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Portrait of a Lady (60)
thistle Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1317 W: 77 N: 3012] (9272)
Today something from warm summer days - a portrait of female Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens).

Demoiselles are one of my favourite insects for sure. They are so different from any other damselflies especially when you watch them flying.

I very much like to photograph these guys but I find it quite tricky most of the time. They are quite shy and usually fly away when you try to get closer. When I photograph them in my pond I usually have to take off shoes and get into water. What is quite interesting when you approach Demoiselles very carefully the get used to you and stop flying away. In fact some of them seem to stop paying attention at all.

The one on my picture was quite easy to photograph comparing to some others. To get this shot I had to get into water though. It wasn't so bad considering the fact it was a hot summer afternoon :-)
The DOF is shallow on purpose because I wanted to concentrate on the quite interesting "face".
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thistle Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1317 W: 77 N: 3012] (9272)
alternative
Edited by:PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
I desaturated the yellows
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thistle Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1317 W: 77 N: 3012] (9272)
Levels +
Edited by:PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
Hi Monika, it's subtle but I played with the levels a little and lightened shadows by 5%.

I hope you like it.