The Dragons are coming!

[MattUK]

Fantastic shots. Did you go early morning to capture them?

[Markulous]

Many thanks, everyone!

No, not early morning - in fact late morning by the time we got there! Whenever I've gone to get them early I can never find them - although it's the best time to get them before they've warmed up. I've had a degree of luck with late afternoon when things are cooling - plus you get interesting light with which to play with!

[silversnapper1]

The only time that I have managed to try to shoot them has been in the heat of the day and it is an absolut b@gger to try to get them to stay still so as Mark says, best to get them before they've warmed up and active.

[Markulous]

Talking of early, butterflies are great first thing. My all time best moment a few years ago was being out amongst that spiky marsh grass on a cool, cloudy summer's day. All was muted and drab greens and browns when the sky brightened up and the sun appeared. Suddenly all around me the Common Blues (which I'd failed to see with their wings closed) opened up to catch some rays! Jewels! I attempted to capture the moment and this is a pale imitation of what I saw, taken with my excellent Sigma SD10 (I still say it takes my best macro-type shots - something about the Sigma quality of image!)

[wavemachine]

These are stunning shots, did you shoot hand held or from a tripod?

[Markulous]

Cheers, Dave!

I've got very lazy so don't use a tripod nearly enough (or a monopod for that matter) - these are all handheld

Edit: I should say the above refers to macros. I usually use a tripod with my 500mm and often with 300mm - though it's often symtoms of laziness too as I prefer to rest the gear on a tripod/monopod

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by Markulous

Cheers, Dave!

I've got very lazy so don't use a tripod nearly enough (or a monopod for that matter) - these are all handheld

Edit: I should say the above refers to macros. I usually use a tripod with my 500mm and often with 300mm - though it's often symtoms of laziness too as I prefer to rest the gear on a tripod/monopod

If you can get them that sharp without a tripod why bother eh

Cracking work and very impressive for handheld shots.

[Markulous]

I'm kind of lusting after the 100mm IS so I can remain lazy but I really can't justify getting it - I've the MPE 65mm and hardly use it at the moment (so much to do, so little time! )