HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH DRAGONFLIES IN FLIGHT

In this video I cover how to photograph dragonflies in flight. From learning about dragonfly behavior which helps when photographing these fantastic insects to the technical aspects of dragonfly flight photography. I also look at the best focal length lens to use. There are also some good images to look at as well I think.
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[@Rob.1340]

Cheers Steve. All the best. 👍📷😎

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Rob, cheers for watching, all the best,Steve.

[@andrewmaher2580]

Great video Steve

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Andrew, pleased you enjoyed it. I had great fun making it. Thanks for watching, all the best, Steve.

[@RODCHARAY1]

Really enjoyed this Steve.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Rod, really pleased you enjoyed it. What great fun dragonflies are to photograph. All the best, Steve.

[@antonoat]

Cracking video, great enthusiasm is inspiring, cheers Steve!

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much, really pleased you enjoyed it. Sorry it's taken a while to reply but your comment didn't show up on my notifications. all the best, Steve.

[@cynical1952]

Good video and stills Steve. Nearly always tricky to get these creatures in flight and you have captured them really well.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much, yeah really hard subject to capture in flight. Good fun though.All the best, Steve.

[@KGsPhotography]

Dragonflies always make a great subject to photograph in the summer. I quite like the motion blur in the wings as it gives that sense of movement. Great video Steve cheers Keith

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Keith, yes I like the motion blur in the wings too. Cracking subjects to photograph. Once the weather picks up a bit and we get some still warm days I'll be having another go at these little guys. All the best, Steve.

[@LifeInTheWildPhotography]

Another good video Steve .. re wing blur .. I personally prefer to have a little wing blur in all wildlife flight shots as it shows movement rather than all sharp and looking like its defying gravity 🙂

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much, pleased you enjoyed it. Yes I think I'm with you on this a little blur gives a sense of movement. Just as well I had a slower shutter speed than intended. Cheers Steve.

[@Nirmal-qo8gw]

Lovely video and Neatly photographed Steve Hedges 📸🙂😲👍. Must be pretty challenging though to change the shutter speed so suddenly once the dragonfly stops abruptly and hovers and then zooms off again 😟. All about timing for sure😲📸. Well done !!😉

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Nirmal glad you enjoyed it. Yes I think photographing dragonflies in flight is one of the most challenging things to do in wildlife photography. Thanks for watching, all the best, Steve.

[@joanneabramson2645]

Steve, I often use Exposure Compensation on bright days with settings minus 1-3 depending on the light. Wonderful video!

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks Joanne, really pleased you enjoyed it. Yes exposure compensation is very useful. Although in this case the glare was so bright I would have ended up under -exposing the rest of the dragonfly. Thanks for watching, all the best, Steve.

[@CheikoSairin]

Thank you for sharing with us how to photograph dragonflies in flight. Beautiful pictures of dragonflies and damselfly. 1 LIKE for the video.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thank you very much, really pleased you enjoyed the video. Thanks so much for watching it. Best wishes, Steve.

[@timmyhiggy]

I think the motion blur on the wings adds to it all, nice sense of movement and flight to it, cracking photos

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Tim, much appreciated. Yes I like the motion blur to be honest. Thanks for watching, all the best, Steve.

[@ggwildlife]

Great shots Steve one of my fave subjects to photograph at this time of the year.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much, yes one of my favourite subjects too. All the best, Steve.

[@eugecoscarelli9745]

Hi Steve, you challenge yourself in getting dragonflies in flight. I would just like to say I always shoot macro in f8 or f11 as the insects always come out sharper, rather than f5.6 as you mentioned is your choice. Some people may say this destroys the bokeh but I have never had any problem with it as I personally do not like a full blurry background. Trying to get them in flight I would go even higher at 1/4000. But always nice to see your videos as you always pass on advice that we can all use and it is appreciated. See you out there!

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi, yes dragonflies in flight are a tricky subject that's for sure. Yep take your point about aperture I will often use a higher F number if the subject is fairly static. Extra depth of field is useful and you're right the background normally looks fine as well. If I have a non moving subject I'll focus stack it so I can gain the dof that I need but also control the amount of blur in the background. Thanks for watching, cheers Steve.

[@eugecoscarelli9745]

@@SteveHedgesPhotography I do not do focus stacking and f8 or f11 gives me the same results as someone that does for my macro photos. My results are always clear and crisp. But that is the beauty of individual choice. And that is either for moving or static subjects.

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Yes absolutely, we all have our own way of doing things. That's the beauty of photography isn't it?

[@lesleyb26]

Wonderful 👍

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Lesley, I absolutely love photographing dragonflies this time of year. Cheers Steve.

[@CamillaI]

Good work Steve I can't get enough Dragonflies at this time of year . The Common Darter shots were very good 👍

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Thanks very much Mark, yes I'm with you on that one. Dragonflies are a fantastic subject this time of year especially as there is not as much other wildlife about. Cheers mate.

[@newtuber4freedom43]

Tempsture and wind speed please. Tfs

[@SteveHedgesPhotography]

Hi the temperature would have been around 25 degrees C. I can't remember the wind speed but it would have been either still conditions or a very very light breeze. All the best Steve.