How to Photograph Dragonflies in flight

How I photograph dragonflies in flight. I head to a local hotspot to try and photograph Lesser Emperor dragonflies and give tips on how I get my photos, ending by talking through some of my better in flight photos from recent years.
Follow up video - does Bird subject detect work
• Bird Subject Detection...
Video recorded on Google Pixel 7 (wide angle shots) or Panasonic Gh6 (video of wildlife)
Photos taken with Om Systems OM-1 and Panasonic GH6
Be sure to check out the rest of the Dragonfly Tour Series, where I try and see every GB species of Dragonfly here: • Dragonfly Tour
#dragonflies

[@cameraman655]

5:01 Isn't that always the case😂? Great photos and vids….👍

[@heyselcuk]

wow very good photos, i have 600mm lens on fullframe but i cant shot insects that big. you make good job

[@ukwildlife]

Thanks. Those big lenses are not the easiest to move round. A friend has got some of the more hover friendly species with his 600mm F4 using a gimbal tripod head, but i dont know how he does it!

[@katzenfutterbb]

Despite of all the procapture and 300 mm you have a steady hand and a quick reaction. Great pictures and moves best regards

[@ukwildlife]

Thanks :)

[@AnnMarieBrown-t3r]

Lovely footage my friend, way to go!

[@ukwildlife]

Thank you :)

[@willhausrath7780]

Beautiful images, really helpful video. Thank you for linking it from threads.

[@ukwildlife]

Thanks you :)

[@Saxo8ank]

Well done; lovely shots and video. I have the 300mm lens so I know it's not easy!

[@ukwildlife]

Thanks, yes the reach is both a blessing and a curse when you can find a hovering dragon in the viewfinder!

[@JeffreyMcPheeters]

We have three ponds so I have had some opportunities to photograph and try video with dragonflies and damselflies here in Kansas this summer. I mainly use the 40-150/2.8 and 300/4 on my OM-1 cameras. I find the BirdAi works well keeping them in focus for hundreds and hundreds of frames in sequences. I've only shared a few on my FB and IG pages. I think your work is outstanding, however, and your patience has been rewarded by some superb images. Kudos.

[@ukwildlife]

Thank you, interesting about Bird Subject detection mode, as a couple of folk have mentioned it when I shared this video on Facebook - I think a3rd Photographing Dragonflies in flight video may be coming!

[@NaturallyCuriousUK]

👍👍👍 "Downy Emerald......., at other times it just results in loads of swearing." 😆😆😆
Great video Neil with plenty of useful tips which even someone with my quite humble kit might be able to succeed with. Sometimes. If not then I can practice my swearing. 🙂

[@ukwildlife]

Yes, sometimes those Emeralds hover until you focus then fly off before you can press the shutter!

[@klackon1]

Great captures. No dragonflies or damselflies in flight for me this year. Last year was pretty good: I was up close and personal with my 60mm f2.8, but so far this year, just a few perched with my 300mm f4 + MC20. I was hoping to get some close ups of them in flight with my 90mm f3.5, but it's been a washout.

[@ukwildlife]

Yes I was about to try a southern hawker with the 90mm macro yesterday and cloud came over so it flew off to roost before I could even attempt a shot.
As you can see in this (and my last dragonfly photography) video the cloud has been an issue even on the few 'good' days

[@JohnPW22]

Superb!

[@ukwildlife]

Thank you

[@LoneJoe_hadley]

Thanks for the tips. I'm trying to shoot them . I got 1 photo with my Tamron @300mm the D fly perched with its thorax straight in the air. They don't hover and there very fast. Very hard to photograph

[@ukwildlife]

Thanks.
It can really depend on the species and individual. Ive never managed a great shot of a Brown Hawker, but a Common Hawker once hovered for so long I was able to change camera bodies to both film and then photograph it in hovering!