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Spooky Slender Skimmer


Spooky Slender Skimmer
Photo Information
Copyright: Ram Thakur (ramthakur) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3295 W: 167 N: 9912] (32154)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-04
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D200, Sigma EX 105mm F2.8 DG Macro, 58mm UV
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/320 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-14 3:38
Viewed: 589
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Friends, I find Slender Skimmers to be the friendliest dragonflies in my area. They allow me to shoot them from any point of view from close range.
I tried frontal approach in this shot and captured this image in which, if you get my Gestalt, you see a funny human face in the face of the dragonfly.
My first reaction was that it looked a bit spooky, lurking behind a stick and displaying a sardonic smile on its face.
That is why the caption.
Hope you find it interesting.

Slender Skimmer or Orthetrum sabina is a common and widespread dragonfly found all over Asia and parts of Australia, the Middle East and Northern Africa.
The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded (as Silsby does) we are left with a family of over 1000 species. With nearly worldwide distribution, these are almost certainly the most often seen of the dragonflies.

The genus Libellula is mostly New World, but also boasts one of the few endangered odonates from Japan - Libellula angelina. Many of the members of this genus are brightly colored or have banded wings. The related genus Plathemis includes the whitetails. The genus Celithemis contains several brightly marked species in the southern United States. Members of the genus Sympetrum are called darters (or meadowhawks in North America), and are found throughout most of the world. Several Southern Hemisphere species in the genera Trithemis and Zenithoptera are especially beautiful. Other common genera include Tramea and Pantala.

Sources:

1.Wikipedia

2.http://www.nerdybirders.com/html/dragonflies/slender-skimmer.html

Thanks for looking and regards to all.
Argus, cataclysta, liziafa, mayuresh, eqshannon, NinaM, sranjan, jaycee, maurydv, haraprasan has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2008-07-14 4:01]

I agree, this is a somewhat spooky expression, Ram!
The frontal POV lets us see the face of this slender Skimmer with excellent sharpness, a rather unusual POV as most fly off when we try it, which confirms your statement that this species is less camera-shy.
Good view of the wings too, nicely seen against a diffuse BG.
Thanks for sharing this interesting capture,
All the best,
Ivan

Hi Ram,
Very good shot.
Excellent framing, colours and sharpness.
Nice to looking this photo.
TSF Malgosia

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4723] (16252)
  • [2008-07-14 6:02]

Hi Ram!
Very good photo, good POV, and the light also very interesting, the focus is also very good.
This Slender Skimmers is very attractive.
Regards Siggi

Hello Ram sir,
wonderful frontal pov,superb shot with great sharpness,nice composition,
well done,
tfs

I've seen that sardonic look on them Ram. the words of explanation never came to me until I read your notes...Sardonic is quite right on. And in this case quite true. I see what almost looked as if a flash but it is nothing more than the good use of light. Tres!
Bob

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6594)
  • [2008-07-14 7:48]

I always think that dragonflies' faces are very spooky. The first time I got one in a macro, I shivered! It is up to my worst nightmares! Yet, they are amazing insects and beautiful if you don't see the face ;-) This picture is superb and original because we rarely have a face to face encounter with them, they are quite prone to leave quickly without advice. Thanks for sharing this beautiful picture and interesting notes, Ram,

Francine

Dear Ram Sir,
Excellent frontal POV with great sharpness & details of this skimmer. Your photographs might escalate the real estate value of NOIDA :)
Regards-Subhash

Hello Ram,
I see the Skimmer's mask:-) with a little hat.
Well done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-07-14 10:07]

Hi Ram,

I love your title! It's the face that looks spooky - we very rarely get to see the face of a Skimmer. Amazing that you were able to get this shot without him taking off. Pose is wonderful, details are excellent of the face and those wonderful wings.

Jane

Bellissima cattura, inusuale POV ma efficace per mostrare la parte anteriore della libellula in una composizione con un "classico" posatoio su uno stupendo OOF BG, buona definizione nella zona a fuoco, un'immagine con un ottimo impatto visivo. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2008-07-14 16:10]

Hi,just marking,no time,thanks for share,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2008-07-14 22:23]

Hi Ram

Awonderful POV with really lovely details. light and colour. Your patience has been rewarded.

TFS
JAmes

Hi Ram, great capture of wonderful dragonfly by unusual POV, great composition with lovely blurry BG and beautiful colors, fantastic details and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Mr. Ram,
A nice capture of this beautiful skimmer. An innovative POV with sharp details and a very good composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Ram
Face to face with a slender skimmer. Nice POV, good background Everything is clearly visible. Good sharp image. I am waiting for more ;-)
Best wishes
Krzysztof

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-07-15 3:58]

Hello Ramsir, Thank you for sharing this front view. It looks as if the dragonfly is playing hide and seek as I have explained before. Ganesh

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