My Favourite Image Common Blues in Tandem (Enallagma cyathigerum)

I observed this nice pair of Common Blue damselflies while in their mating ritual; however I declined the shot owing to the very confused back-ground.

It is so important to have an uncluttered back-ground to your images but it is not always possible.

I watched the couple split from the wheel position and fly to a nearby perch where they remained in the tandem formation.

Luckily the backdrop on their new perch was much clearer and allowed this shot to be taken. I have just managed to obtain a blurred back-ground and have also kept the subject in sharp focus.

This was achieved by using a medium depth of field setting and was assisted by the fact that the species closes its wings while at rest. This creates a flat focusing plane, as long as you are at right angles & square to the subject.