Name: Aniket Rangnath Thopate
Picture title: Damsel in Dinner
Category: Butterflies & Dragonflies
Nationality: Indian
Occupation: Photographer

Aniket says:
‘Last year (2020), near my home in Badlapur, India, my friends and I were walking through the pools of water formed by the monsoon and found this dead damselfly floating on the surface. I had never seen this arrangement of its four wings before with the beautiful droplets on them.

While shooting this on a 1:1 scale, I saw a movement near its head and spotted the nymph of a water strider, which added a tiny spot of intense colour.

I stayed in four feet of water for almost an hour watching the scene and capturing the image. I wonder sometimes, how nature comes up with such beautiful things.’

Technical information:
Nikon D750
Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 Macro
ISO 1250
1/200sec at f/29
Accessories: A big hat to prevent the sky reflecting in the water
Post processing: Basic adjustments in Lightroom and Photoshop

Instagram: aniket_thopate
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