My first Dragonfly

[dpastern]

Image isn't the best, with it not really being close enough, or sharp enough, and the background is as distracting as hell. This was the best of around half a dozen shots, and as close as I could get (around 2 foot away).

Dave

edited: Corrected the name!

[LordV]

Excellent shot Dave- but it's a damselfly ;) :D
Brian V.

[dpastern]

Bugger. I thought only Dragonflies rested with their wings wide open, and damselflies rested with their wings up and closed?

Dave

[LordV]

Bugger. I thought only Dragonflies rested with their wings wide open, and damselflies rested with their wings up and closed?

Dave

Quite right about the wings- this damsel just hasn't got round to folding it's wings yet :D
Brian V.

[hidden forms]

Wonderful capture, as Brian pointed out its a damselfly, made the same misake with my first one, and still have not seen a dragonfly, hope soon, and all the best for you:D :D

[lcpete]

really nice shot like the colours on this one too
damselflies can be as hard to approach as dragonflies sometimes they sit there and you can get right close sometime they are flighty and shoot off as soon as you walk up.
Pete

[Ferco]

wow the colours are so sharp and and crisp! outstanding shot!

[Dragonslayer]

Bugger. I thought only Dragonflies rested with their wings wide open, and damselflies rested with their wings up and closed?

Dave

There are some species of Damselflies that do not fold their wings always and in this case this is one of them from that group which are called Spread wings. The background on this shot is a little busy as posted, Keep your eye open as this type species from my own experiance will often perch on reeds and leaves also which will normally allow you a shot with a better background

[Omri Alon]

Nice shot :D

[dpastern]

There are some species of Damselflies that do not fold their wings always and in this case this is one of them from that group which are called Spread wings. The background on this shot is a little busy as posted, Keep your eye open as this type species from my own experiance will often perch on reeds and leaves also which will normally allow you a shot with a better background

Ahh now that's very interesting, thank you very much for this information. I'm a little bit :o :o :o cos in my excitement I didn't check the eyes/face out that much and it didn't click that they're damselfy eyes and not dragonfly eyes, which are much larger and have a different orientation.

I'm hoping to catch more shots of this damsefly. I wonder if it's male or female?

Dave

[Dragonslayer]

Ahh now that's very interesting, thank you very much for this information. I'm a little bit :o :o :o cos in my excitement I didn't check the eyes/face out that much and it didn't click that they're damselfy eyes and not dragonfly eyes, which are much larger and have a different orientation.

I'm hoping to catch more shots of this damsefly. I wonder if it's male or female?

Dave

You are welcome, I would guess based on the claspers on the tail of this one here that it is a male as they use that to hold on to the female while mating. Although depending on the age of the dragon/damsel many will look much like the females until they change when reaching sexual maturity. A low angle shot where one can see the underside to some degree can also help determine the sex if they are not mature fully .. Yes most also have different eyes and normally the bodys on dragons are much stokier then on damsels.

[dpastern]

Thanks for the information, much appreciated.

Dave

[calicokat]

Great detail in the wings, nice work

[Stefano]

Very nice shot!

[dpastern]

Thank you guys :)

Dave

[Bald Eagle]

Excellent work Dave, love the colors on this Damsel.:D :D :D

[dpastern]

Thanks Rick :) I couldn't get any closer than this :( Are Damselflies always so nervous like this? Are Dragonflies better? Or is it just a matter of being at the right time and the right place with the right Damselfly/Dragonfly?

Dave

[Bald Eagle]

Thanks Rick :) I couldn't get any closer than this :( Are Damselflies always so nervous like this? Are Dragonflies better? Or is it just a matter of being at the right time and the right place with the right Damselfly/Dragonfly?

Dave
I'll be honest with you, there is no easy answer, unless you go out at Dawn and find them before they start moving around. I have found both to be skittish at times and I've also found them to be very patient with the human with a camera. Do you by any chance speak Dragonfly?(i dont) I've tried, doesnt work for me!:D ;) :D