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Carmyllie
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« on: October 24, 2010, 02:26:08 AM »
Day 24 - Mates For Life



http://www.lightartforum.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=4334

Not sure if the 10 hour's driving and only 90 minute's hike justify the excitement, but I was in a Conservation Nature Reserve abutting the Greater Bendigo National Park this morning, when I chanced upon these mating dragonflies. At the time, I thought 'how special' but maybe it's a regular occurance and I personally have never seen such an act of nature. I doubt I ever shall again to be honest.

I had my 55-250mm lens on at the time, so just had to keep trusting in the auto focus, but that was proving hard due to the grass seeds around the pair. In the end I shot manual focus and I am thrilled with the result.

No PP , just a teensy crop surrounding.

Postscript : Research tonight has shown they're not dragonflies as I originally thought.

"Male Hanging Flies attract females with pheromones and offer them with captured prey as nuptial gifts before mating. Male Hanging Flies can also be seen hanging from low vegetation, holding a prey and waiting for females"

This was evident in the first 3 images of the 31 all up, and problem solved - They are Hanging Flies of the family Bittacidae. Whew!
« Last Edit: October 24, 2010, 04:21:13 AM by Carmyllie » Report to moderator   Logged
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christophm
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« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2010, 04:39:20 AM »
What a result.  I think it's great.  First you have to locate something like this and then contain your nerves.  Well done!  It's a great shot!  Interesting how this bud on the left ended up in focus.  You might want to blur this a bit.
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« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2010, 04:59:57 AM »
I was about to say these arent dragonflies, but then I read the end of your post Smiley
The secret on how to tell is to do with the wings. The dragonfly family have wings which stick out at right angles from the body, the lace wing family have wings which fold back along their abdomen ... and here endeth the biology lesson Smiley

Nicely done on manual focus !
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« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2010, 05:14:38 AM »
Nice Work!!  Smiley
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« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2010, 09:53:51 AM »
Great shot Jen, well done.  Manual is often best for this type of 'special event'
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« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2010, 10:22:32 AM »
Well done Jenn great shot
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« Reply #6 on: October 24, 2010, 04:28:35 PM »
Fantastic result Jenn
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