Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

[alfbranch]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

My first Damsel fly of the year which as far as I can tell is a large red.

I saw it and positioning myself when it darted off and return in about a second then it started to eat this crane fly.

Large red Damsel fly_ by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Large red Damsel fly 2 by Alf Branch, on Flickr

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Alf,

Excellent shots.

A large Red male.

Harold

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Rosemary Beetle Chrysolina americana with a Crosseye Stereo:

Last year one frame had the tip of the abdomen of, what I now recognise as, a Rosemary beetle. It was protruding from some crowded leaf bases of lavender.

This year I have been searching for it, on sunny days, on our two rosemary plants. On the latest occasion, I had just given up when I saw the familiar rear end, in much the same situation as last year, on our lavender. I detached the sprig of foliage and sat at our garden bench to do this in comfort. Oh, joy!

I later learned that they like lavender, as well as rosemary.

EM-1, Kiron 105mm at f16, twin flash.

Harold

[art frames]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

My first Damsel fly of the year which as far as I can tell is a large red.

I saw it and positioning myself when it darted off and return in about a second then it started to eat this crane fly.

Alf - lovely detail and I am beginning to see the value in getting in close. I have several shots of eating but they are further out. When you get this close you can almost hear the crunching noises...

I love the eye colours.

[art frames]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Rosemary Beetle Chrysolina americana with a Crosseye Stereo:

Last year one frame had the tip of the abdomen of, what I now recognise as, a Rosemary beetle. It was protruding from some crowded leaf bases of lavender.

This year I have been searching for it, on sunny days, on our two rosemary plants. On the latest occasion, I had just given up when I saw the familiar rear end, in much the same situation as last year, on our lavender. I detached the sprig of foliage and sat at our garden bench to do this in comfort. Oh, joy!

I later learned that they like lavender, as well as rosemary.

EM-1, Kiron 105mm at f16, twin flash.

Harold

Harold all good ones, but this first is my personal favourite. Not seen these in my lavender, but they are spreading north apparently. I could do a swap with some extra lily beetles I don't need??

But seriously, I do like jewelled colour beetles. I see many more on the continent (different species but similar impact). Very hard to get a bright strong colour and little highlight flare.

As always half the google entries were about the beetle half about using pesticides to eradicate them. All they do is munch rosemary or lavender and we should destroy them...!

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Harold all good ones, but this first is my personal favourite. Not seen these in my lavender, but they are spreading north apparently. I could do a swap with some extra lily beetles I don't need??

Peter,

Thanks. most kind of you to offer but I was photographing four fresh batches of eggs recently.

A fellow insect macro specialist near the south coast cannot find any Rosemary Beetles.

Harold

[Walti]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Not seen these in my lavender, but they are spreading north apparently. I could do a swap with some extra lily beetles I don't need??

Tried to breed some for you last year, but the female managed to remain asleep....



Taken with insufficient extra light so a bit ropey....

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Tried to breed some for you last year, but the female managed to remain asleep....



Taken with insufficient extra light so a bit ropey....

I have tweaked it a bit:




Harold

[Walti]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

I will have to spend more time learning how to do that better! it was the original file, not processed!

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

I will have to spend more time learning how to do that better! it was the original file, not processed!

My software, which was broken for quite a while is now working normally.

I used the same Topaz plugins that I use for all my images. DeNoise (Version 6), DeTail3 and Infocus.

In Detail 3 I normally use the preset Overall Detail Light II, but for yours I used Moderate II.

In Infocus I normally use Out of Focus but used Unknown Estimate, to allow for any motion blur, for yours.

This was all on a JPEG but results might be better with a RAW file before converting to JPEG.

Harold

[alfbranch]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

A couple more from yesterday

I am finally seeing butterflies round here



Male orange tip by Alf Branch, on Flickr

A rather large beetle I spotted from 20 yards

Two banded longhorn by Alf Branch, on Flickr

[Harold Gough]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

A couple more from yesterday

I am finally seeing butterflies round here

A rather large beetle I spotted from 20 yards

Two banded longhorn by Alf Branch, on Flickr

Alf,

Very nice images.

Your beetle is a Longhorn and it seems to match Rhagium bifasciatum.

However, it is said that there is a species for every species of tree so it might be a similar species.

Harold

[art frames]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

Tried to breed some for you last year, but the female managed to remain asleep....


Taken with insufficient extra light so a bit ropey....

Thanks for trying, if you want the lily beetles I am happy to send, they seem to breed without AI ...

thanks for sharing your shot. The low light helps in reducing glare but is a pain for reducing movement and getting dof. You can't win with macro.

[art frames]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

I will have to spend more time learning how to do that better! it was the original file, not processed!

If you still have creative cloud then you have got some fantastic tools to work with raw files (or jpg if pushed) I know they are complex but even the quick fixes are worth playing with. There are lots of online videos and experts to show you ideas..

We could help a bit too. I have the creative cloud through my university work. So I use it on everything and have used Photoshop for years right back to the early versions.

So please have a go and ask. Maybe share a raw file and we can show you how it might be tweaked.

My advice is just to start with subtle tweaks until you get comfortable with the programs.

[art frames]

Re: Communal Dragonfly, Butterfly and Insect photo thread

A couple more from yesterday

I am finally seeing butterflies round here

Glad the warmth has begun to get things going Alf. I have seen more orange tips than previous years so it seems promising.

That is a nice orange tip, good focus on the eye and feeding. But the longhorn is a beauty and good enough to make the whole trip feel worthwhile

may the warm weather continue..