Dragonfly-Days
.....for South Wales Dragonfly enthusiasts
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www.dragonfly-days.co.uk © Bill Jones 2008
Photography
Photographing dragonflies and damselflies takes patience and fieldcraft and to a certain degree the choice of camera and lens you use can mean the difference between a snap or a good photograph to be proud of. So what is the best type of camera to capture the images that are really worth keeping?
Compact digicams are capable of reasonable images of dragonflies, and with some luck and experience you can actually get some good photographs, but they are simply not the ideal cameras for getting the best results.
Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras are without question the best choice if you want to take good quality photographs of dragonflies. Traditional film cameras can be used but the cost of film and processing can prove truly prohibitive, especially when you ideally need to take dozens of shots, perhaps to keep just a handful of the best.
Compact digicams are capable of reasonable images of dragonflies, and with some luck and experience you can actually get some good photographs, but they are simply not the ideal cameras for getting the best results.
Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras are without question the best choice if you want to take good quality photographs of dragonflies. Traditional film cameras can be used but the cost of film and processing can prove truly prohibitive, especially when you ideally need to take dozens of shots, perhaps to keep just a handful of the best.
Buy into a quality system such as the two market leaders Nikon or Canon and you can hardly go wrong. The Nikon D60 and the Canon 450D are absolutely spot on choices for a first DSLR camera.
Both are currently selling at under £450 for the camera with basic 18 -55mm lens.
Both are currently selling at under £450 for the camera with basic 18 -55mm lens.
Without further ado let me direct you to a website that can tell you the latest and often the best current price for both Nikon and Canon cameras and lens, check out:- Camera Price Buster.
You may however rather choose a different make, such as Olympus, Pentax, Sony or Samsung. My advice is to do your homework by reading camera reviews on the best digital imaging websites such as Imaging Resource or the equally good DPReview , these are just two of the countless digital photography sites that can help you decide on the best digital single lens reflex camera (or digicam) to suit your budget.
So what's the BIG advantage that a DSLR has that a more compact Digicam does'nt have, the short answer is simple - a viewfinder! Dragonflies are often difficult to approach, and trying to take a close up photograph using only the LCD with a Digicam is very hit and miss (mainly miss). Once you use a DSLR's viewfinder you realise the shortcomings of Digicams, even those that have simple viewfinders included are still too limited.
You may however rather choose a different make, such as Olympus, Pentax, Sony or Samsung. My advice is to do your homework by reading camera reviews on the best digital imaging websites such as Imaging Resource or the equally good DPReview , these are just two of the countless digital photography sites that can help you decide on the best digital single lens reflex camera (or digicam) to suit your budget.
So what's the BIG advantage that a DSLR has that a more compact Digicam does'nt have, the short answer is simple - a viewfinder! Dragonflies are often difficult to approach, and trying to take a close up photograph using only the LCD with a Digicam is very hit and miss (mainly miss). Once you use a DSLR's viewfinder you realise the shortcomings of Digicams, even those that have simple viewfinders included are still too limited.
Choosing the right lens for close up shots.
So you decide to purchase a DSLR camera, and it comes with a kit lens such as the 18 to 55mm short telezoom that has a 'macro' mode, and yes you can take 'macro' shots with it and they may well prove adequate, but their not real MACRO shots... puzzled....well real MACRO is actual lifesize one to one, not just a quarter lifesize 'macro' such as the short telephoto lens calls 'macro', it's simply a gimmicky ploy used by the camera company's to sell you more gear....so don't be duped.
Genuine MACRO lenses are prime lenses, starting at 50mm and continue onto 90mm 100 or 105mm, 150mm,180mm and finally 200mm, the price usually increases with the size, and the big name lens manufactures such as Nikon and Canon are considerably more expensive than third party lens manufacturers such as Sigma and Tamron.
Your choice of lens is as important as your choice of DSLR, the kit lens may well suffice but if you aspire to the very best photographs you can get then it makes sense to go that little bit further and invest in a true MACRO lens.
If you can afford it look and consider the lenses made by your DSLR manufacturer, or seriously consider those made by Sigma or Tamron, either Sigma's 105mm EX or Tamron's 90mm MACRO's are optically excellent with superb user recommendation.
Both the lenses illustrated can be bought for around £280 or less on the web, but do your homework and check out the review sites online before committing to buy.
I personally use both Sigma 50mm and 105mm EX range MACRO lenses and find both excellent in the field, the extra reach provided by the 105mm is preferred.
If you can afford it look and consider the lenses made by your DSLR manufacturer, or seriously consider those made by Sigma or Tamron, either Sigma's 105mm EX or Tamron's 90mm MACRO's are optically excellent with superb user recommendation.
Both the lenses illustrated can be bought for around £280 or less on the web, but do your homework and check out the review sites online before committing to buy.
I personally use both Sigma 50mm and 105mm EX range MACRO lenses and find both excellent in the field, the extra reach provided by the 105mm is preferred.
