Neat Dragon Fly experience

[dumpy]

On my way mountain biking after work the other day, as I had just pulled into the state forest I saw a flower I had to stop and take a picture of. I slapped on my trusty 35mm macro lens.

Then a dragon fly on another flower caught my eye. I usually use my tele lens for these guys, but thought I'd try and get close with the 35mm. It did not move for a few minutes of hand held shooting, it was pretty dark so I grabbed my tripod, which I used as a monopod, still no movement. I was starting to think this thing was dead, so i decided to set up my tripod for realsies. Finally when I accidentally moved the plant, it flew away.

It landed on another plant about 2 feet away, so i set up there and snapped a few more, I even had time to set up a reflector to the side and get my flash going, this little guy was unfazed.

I don't even think these pictures are all that great, but the experience of taking them with a 35mm lens was really neat. The first two are uncropped, the third was a slight crop if that gives you any idea how close I was.

Does anyone have any idea why it was acting this way? They usually seem very skittish, but I do think this was the first of this exact species I've photographed.

For the record, I never made it on to my bike that day, the camera took over!! :thumbsup:

[Loupey]

Cool shots and nice write up! That last one is very good.

As for its strange behavior, based on the extremely emaciated abdomen, I think it is near the end of its life cycle.


Thanks for sharing.

[scott-devon]

Very nice shots and a neat story too.

[Cassie1]

Great shots, I love the pattern in it's eyes in the last shot.

Cassie.

[sparkie1263]

Great images
Frank

[dumpy]

Thanks for the compliments everyone!! Yeah I like the last one the best too (notice my avatar). Their eyes are amazing to me.

Loupey, that does make sense. I bet this was a geriatric dragon fly, the emaciated abdomen didn't even jump out me until you said something, but wow it certainly is skinny!