As a wildlife photographer with a focus on insect photography, one of my mantras is: “Get a shot, any shot; refine the shot.” In other words, don’t miss the opportunity to document a spotting by trying to get a great shot first.
11 JUN 2017 | Fluvanna County, VA | Dragonhunter (male)
The preceding photograph — heavily-cropped in order to compensate for the distance to the subject — is a “record shot” (at best) of a male Dragonhunter dragonfly (Hagenius brevistylus) that was spotted at the Hardware River Wildlife Management Area, Fluvanna County, Virginia USA.
The dragonfly was photographed from the banks of the Hardware River, approximately 20 feet above the water. Distance seems to be compressed in the photo, an effect of the mid-range telephoto lens used to take the shot. The Dragonhunter was perching ~10 feet above the water. I settled for a “record shot” since there was no way to get closer to the subject.
Tech Tips
The photo was taken using a Fujifilm X-T1 digital camera, Fujinon 55-200mm zoom lens, and Fujifilm EF-X500 shoe mount flash. Adobe Photoshop was used to remove a small distracting element from the left edge of the photo.
Editor’s Note
Thanks to fellow Virginians Karen Kearney and Mike Boatwright for adding the phrase “record shot” to my vocabulary.
Copyright © 2017 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: 2017 DSA Annual Meeting, Dragonhunter dragonfly, Family Gomphidae (Clubtails), Fluvanna County, Hagenius brevistylus, Hardware River Wildlife Management Area, male, Virginia
June 21, 2017 at 5:45 am |
I’m still waiting to get my first Dragonfhunter, so I understand the excitement of getting a shot, any shot of one. Of course, that excitement fades a bit and is quickly replaced with the desire to get more and better shots. It’s one of the big motivations that gets us out into the field over and over again.
June 22, 2017 at 7:53 am |
Fluvanna County is a long way to go hunting Dragonhunters, but now you know a place in Fairfax County where they can be found. Shhhhh, it’s a secret!
June 21, 2017 at 3:05 pm |
Great catch, Walter! I know what you mean about going for the shot. I am the same. Try to get a few in first before moving closer just in case they fly off and you don’t see them again.
June 22, 2017 at 7:54 am |
Something is better than nothing, right? If so, then why don’t I feel satisfied when all I get is a “record shot?”
June 22, 2017 at 12:22 pm |
Is guess we are never really satisfied until we get the shot we really want.
June 23, 2017 at 8:46 am |
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