If your happier with even more distance to subject photography then you have to invest in either a 150mm or 180mm MACRO lens and the cost for third party lenses (Sigma/Tamron) in this range can be from just under £400 to slightly under £500. The Nikon and Canon equivalent 180mm are around £800 and £900 respectively.
Note: Nikon have always used the term 'Micro' to describe their MACRO lenses...confusingly!
TIP: Also consider buying mint quality second hand from a reputable dealer - providing they give a sensible warranty, you can save up to 33% or more on new prices, and do check out Amateur Photographer magazine for used gear and prices. At all cost avoid the 'grey market' no matter what the savings are, warranties are invalid and rarely honoured in the UK if something goes wrong.
Note: Nikon have always used the term 'Micro' to describe their MACRO lenses...confusingly!
TIP: Also consider buying mint quality second hand from a reputable dealer - providing they give a sensible warranty, you can save up to 33% or more on new prices, and do check out Amateur Photographer magazine for used gear and prices. At all cost avoid the 'grey market' no matter what the savings are, warranties are invalid and rarely honoured in the UK if something goes wrong.
Fieldcraft - Getting the Photograph.
There are a few golden rules to follow when attempting to get good photographs of dragonflies or damselflies, I outline them as follows:-
| · | Search your choosen location thoroughly |
| · | Keep low and slowly 'stalk' your potential subject |
| · | Approach in a straight line if at all possible |
| · | Avoid casting your shadow over the subject |
| · | Be patient and make no sudden movements |
| · | Check your camera settings before attempting your shot |
| · | Compose your shot keeping camera back parallel to the subject |
| · | Use natural light - not flash unless it's essential in poor light |
Dragonflies are 'multi dimensional' insect's and it appears almost impossible to get a sharp photograph with every part of the creatures anatomy clearly defined, there is often a compromise to be made, for example the abdomen may be clearly seen, but the wings are out of focus. The only solution is to try to take as many shots as possible from as many different angles as time and insect allows. Now may be a good time to learn a little about basic Dragonfly anatomy, by knowing your subject you can go a long way to obtaining much better quality photographs. Take a little time to study the illustration below.
Which are the easiest species to photograph?
Some dragonflies are easier to get photographs of than others, even allowing for the type of habitat's they prefer or the ambient temperature and general weather conditions. The following list is a guide to the 'difficulty' factor for each species, however my findings with each species could be at odds with other experienced Odonata enthusiasts experiences.
| Easiest | Harder | Hardest |
| Common, Ruddy, Black Darter | Black-tailed Skimmer | Common & Southern Hawker |
| Banded & Beautiful Demoiselle | Keeled Skimmer | Brown Hawker |
| Common Blue & Azure Damselfly | Broad-bodied Chaser | Hairy Dragonfly |
| Scarce Blue & Blue-tailed Damsel's | Four-spotted Chaser | Emperor Dragonfly |
| Large Red Damselfly | Golden-ringed Dragonfly | Club-tailed Dragonfly |
| Emerald Damselfly | Migrant Hawker | Downy Emerald |
It stands to reason that the scarcity of some species make them harder to find than actually photograph, but the point I wish to emphasise is not the finding but the difficulty 'factor' once found. Damselflies may be easy to find (depending on species) but they are still quite difficult to get a good photograph of, owing to the depth of field problem they pose. Never be afraid to use your cameras 'close-up' mode.
Never under estimate luck or that serendipity moment when you stumble across a beautiful hawker perched in a most photographic pose with no brambles to scratch or nettles to sting....now thats how it should be eh!
Never under estimate luck or that serendipity moment when you stumble across a beautiful hawker perched in a most photographic pose with no brambles to scratch or nettles to sting....now thats how it should be eh!
Binoculars - the indispensible item.
If you come from a 'Birders' background you have no doubt already got a good pair of binocular's (or several) however are they really suitable for 'the birdwatchers insect' .....DRAGONFLIES.
Let's get down to business, if they cannot focus down to 2 metres or less they are not suitable. You quite simply have to get in close with your 'bins' to identify and study Odonata. I personally struggled with my everyday birding 'bins', a pair of Bausch & Lomb 7x42's that had given me stirling service for a decade or more while out birding, but I finally realised the frustration and limitation of only being able to get to the 3 metres close focus they provided. I read reams and spoke to loads of other naturalists/birders etc, before deciding on my current binoculars, Nikon High Grade 8x32's with a wonderfully wide field of view for general scanning and a super close focus at 2 metres or even a little less, perfect for dragonflies and my all round natural history subjects.
