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Green Darner


Green Darner
Photo Information
Copyright: Mark Kula (markula) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 147 W: 0 N: 216] (882)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-12
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Eos 300D Digital Rebel, Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di LD IF Macro
Exposure: f/22, 1/200 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-10-06 21:57
Viewed: 5411
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This fellow was so huge that I couldn't get far enough from it to get a shot of its entire body. I found it in marshes where abundant vegetation would get in between the subject and the front of my long macro lens. Since I couldn't get the dragonfly to fit in the frame I decided to get as close as possible and this was the result. Original image slightly cropped to remove distracting edges of the wings getting into the frame, brightened by +2/3 F-stop, sharpened and noise (ISO400) reduced in Neat Image. Shot taken handheld with the flash.
Take a look at the workshop to see how the picture originally looked like.
When fully grown, green darners are about 3 inches (7.6cm) long and have a wingspan of 4.5 inches (11.4cm). They have a green head and thorax. The abdomen is yellow and brown on females; long, slender and bluish on males. They have large compound eyes, strong jaws, and spiny legs. Their wings are clear with a yellowish tint toward the tips and are strongly veined with net-like pattern.
Larvae eat fish eggs, tadpoles and other small aquatic animals. Adults eat wasps, butterflies, mosquitoes, and other flying insects (including other dragonflies). Larvae are eaten by fish, turtles, frogs, and wading birds. Adults are eaten by birds, fish and frogs. Two to three months after emerging as adult dragonflies, green darners reach sexual maturity. Eggs are laid one at a time in aquatic vegetation. The eggs hatch in the spring. During the larval stages, generally lasting two to three years, the nymphs (aquatic larvae) pass through 11 to 12 larval stages before metamorphosing into dragonflies. Once they emerge as adults, they immediately begin the cycle again. Green darners spend a few years in larval form, and only live four to seven weeks as adults.
fyapici, BEHRAD, jcoowanitwong, horia, magal, anavazao, Alex99, John_F_Kennedy, mikou has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Mark.
Wow! Great details. Very nice chosen POV and very sharp, vivid colours. Congratulations and TFS.
Greetings
Fevzi

details of facet r just great, but it seems that lights doesn't fall to them symmetrically. This, to my opinion, effects the perfectness of the image. Also tighter cropping by deleting more the empty room on the right would be nicer....

Hi Mark
Great shot.
Good focus and POV.
I like it.
Regards

Behrad

Hi Mark,
First time to see a dragonfly at this pov. All settings seem perfect to me. Congratulations.
JC

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2006-10-07 3:50]

Hi Mark

What a great macro! Very interesting POV...and just like ever other new idea - i like it :)
Excellent details, lovely colors and very good lighting.
The differences between the original image and this one a re very small - so thumbs up for the photographer :)
I also know how big vegetation can be a pain sometimes...but you really made the best of it :)
Great work!
Bravo and TFS
Horia

Bonjour,
Spendide gros plan.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

Hi Mark,
with your very direct approach concentrating on stunning patterns in symmetry you have created an image of strong impact.
Interesting to read your complete notes, too. Thank you!
Best regards,
Peter

Hello,
Very very nice macro. TFS
Mehmet

hi mark
vraiment tres detaillée nette colorée,parfaite quoi!
laurent

Hi Mark,
it's an excellent shot and a very interesting dragonfly. We can see every detail of the eyes and I like the blue part on the nose.
Very well done, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Mark ,

EXELLENT macro shot
Perfect sharpness , details , lightning , POV , DOF

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-10-07 9:28]

Espectacular macro Mark, los detalles de la cabeza de este dragón con perfecto POV, agudeza y DOF.
Buen PP ya que no se aprecia ruido alguno a pesar del ISO400 que mencionas.
Interesante la nota que acompaña.
TFS y saludos... Ricardo

Spectacular macro Mark, the details of the head of this dragon with perfect POV, sharpness and DOF.
Good PP since noise some is not appreciated in spite of ISO400 that you mention.
Interesting the note that accompanies.
TFS and greetings... Ricardo

Hello,
Wonderful close up!
Well seen and composed!
POV,details,sharpness and visual impact are excellent!
Take care Ana:)

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2006-10-07 14:43]

Hoi Mark , A Very Great shot , it's a beauty ,good details colours pov bg i like it , tfs Greetings Teunie .

  • Great 
  • jojo Gold Star Critiquer [C: 168 W: 0 N: 8] (176)
  • [2006-10-08 4:30]

Splendides détails, belles couleurs, image parfaite


TFS

jojo

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2006-10-08 14:07]

Hi.
Impressing picture, Mark. Great details, true colours and close-close-up :))). I like the lighting and exposure of this shot. Very well done. TFS and my regards.
Alexei.

Hola Mark, impresionante, vaya retratazo. Buen POV y DOF. Un saludo y TFS.

José Luis

An excellent macro shot on this animal. Very good colours and details in this shot. I lkie it
Achim

  • Great 
  • ridvan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 498 W: 0 N: 1136] (5205)
  • [2007-04-11 16:56]

Excellent ans so close up shot of this beautiful insect.
Good POV and DOF. Great exposure.
Good sharpness
well done
regards
ridvan

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 869 W: 68 N: 1479] (6093)
  • [2007-08-06 6:14]

Hi Mark.
This is precise made very close-up.Superb sharp details and wonderful colors with great contrast against dark BG.Excellent.Take care.
TFS and best regards Milos.

Well done sir, with great detail and colours. Excellent work...
Cheers,
Cecilia

  • Great 
  • waylim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 296 W: 8 N: 489] (1765)
  • [2009-10-30 16:42]

Hi Mark,
Really great details, I love it. Sometime, I rather look at some insect a bit further away because the closer up you look at them the more alien like they look :)
I grow up playing wit insect that I found in the village and forest. Crickit, grass hopers, anything...that I can get my hand on. thanks.
Way

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