Four weeks ago today my friend and mentor Cindy Dyer helped me to start this blog. She has been teaching me and encouraging me as I seek to express myself through my photography. I owe her my thanks.
Over the past month I’ve tried a lot of different things: short posts and long ones; serious posts and funny ones; scientific posts and artistic ones; and scarey posts and beautiful ones. Some have been successful and others less so. The best thing about this blog, however, is that I have encountered a wide array of fellow bloggers. You have taught me so much and supported me with words of encouragement and inspiration. Thanks to all of you.
My first blog posting featured a Blue Dasher dragonfly, one of my favorite subjects. It somehow seems appropriate to feature another one as I celebrate my four-week anniversary. I photographed this Blue Dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis) in late June at Green Spring Garden, a county-run facility that has a pond as well as a garden. It is only a few miles from my house and has been a kind of laboratory for me as I have worked on my photography.
Today is a hot, humid day here in the Washington DC area and I have stayed indoors poring over some of my images from the past month or so. I came across this one and after I adjusted the exposure a bit I realized that it was a pretty good shot. The lighting and background help to make it stand out from some of my other dragonfly photos (and I have lots). I uploaded a higher resolution image to allow viewers to see some more of the details, including the “eyelashes” of the dragonfly. Be sure to click on the image.
Click on the photo for a more detailed view of the dragonfly
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
What you learned in a month took me a year. You are off to a a great start in nature photography (and blogging)?
Thanks, Sue. You have offered encouragement almost from thej very beginning. I enjoy hearing from you and seeing what you are doing too.
What a great shot of such a beautiful insect!
Thanks. He is perhaps my favorite subject.
Happy anniversary, Mike! I spent 9 1/2 years in the DC area, and it has its own unfogettable version of heat and humidity. I am happy to be back in the Midwest and no longer there, though there are many good memories, too. This is a very nice portrait–thanks for adding it to your rapidly-growing collection.