Let's get down to business, if they cannot focus down to 2 metres or less they are not suitable. You quite simply have to get in close with your 'bins' to identify and study Odonata. I personally struggled with my everyday birding 'bins', a pair of Bausch & Lomb 7x42's that had given me stirling service for a decade or more while out birding, but I finally realised the frustration and limitation of only being able to get to the 3 metres close focus they provided. I read reams and spoke to loads of other naturalists/birders etc, before deciding on my current binoculars, Nikon High Grade 8x32's with a wonderfully wide field of view for general scanning and a super close focus at 2 metres or even a little less, perfect for dragonflies and my all round natural history subjects.
The most important thing to do before choosing a good pair of binoculars is to try them out first, what may suit one person does'nt necessary suit another, go to a good dealer or to a company that has 'field days' at nature reserves such as the Llanelli Wetlands & Wildfowl Trust. Compare as many brands as possible in the same field conditions as you might find in the places listed in locations.
Do make certain your choice of binoculars are nitrogen filled and fog/waterproof and come complete with a lifetime or long guarantee, as all reputable makes should.
Do make certain your choice of binoculars are nitrogen filled and fog/waterproof and come complete with a lifetime or long guarantee, as all reputable makes should.
Check out Better View Desired an American website that specialise in optics for birders, it has an international reputation for independent testing and reviews for all the leading brands of binoculars. Yet another excellent source of information on all things regarding binoculars is Bird Forum here you can have other user's give you their own experiences with just about any brand or model you may be considering.
Sadly like most things in life you cannot get top quality optics without paying top prices, companies such as Nikon, Leica, Zeiss and Swarovski are the market leaders and if you can afford any of these brands you cannot go far wrong, but treat your purchase as a lifetime investment in pleasure....long after the cost is forgotten the quality will remain.
If your budget cannot stretch to the leading brands, do not let 'brand snobbery' prevent you from purchasing good binoculars. At the Bird Fair at Rutland Water each year all the major players in the optics world are showing their latest and greatest, I always try to spend a few hours trying out all and any models I can, I'm always impressed with the quality and value for money of Opticron binoculars, so do check them out.
Sadly like most things in life you cannot get top quality optics without paying top prices, companies such as Nikon, Leica, Zeiss and Swarovski are the market leaders and if you can afford any of these brands you cannot go far wrong, but treat your purchase as a lifetime investment in pleasure....long after the cost is forgotten the quality will remain.
If your budget cannot stretch to the leading brands, do not let 'brand snobbery' prevent you from purchasing good binoculars. At the Bird Fair at Rutland Water each year all the major players in the optics world are showing their latest and greatest, I always try to spend a few hours trying out all and any models I can, I'm always impressed with the quality and value for money of Opticron binoculars, so do check them out.
Close up on Insects - A Photographers Guide - By Robert Thompson
I heartily recommend this beautifully illustrated book to anyone interested in insect photography, written by Robert Thompson a very well respected author and naturalist/photographer who not only knows his dragonflies but knows how to photograph them too.
Robert Thompson is a key contributor to the Dragonfly Ireland website. His book is the result of many years of fieldwork with Britain and Ireland's Odonata (and other insects), and although his choice of equipment is medium format, all the same skills are used to help you improve your own.
204 pages of superb full colour images of dragonflies, moths, butterflies and other insects. Loads of photographic tips and techniques, plus personal anecdotes of his experiences travelling and getting the photographs for the book.
Robert Thompson is a key contributor to the Dragonfly Ireland website. His book is the result of many years of fieldwork with Britain and Ireland's Odonata (and other insects), and although his choice of equipment is medium format, all the same skills are used to help you improve your own.
204 pages of superb full colour images of dragonflies, moths, butterflies and other insects. Loads of photographic tips and techniques, plus personal anecdotes of his experiences travelling and getting the photographs for the book.
I've no doubt that books like Close up on Insects can not only help your photographic skills but also improve your fieldcraft, Robert Thompson knows his stuff and this book is choc-o-block full of useful information.
This book can be purchased on Amazon UK for under £18 or used in very good condition for less than £12.
This book can be purchased on Amazon UK for under £18 or used in very good condition for less than £12.
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All of the above binoculars are good choices as all rounders for dragonflies, butterflies, day flying moths or birds, the close focusing on all the above models are 2 metres or less and the price range goes from around £220 for the Minox BL8x32, Pentax 8x33 DCF £250, RSPB 8x32 BG £299 Opticron Imagic SE 8x32 £350.
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Among the best small roof prism binoculars currently available the Opticron 8x32 Traveller BGA are just about right to carry in a jacket pocket and weigh only 445 grams, ideal for those who don't want the extra size or weight of some of the 8x32 family.
I'm afraid that I cannot recommend the other small pocket bins for dragonfly viewing, even though the market seems awash with them, that said they do seem to have their advocates or they simply would not be produced. They all seem to end up in car gloveboxes and rarely used in my experience.
I'm afraid that I cannot recommend the other small pocket bins for dragonfly viewing, even though the market seems awash with them, that said they do seem to have their advocates or they simply would not be produced. They all seem to end up in car gloveboxes and rarely used in my experience.
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