Male Blue Dasher - Eye Close-up
I enjoy trying to get extremely close and detailed shots of dragonflies, especially their compound eyes. Nikon's newer cameras (D750, D810, I have the D810A) have high resolution sensors, and the Nikkor 200mm micro ED lens allows me to keep my distance but still get 1:1 macro shots.
Nikon D750 camera, 200mm f4 macro lens at f9 and 1/1250s, ISO 800. I find that this lens is sharpest right around f8 and f9 (true of most lenses.) This one was hand-held in the back yard in July 2016 and is presented at the full camera resolution. More on my Blue Dasher Dragonfly Page.
D810A Camera, 200mm f4 lens, f7.1, 1/1000s, ISO 400. Neat Image to help create the dreamy smooth background.
I like it when I can catch some detail in the compound eyes of bugs. This a close up of a male Common Whitetail dragonfly. Nikon D810a camera, 200mm f4 macro lens, f10, 1/320s, ISO 800.
This was shot with the D810A, 200mm F4 lens, 1/640s at f13, ISO 1600. Heavy use of Photoshop's Shadow & Highlight tool, along with Neat Image to smooth a bit of grain in the eye.
Nikon D810A camera & 200mm F4 macro lens. Check the compound eye thing in the highlights.
Nikon D810A and 200mm F4 lens.
Talking out of the corner of his mouth? The best theory on the brown patch is that it's a stain from something brown and sticky, maybe bug juice (thanks Gil!) Nikon D750, 200mm f4 macro, f8, 1/2000s, ISO 800, matrix metered. This is a very slight tweak of the jpeg image and is a crop at the full camera resolution.
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