We have a great number of small predators at Walka Water Works, and throughout Australia, but most people visiting Walka never see them as you have to have a keen eye to spot them.
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We can only deal with a few in this article, the most common would have to be the dragonfly of which we have some 300 species in Australia.
Dragonflies come in a wide range of colours, the two we are talking about today are the family Lindendale, some times known as the Australian tiger, the other one is Rhyothemis Graphiptera. I have always known the latter one as the speckled dragonfly.
I came on them fighting over a landing spot on a stick, low down on a swamp.
Their was plenty room for both on the stick but that was not good enough for them.
They both wanted the one spot, I could not believe what I was watching, so I moved in slowly until I had the camera in position without disturbing them.
I then moved back and triggered the camera with wireless control. Amazingly the battle lasted 15 minutes, and it was rather smelly.
My next subject is the robber fly.
Only last week while hunting through the bush I found a dragonfly and was creeping in on my knees with my camera set with macro lens and flash.
I did not quite get there, when a robber fly darted in upside down and grabbed my dragonfly.
Did I get the shot?
No. It was too quick and I was not ready or in focus but I kept my eye on it as it moved off with my subject. It landed on a stick to enjoy its breakfast, so I slowly moved in with the tripod at the right height.
A very slow approach is the method to use, making sure before you move in that your exposure is set.
Once you get the insect in focus you can make slight adjustments as depth of field is so important.
Robber flies are hard to find but I have noticed that once you get in position they seem to settle and can be easy to photograph, but watch your background.
My next find was lucky, a small insect low down in the grass, an assassin bug having lunch with a ladybird in its claws.
I ended up with a number of nice shots.
My final subject was found just after Christmas when I came on a Christmas beetle struggling in a spider web.
I had to be quick with this one, the spider was a St Andrew’s and they silk up prey so quick.
It was easy to approach, nice height, focused on the beetle. I even had time to take a test shot.
The spider was on its way down, so I used a back light to give me better separation.
It was all over within a minute, all silked up ready for dinner that evening.
It is exciting photographing insects, you just have to find them.