In flight Marmalade flies

Ollie · #1 (**permalink**) 13-07-2009, 04:15 PM

Hi all.

Was on my local patch with Ben (tormentil) today and things were a bit quiet on the dragonfly, damselfly side of things. However there were good numbers of the Marmalade Fly Episyrphus - balteatus so we tried for some in flight shots of these.

Not easy by any means. I found manual focus best and was using flash with the Lambency diffuser. None of these are what I would call excellent by any means but I thought I would post the best ones anyway.

Don't know if Ben has any to add to this thread but it passed a very pleasant couple of hours if somewhat frustrating at times.

Jonners · #2 (**permalink**) 13-07-2009, 04:23 PM

Nice ones Roger. You're certainly up for a challenge, but you rose to it very well

Amazing detail, again.

squishy · #3 (**permalink**) 13-07-2009, 04:53 PM

great set of shots! very hard subjects, in flight hoverflies!

i particularly like the third one down

Tormentil · #4 (**permalink**) 13-07-2009, 05:16 PM

Here's my best efforts.

As Roger said, it was a tadge quiet on the Dragonfly front, and it whiled away a couple of hours for us.

It also gave me an opportunity to play with my new "toy" which arrived this a.m. towhit, a new tripod. A Manfrotto 190CXPRO4. Much, much lighter than my old Slik Master Classic, but getting used to the head (391RC2) will take a while.

Tormentil · #5 (**permalink**) 13-07-2009, 05:31 PM

I also took the opportunity to mess about with high ISO settings, just to see how they'd come out.

Considering these were all at ISO1250, I don't think they're too bad. the only processing has been cropping, resizing and unsharp mask at 'Ammount' 100% 'Radius' 0.5

Ollie · #6 (**permalink**) 13-07-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormentil

It also gave me an opportunity to play with my new "toy" which arrived this a.m. towhit, a new tripod. A Manfrotto 190CXPRO4. Much, much lighter than my old Slik Master Classic, but getting used to the head (391RC2) will take a while.

Nice efforts Ben.

Yep going by the language coming from the undergrowth at times today I couldn't quite make out if you were boss of the tripod or if it was getting boss of you

Africa · #7 (**permalink**) 13-07-2009, 08:20 PM

Stunning shots of an undervalued little insect! I am in awe of dragonfly shots in flight, but these being so much smaller, I take my hat off guys!

ron1863 · #8 (**permalink**) 13-07-2009, 08:30 PM

Lovely shots Roger and Ben as they are frustrating to shoot. I find that just when you are about to take the shot they move a couple of feet

JRsbugs · #9 (**permalink**) 13-07-2009, 08:43 PM

Great efforts, congratulations to both of you!

I have managed a few half decent shots of hovers using manual this year, no diffuser though, lol, and yes Eristalis are the worst for shooting off just as you are focused! I got some pics of other smaller hovers which I was 'reasonably' pleased with, Platycheirus albimanus and a Melanostoma as well as Eupeodes corollae. At certain times they seem to stay still for a little longer!

Wot, no damsels or dragons at all??? I had a White-legged (it has white legs so I'm fairly sure) damsel today in my greenhouse! Got some pcis too, then helped it outside on my finger.