2023 07 25 - Flight of Dragons(fly)

This Golden-ringed Dragonfly* had somehow got herself stuck in my neighbours' pond. They fished her out and helped her onto an old tulip stem... At which point they let me know and we took some photos. Luckily enough, the sun was just about to set so the garden had a some super-bright natural light. I wouldn't have been able to get these images without that. It was fascinating not having a (live) dragonfly dart off at the first sign of movement. Absolutely wonderful.

A couple of these images were my first real attempt at proper focus stacking. I'm impressed with both the software options I used - Helicon Focus 8 and Affinity Photo - given there was a fair bit of wind and I didn't have my camera on a tripod or anything sturdier than myself. Focus 8 offers more customisability for the stacking operation, but for a feature in an otherwise fantastic application, Photo's stacking performs more than well enough.

Gwas neidr eurdorchog in Welsh, apparently - lit. "Gold-ringed snake's servant"