

Impresionantes detalles en esta super macro Paul.
Gran trabajo, sin dudas... excelente DOF y nitidez.
TFS.

Impressive details in this super macro Paul.
Great job, without doubts... excellent DOF and clearness.
TFS.

Composition: *****
Sharpness: *****
Color: *****
DOF: *****
POV: *****
Note: ****

  • Great 
  • marjan Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 482 W: 10 N: 362] (2627)
  • [2007-07-12 11:23]

excelent shot, yes Paul this is for lexicon or some ather book. Good details adn extra nice POV.
Marjan

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