I have to agree with everybody else... great shot capturing a tangible moment

Regards

Wow I love these! - the second one in particular. I don't know why but I see them in a range of ways (I think that's why I like them). On the one hand, great wildlife shots. On the next, I see some kind of bizarre 'deliverance' angle in them as well (good titles BTW), and finally there is something a little comical about the kangaroos to my mind as well.

Great shots!

Regards

Gosh I think it will be difficult. I have come close(ish) to getting a shot like that but not managed to do so yet so probably I am not the best to advise, but for what it's worth...

First step would be to find and watch some dragonflies to see how they behave. As far as I can tell, some often settle and then hover around close to where they are (good candidates to photograph), others zip past and/or fly high so these will be impossible I suspect. Then to get one a good frame-filling view will probably require a macro lens and a longer one will mean you don't have to get so (intrusively) close to the dragonfly. I suspect a 180mm macro would be ideal; Sigma have one but they're discontinued in Pentax fit, so tricky to find. 100mm macros are readily available but you'll need to get closer and risk spooking the dragonfly. You'll probably need a fast shutter speed, at least quicker than 1/125th second (the wings will still be blurred at this speed - to freeze the wings will probably need something like 1/1000th sec). If there is good light that will enable a smaller aperture and mean that more (all) of the dragonfly will be within the DOF of the lens, otherwise you may find you need to use a wide aperture and/or high ISO to get the shutter speed fast enough. Finally, focussing will be a challenge. If the dragonfly hovers and more or less stays hovering at the same point then that would be ideal. Autofocus might work if you can keep the AF point on the dragonfly long enough. Alternatively you could set manual focus and hope the dragonfly flies into focus as you take a burst of shots using continuous shooting; either way if you shoot bursts you may get a lucky shot.

Best advice is to find some dragonflies and practice practice practice... I am sure others on here will have had more success than me and will post better advice...

Regards

Hello again all. This weekend marks the end of my brief summer holiday from work (back on Monday); I had a good day at beautiful Kew Gardens on Thursday so here's a handful of shots from then. I was hoping for a nice sunny day but alas by the time I got there it was well and truly overcast and then it rained... although it did perk up a little as the day went on. Of course the evening (i.e. mostly once I had got back home) was glorious!

Anyway, first up, a view up the Pagoda against a completely featureless sky (DA 21mm ltd):



A sunflower... just a bout the last 'pristine' one I could find... (DA* 50-135)



A view of the Palm House (DFA 100mm)



An inquisitive Peacock strutting around (alas no tail feather displays) (DFA 100mm)



A large butterfly on a rock (DA* 200mm I think)



Finally, the Pagoda again (DA* 200mm)



I hope you like them. Any C&C welcomed as ever. All of these were with the K-7 using the lenses shown. There were (are) some beautiful Butterflies in the Princess of Wales conservatory, although tricky to get good shots as the light was not fantastic so getting a decent shutter speed for a sharp shot (no tripod) meant wide(ish) aperture and high ISO, which was not ideal, but there are some more on my Flickr if anyone is interested.

Regards

I agree. The last shot in particular I think is a gem. I love the shape made by the lighter area, like a broad arrowhead, with the square mouldings in the darker areas fading into black. It's a real cracker I think. Well taken!

Regards

I rather like the third shot of the great window. I think it's the symmetry with the 'oily' colour effects on the glass. I bet it looks great from the inside. The view across London is my favourite I think. I like the juxtaposition of the dark residential area in the foreground with the hazy towers of Canary Wharf in the distance. Good stuff. You have made me think I shall have to venture up there myself

Regards

Thanks i-Berg

Regards

Thanks for the comments and suggestions folks. I did already have a closer in portrait format shot of the lighthouse, here (this time in colour):




Regards

Many thanks everyone for the kind comments. I shall try some of the shots in the PPG, I think, and see how they go. You are right as well, Matt, about the talks in Monkey World - we listened in on a couple of them the first time we went and they are very informative and entertaining.

Regards

Mat W

A nice set, although I really like the first, with the shafts of light breaking down from the clouds and the patches of light reflection on the surface of the water. Great stuff

Regards