Powder Blue (Orthetrum caledonicum - Blue Skimmer Dragonfly)
THE SUBJECT:
A handsome specimen of the male Orthetrum caledonicum (Blue Skimmer Dragonfly) caught in the gorgeous light late on an autumn afternoon.
THE LOCATION:
Beside a large pond on a Port Macquarie Panthers Camera Club friend’s property at Kundabung, between Kempsey and Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia.
THE MAKING of ‘Powder Blue (Orthetrum caledonicum – Blue Skimmer Dragonfly)’:
With my lens stretched out to its full zoom I stood at times teetering on the crumbling edge of the pond trying to get just that bit closer to the Dragon. Gravity almost got me once but luckily I recovered my balance.
Fuji S9600: RAW, f/4.9 @ 1/170sec, Manual focus, ISO80, Hand held.
Lightroom 1.1 & Photoshop CS3.
Visit the Insects & Spiders collection in my BubbleSite Gallery for more wingéd delights.
NOTE: 22-4-09
I lightened the image slightly and gave the saturation a tweak then made a print on Ilford Galerie Smooth High Gloss Media. Superb!
UPDATE: 1-5-09
This lovely blue beauty has been featured in the Australian Travel Photography and Writing Group.
UPDATE: 11-8-09
This blue dragon was awarded a MERIT in the Port Macquarie Panthers Camera Club’s July 2009 Open Competition in the Large Colour Print Section.
Enjoy!
DRAGONS & DAMSELS
(Click the links!)
Orthetrum caledonicum – Powder Blue
Austroargiolestes icteromelas – Dainty Damsel
Powder Blue (Orthetrum caledonicum - Blue Skimmer Dragonfly) belongs to the following groups:
** Super Macro Photography (Two Per Day ), Backyard Macro and Closeups (3 a day), Dragonflies, Former DPF Members, Insects, Bugs and Creepy Crawlies (2 A Day), New South Wales Photography and Point and Shooters Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
kalaryder
Dennis this is outstanding, the wings are so clear and detailed
Dennis Gay replied
Konbanwa Mik!
Welcome to Kundabung. Great to see you are the first Bubbler to arrive and that you have spotted this gorgeously lit blue beauty.
Thank you very much indeed for your uplifting and very encouraging ”…outstanding…” wrap for this delightful, delicate Dragon.
This one is a real favourite of mine and I am honoured to see you have made it a favourite of yours.
GB
Dennis
mltrue
such a beautiful image, gret detail and clarity.
Dennis Gay replied
Hiya Michelle!
Move very slowly and carefully so you don’t scare off the Dragonfly or fall into the water.
Thank you heaps for your most appreciative and supportive ”...beautiful…” comment for my pond-side photography.
Thank you too for the honour of adding this blue beauty to your favourites.
GB
Dennis
Marilyn Harris
Gorgeous capture Dennis! Great work! :o)
Dennis Gay replied
Cheers Marilyn!
Your visit to the pond and your most encouraging “Gorgeous…” wrap for my Dragon hunting effort is most welcome.
GB
Dennis
SharonD
Beautiful macro Dennis. Really stands out.
Dennis Gay replied
Wotcha Sharon!
Happy to see you join the gang at Kundabung.
My warmest thanks for your very generous and encouraging “Beautiful…” comment for this well lit Blue Skimmer.
GB
Dennis
Mick Davson
excellent macro work again Dennis
Dennis Gay replied
Hellooooo Mick!
Good to have you with us as we stalk the pond and that you have spotted this lovely Skimmer.
Thank you kindly for your most encouraging and flattering “excellent…” wrap for this close-up shot.
GB
Dennis
Dennis Gay
G’day Donovan wilson …. wherever you are …..,
Thank you for the honour of adding this work to your favourites. I can only assume by this action that you like it. Please fell free to return any time to let me know just what it is you like about it.
GB
Dennis
Marvin Collins
Superb macro image Dennis, perfect sharpness and colors, well done!!
Dennis Gay replied
Prost Marvin!
