cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/47394019

After some difficulty I finally got some decent shots! I even had a Karen come and demand to know what I was doing. These are uncropped and shot handheld. I'm surprised their wings froze so well. This first one is 1/800s and the second 1/1250s.

I saw a decent amount of these green darners today. I tried to catch some getting jiggy with it, but that flopped. They're an elite insect IMO. Throughout their lives they're master swimmers and master flyers.

Great photos! What camera?

OM-1 with 100-400mm f/5-6.3. Both are at 400mm f/6.3

Nice camera. My dreams are now crushed.

How so?

I cannot afford such a nice camera.

Honestly, you don't need a nice camera. It can help, sure, but you can get great stuff from whatever you have. I've seen some excellent macro photos from modern cellphones. My cameras and lenses are used. You can find decent used gear for cheap.

Great shots, I've tried photographing dragonflies in flight (some years ago now) so know how difficult it is! Fantastic creatures too, as you say.

I genuinely didn't think I'd get anything usable, but I tried anyway.