Skimmer Lunching on a Lady

A rare catch.

All comments welcome.

I agree with Boris

Javed, I find it hard to believe what you are telling me. I watched this dragon eat this lady bug and have additional images of the meal. The lady bug above looks like two, but it is actually just one with the wings spread open due to the fact that the dragon is eating the body. I was about to take a photo of the skimmer perched on this branch, when the skimmer left (very briefly) to catch the lady bug and immediately returned to the same perch, so I just started snapping away.

when I was photographing the dragon flies, they were all interested in plants, dry ones , I was interested in what they were eating, I dont know much as you do. your pictures are just wonderful, I have never seen so much detail with digital camera like you show here, love your work. Do you use andy special macro lenses?, Is this Tiffen x2 a macro filter? Do you use anything else?

I don't know much about bugs (other than how to take their pictures). Most of what I do know, I have learned from comments that people give to my photos in the various forums. If I understand correctly, the interest of the dragons in dry plants is as a place to perch for hunting or rest (rather than as something to eat).

Thanx for your kind words about my macros. For this image, I used the canon G1, a Hanimex +6 closeup, and the tiffen 2x teleconverter. I also used the 420ex flash covered with a diffuser and mounted on a butterfly bracket. For the real small bugs (or extreme closeups), I have been using a normal lens in the reverse position as a high powered diopter.

Very unusual. Having multiple elements in this scene really adds punch to the shot. Thanks for sharing!

I keep looking for something to quibble about in this picture, but I don't see any shortcomings at all. The critical elements are sharp, the out-of-focus background enhances the central subject, and the exposure is right on target. And, you've captured a moment of behavior.

Mmmm ... lunch. Fascinating and beautiful, though personally I feel that the stick is a little overdeveloped and bright.

very beautifull.

Congratulations on a perfect photo.