Great to see you join the Bubbler pond hunt and that you have caught sight of this posing Dragon.
My utmost thanks for your most generous and uplifting “Superb…” comment for my insectivorous photography.
GB
Dennis
Dawne Olson
Smashing colors! Just love the angle of his wings in this shot as well… so elegant looking. Really a wonderful image and dragonflies have always held a special fascination for me anyway.
Dennis Gay replied
Bon Jour Dawne!
Lovely to see you out hunting Dragonflies with the RB gang and that your eagle eye has spotted this powder blue beauty.
Merci beaucoup for your enthusiastic and most encouraging “Smashing…” wrap for this autumnal close-up.
Thank you too for the honour of adding this Dragon to your favourites.
GB
Dennis
barkeypf
Amazing hand held Dennis, so sharp.
Dennis Gay replied
Howdy Paul!
Really good to have you with us at Kundabung for a bit of Dragon spotting.
Muchos gracias for your great “Amazing…” comment for this good lookin’ Skimmer. It is all greatly appreciated.
1/170sec is not too slow for a good hand held shot in good light but the f/4.9 on my camera means that my zoom was at full 300mm stretch. So it was therefore a combination of good camera holding technique, controlled breathing, little to no breeze and a very compliant subject that brought you this result. But then again it IS a Fuji! 8-)
GB
Dennis
Hans Kawitzki
Beautiful details and nice background
Dennis Gay replied
Hola Hans!
Ssssshhhhh don’t make a noise or you will frighten it away.
Your interest and “Beautiful…” comment for this delightful Dragon is most welcome and very encouraging.
I was concentrating so hard on nailing the Dragonfly that I didn’t even think about the background so to get one like this is a real bonus.
GB
Dennis
Thordis
Amazing shot Dennis! Love the dark blue background the fly seems to really glow against it. Perfect focus on the fly.
Dennis Gay replied
Daginn Thordis!
Good to see that summer had finally come to Iceland and a big welcome to Kundabung for the Dragon hunt.
Thank you kindly for your very encouraging and appreciative “Amazing…” wrap for my pond life photography.
GB
Dennis
Rachel Davison
Wow – what a shot!
Dennis Gay replied
Hola RD!
Lovely to see you prowling the edge of the pond at Kundabung on my Dragonfly hunt.
Muchos gracias for your excited and encouraging “Wow…” wrap for this blue beauty.
GB
D!
Dennis Gay
UPDATE: 1-5-09
This lovely blue beauty has been featured in the Australian Travel Photography and Writing Group.
My warmest thanks to the Hosts and to all who have supported my handsome Dragon.
GB
Dennis
Adam Gormley
Beautiful shot Dennis, well deserved feature!!
Dennis Gay replied
Hiya Adam!
Great to see a Noosarian join the RB Dragon hunting team at Kundabung.
Thanks heaps for your most generous “Beautiful…” wrap for this li’l doozy and for your congratz for the feature.
GB
Dennis
WendyJC
so very beautiful Dennis!
Dennis Gay replied
Howzit Wendy!
Happy to have another pond prowler join the Dragon hunt.
Many thanks indeed for your uplifting and encouraging ”...very beautiful…” comment for this blue beauty.
GB
Dennis
Dennis Gay
UPDATE: 11-8-09
This blue dragon was awarded a MERIT in the Port Macquarie Panthers Camera Club’s July 2009 Open Competition in the Large Colour Print Section.
Heaps big thanks to all the bubblers who have supported this work. Without such encouragement and support it may still well be buried somewhere deep in my hard drive never to see the light of competition.
GB
Dennis
Joyce Dickens,...
Spectacular photography Dennis…I am so happy you chose to share this beautiful image – and a big, really big, heartfelt Congratulations on your awards….well done my friend! JD
Dennis Gay replied
Ciao JOYCE!
Lovely to see you at Kundabung. Careful you don’t slip into the pond!
Thank you big time for your most inspiring and encouraging “Spectacular…” comment for this blue dragon, your congratz for the awards, your WD and for adding this to your favourites collection.
GB
Dennis