Beaver Swamp Trail 26 Aug 06 
17 images in this album
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The Beaver Swamp trail is a nice place to see dragonflies ... although by now it is getting late in the season. The leaves have started to fall and things are browning up. But I strapped on the Nikon D70s with the Sigma 105 f2.8 macro and the Tamron 1.4x teleconverter, added the SB600 with omni-bounce diffuser and a Joe Demb flip-it junior and off I went. Quite dark in the woods, but I shoot flash only for macros like these anyway. Read John Shaw's very good book on Nature Photography for the exact technique. I had discovered it on my own, but was always trying to add back some ambient light until I read his explanation of why that does not work.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f18 500iso Hanging under a leaf ... almost didn't notice this little barbaric scene, a couple of flies and a tiny spider dining an on unlucky creature. The whole scene is less than 1/2
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f18 500iso
Hanging under a leaf ... almost didn't notice this little barbaric scene, a couple of flies and a tiny spider dining an on unlucky creature. The whole scene is less than 1/2" long.
Viewed: 288 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f13 800iso This little fella (about 3/4
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f13 800iso
This little fella (about 3/4" long) was colorful and would fly away after a couple of shots, but would basically hover for a minute then land again. Liked to climb down below a leaf then back up.
Viewed: 275 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f13 800iso Another macabre scene. Long (1
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f13 800iso
Another macabre scene. Long (1"), skinny wasp-like creature dining on the head of a small fly it has apparently caught. I was able to snap a few very close macros until I perhaps moved too quickly and the whole scene disappeared. He obviously likes his food "to go."
Viewed: 294 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f13 800iso Another angle on the little diner.
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f13 800iso
Another angle on the little diner.
Viewed: 287 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f16 800iso Dragonfly on a fence post. Approching very slowly, I shot closer and closer until I was able to get some 1.4:1 macros.
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f16 800iso
Dragonfly on a fence post. Approching very slowly, I shot closer and closer until I was able to get some 1.4:1 macros.
Viewed: 279 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f22 800iso Same Dragonfly ... I was able to see the cells in his eye right in the viewfinder. Quite something.
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f22 800iso
Same Dragonfly ... I was able to see the cells in his eye right in the viewfinder. Quite something.
Viewed: 306 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f14 800iso Very close approach. He kept shifting position, but came back to the fence and would let me approach again.
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f14 800iso
Very close approach. He kept shifting position, but came back to the fence and would let me approach again.
Viewed: 276 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f14 800iso I was happy when he finally shifted to facing sidewyas, so I could get a frontal view with a little stretching. I kept my profile as low as possible, sitting the end of the lense on the fence.
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f14 800iso
I was happy when he finally shifted to facing sidewyas, so I could get a frontal view with a little stretching. I kept my profile as low as possible, sitting the end of the lense on the fence.
Viewed: 292 times.
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Viewed: 237 times.
DSC_0508_eyes.jpg
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DSC_0508_eyes.jpg
Viewed: 284 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f16 640iso This bee appeared to be in the last day of its life. Not really moving any more as it clinged to a small flower head (golden-rod like.)
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f16 640iso
This bee appeared to be in the last day of its life. Not really moving any more as it clinged to a small flower head (golden-rod like.)
Viewed: 275 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f16 640iso Almost didn't see this little guy (perhaps 1
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f16 640iso
Almost didn't see this little guy (perhaps 1" long) as he crawled up a small sapling. Very beautiful color.
Viewed: 311 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f16 640iso Backed up for this full shot as he negotiated a bump in the tree.
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f16 640iso
Backed up for this full shot as he negotiated a bump in the tree.
Viewed: 277 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f16 640iso This tiny creature was almost invisible against the trunk of another sapling. It is one of the scariest looking insects I've ever seen. A long drill-like entity coming from the tail, and two very loong hooks coming from the head (next photo.)
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f16 640iso
This tiny creature was almost invisible against the trunk of another sapling. It is one of the scariest looking insects I've ever seen. A long drill-like entity coming from the tail, and two very loong hooks coming from the head (next photo.)
Viewed: 255 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f16 640iso Same creature, this time the head and hooks showing. All in all, it was quite large and quite unpleasant looking.
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f16 640iso
Same creature, this time the head and hooks showing. All in all, it was quite large and quite unpleasant looking.
Viewed: 278 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f16 640iso Back at the car, a colorful dragonfly was sitting on some food left for the birds. He was very cooperative and let me get some lovely close macros. Pretty eyes :-).
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f16 640iso
Back at the car, a colorful dragonfly was sitting on some food left for the birds. He was very cooperative and let me get some lovely close macros. Pretty eyes :-).
Viewed: 318 times.
Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600 1/200s f16 640iso This one was a bit more shy. Looks a little like I caught him in the shower. Probably the nicest wing shot I've managed yet.
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Nikon D70s, Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro, Tamron 1.4x, SB600
1/200s f16 640iso
This one was a bit more shy. Looks a little like I caught him in the shower. Probably the nicest wing shot I've managed yet.
Viewed: 303 times.
       
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