The weather forecast suggested clear skies, bright sunshine and no wind early on this morning so with this I decided to get up early and see if I could capture a damselfly at sunrise photo like I did last year. I had been down the night before just before they roosted and saw where a few of them were so this morning at 5.30am, I was out of the house and arrived a few minutes later. The weather looked very good with no wind, clear skies except for an annoying line of cloud where the sun was to rise so with this I set up and looked for a likely damselfly. I soon found an individual on the high mound roosting and set up around it and made sure the camera settings were all correct. Although there was not much light at this hour, I opted to use AV mode, ISO 400 and hoped that when the sun started to rise, I would get enough speed. At about 5.55am, the sun started to rise and I started firing off a number of shots trying to capture the damselfly and the sun together. There didn't appear to be much red/orange in the sky this morning but I ended up with a few usable images but I think with the right sky and conditions, I can make some improvements quite easily.
Common Blue Damselfly at Sunrise
I spent the next few hours wandering around where I saw c15 Emperor Dragonfly, hundreds of Common Darter in tandem ovipositing over the water, good numbers of Ruddy Darter, Small Red eyed, Common Blue and Blue tailed Damselfly, c10 Migrant Hawker and a few Black tailed Skimmer. I did try for a few Migrant Hawker and Emperor Dragonfly flight photos but without much success so I will be back again soon to improve on what I have taken so far if I can. With the temperature getting warmer by the minute, I made my way back home for a drink and late breakfast and ended another very nice session.
Common Blue Damselfly at Sunrise
You were up early Marc, too early for me. Fantasic images.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bob. Quite pleased with them but much more room for improvement I think.
DeleteAlways the best time of day to be out Marc, summer or winter.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning images today, pretty much what we expect from you now.
Many thanks Derek. As you say, the best time to be out. Always a challenge to try to capture those early morning colours in the shots.
DeleteI just love that outline of the Damsels Mouth parts LoL . Worth the effort of getting out early Marc, you got some cracking and original images, not much Odonata gets photographed in this way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Warren. You are right actually when you say not much gets photographed in this way. I just love the early start and the challenge. Sure to hsve another go i'm sure.
DeleteMarc.
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing photo's. They are all great, but without a shadow of a doubt the last one is my favourite.
Many thanks Ken. I think with the right morning and correct lighting, I can improve on these I hope.
DeleteAbsolutely brilliant Marc, I doubt you can improve on these amazing images.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Roy. It will be challenging but given the right conditions, I shall see what I can do.
DeleteStunning captures Marc.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Roos