Dragonfly

plastii · Jul 30, 2009

Hi there.

My latest shoot of a drogonfly I took few days ago. It was the only one I found during my morning trip to a pond. C&C welcome.

Marek.

dak1b · Jul 30, 2009

very cool. love the colors

Beverly Stayart · Jul 30, 2009

I like this shot. Very beautiful colors and detail.

Bee Bee · Jul 30, 2009

I love the detail in his eyes! xxx

Big · Jul 30, 2009

You ever wonder how those things even see anything?! :lol:

(In front of them anyway...)

PaddyX21 · Jul 31, 2009

Wondeful sharp focus, and the colours really 'pop'

Isn't it a Damselfly if the wings fold back though? Don't think true Dragonfly's can do that? Or maybe I'm talking scribble again...

Having been recently taking photos of Dragonfly's I really appreciate this photo - nice one!

plastii · Jul 31, 2009

Thanks for the comments guys.

PaddyX21 - It is a dragonfly, but that one was pretty small - no more than 2" long.

PaddyX21 · Jul 31, 2009

I'm fairly sure (sets himself up for ridicule!) that is a Stream Bluet Damselfly Stream Bluet Damselfly - Enallagma exsulans, as the eyes are separated, and the wings fold back.

Also just noticed he is missing a leg on the near side!

Sorry - feeling pedantic today :coffee:

plastii · Jul 31, 2009

Fictional Warrior said:
How close were you to it with the camera?

I would say around 3-4 inches.

Here is the full body shoot

.teardrop · Aug 10, 2009

great shot!

lvcrtrs · Aug 20, 2009

Love the clairity and detail! And yeah, I always wonder how they see in front of themselves. Maybe their eyeballs rotate when they are in flight.

Insanity · Aug 21, 2009

The science nerd in me is coming out. Animals with eyes like that don't see the same way we do. We have what's called binocular vision, it allows us to percieve depth. Most predatory animals have that. Animals like the damsel fly, percieve depth by movement. Something close to them moves faster than something far away. Kind of like a mountain in the distance in relation to a telephone pole by the road. The eyes on the side of the head give them a bigger field of view, almost a full 180 degrees with each eye. Making it easier to see a predator coming up behind em.