Update

When I originally wrote this post about dragonfly photography, I was using a DSLR camera with dedicated macro prime lenses, but changes in technology meant this post needed an update.

Choosing camera equipment

Any modern camera is very capable of taking photos of dragonflies, and you needn’t spend a fortune to get good results. I have used many digital cameras over the years, from compact cameras to professional DSLRs and more recently, mirrorless.

Undoubtedly mirrorless cameras are now the better choice due to their flexibility and ability to use different lenses, along with high ISO performance. But their real benefit comes from their speed and autofocus performance which is hard to beat.

Perhaps the more difficult choice is one of which lens to use. For many years I used prime macro lenses in the 100 – 200 mm range, or a longer 300mm telephoto. However, zoom lenses have improved significantly more recently and lenses in the 100-500mm or 200-800mm range are favoured by many photographers, however these are expensive options. The second-hand market can be a good choice when looking for lenses; new models and technologies mean slightly older lenses, that still perform well, can be found at good prices.

Most lenses and cameras now feature image stabilisation technology to counter camera movement when taking a shot. This can allow the use of slower shutter speeds that would have previously been impossible without the use of a tripod or monopod.

Modern cameras also have excellent low noise levels even at high ISO settings, allowing the use of smaller apertures and/or faster shutter speeds, which helps achieve greater depth of field and sharper images of moving subjects.

Not much else is essential, a tripod or monopod is useful for stability but can be limiting especially for dragonflies in flight and are cumbersome to carry.

My camera bag

Today I use Canon equipment and mostly use a 100-500mm zoom lens for its versatility, with the option of adding a 1.4x converter for a bit of extra reach. I still carry a 180 mm macro lens if I need to get very close, but the 100-500mm is remarkably capable.

I also use a 17-40 mm or 24-105 mm zoom lens for general scenery, but these aren’t as useful for pictures of dragonflies.

I don’t often use flash, and rarely any filters.

I carry a phone in case of emergencies and for maps, and spare camera batteries and memory cards. I have a pair of close focussing binoculars, and a small monocular/spotting scope, but these aren’t used as often since I mostly use the magnified digital viewfinder on my camera.

Techniques

One of the advantages of mirrorless cameras is the significant improvement they bring in auto focus performance and this is something I can now I now rely on – something I never could with my DSLR. Typically, I’ll shoot at 1/1000s or higher, with an aperture around ƒ/11 or ƒ/13, and let the camera manage the ISO. Canon cameras feature a new exposure mode (Fv) which gives excellent creative control over exposure, and other manufacturers have similar capabilities. High ISO performance on modern cameras is excellent, and any remaining high ISO noise is easily removed in post processing using Adobe Lightroom or similar software.

If I’m using flash, I’ll set the camera to manual and allow the flash variable power settings to get the exposure correct.

By approaching slowly and with care you can get quite close to dragonflies and damselflies. I usually take a few shots, then move forward to take a few more. If you’re careful not to disturb the surroundings, and don’t move too suddenly you’re likely to get something usable. Try and avoid shading them though or they may fly away just as you take your shot.

I’d also recommend you resist the urge to check every picture immediately after taking it (‘chimping’). It is a useful way to check the exposure or focus, but I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve reviewed a picture only to find the dragonfly has flown away while I’ve been admiring my work!

Photographing them in flight presents the greatest challenge, but this is much easier with modern cameras – the biggest problem is keeping them in the frame when they are flying fast and changing direction rapidly. The best tactic is anticipating where they are going and understanding your camera’s auto focus capabilities and settings.

Digital photography has the obvious advantage that you can take many pictures in a session until you’re satisfied. Now if only dragonflies would stay still long enough!