Sitting Pretty Too

I think your previous image of this dragonfly works better. It had the plane of focus on the front wings (and upper thorax and legs) whereas this image has it on the back wings. IMO our eye can accept the rear of the image going soft easier than the front of the image. Not always, but (again IMO) in better than 90% of the time. I do appreciate your presence of mind in the field to "bracket the composition" as George Lepp often says, in this case with a different plane of focus. I will often take verticals, horizontals, close in & further back, as well as other ways of shooting the image in the field for a stationary subject when possible. I think that's a good habit to get into so we don't always do the same thing.

Hi

Although I wold agree with the remarks already made regarding the sharpness and placement of DOF issues discussed - this is still a pretty image that works nicely, Perhaps not as nicely as your first shot - but then its still better to have both!

All the best
Matthew

Another fine one - I think the near wing sharpness is a minor nit, the sharp head and perch are more important.