Do you want to learn patience? If so, try photographing dragonflies in flight, those speedy little flyers that patrol the edge of a pond without ever seeming to need a rest.
Several readers commented that I must have lots of patience after they saw the photos of dragonflies and damselflies that I recently posted. Comparatively speaking, however, it is a whole lot easier to photograph these insects when they are perched on a stationary object than when they are in constant motion.
My fellow blogger and photographer, Walter Sanford, a true dragonfly stalker, emphasized to me recently that many of the early spring dragonflies are found only in limited locations for very short periods of time. (Check out his blog for lots of wonderful shots of dragonflies and other wildlife creatures.) I decided to return to Hidden Pond Nature Center, a county-run park in Springfield, Virginia that is only a few miles from where I live. Last year I spotted a few common dragonflies there, and it seemed to be a good place to broaden my search for spring dragonflies.
Sure enough, I caught sight of a few dragonflies, flying low over the surface of the small pond. They seemed to have fairly well defined patrol areas and tended to move about in large, lazy circles. I tried tracking several of them using my camera’s autofocus, but that proved to be impossible, so I switched to manual focusing, which was merely difficult.
I took a few breaks to get some shots of the more cooperative damselflies, but persisted in my quixotic efforts to capture the dragonflies in flight. Over the course of a couple of hours, I managed to fewer than a dozen images that are more or less in focus. I think that my subjects for this shoot might be Common Baskettail dragonflies (Epitheca cynosura), but I’m not very confident in that identification.
My adventures with dragonflies (and wildlife photography in general) continue teach important lessons about the value of patience and persistence.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That’s very true-all of nature teaches patience. It isn’t often I see photos of dragonflies in flight and I don’t know if I’d have the patience it takes to get them. I’m more used to walking 3 or 4 miles to see if a certain flower has bloomed.
Patience is learned in so many different ways. You seem to have an amazing ability to remember where you’ve seen all kinds of plants (and fungi and molds) and then return to check on their progress. I am more of an opportunistic shooter, trying to photograph whatever happens to come my way. It was a bit unusual for me to remain in a single spot for a protracted period of time as I did for the dragonflies.
Good shots, Mike. I know how tough it is to get them but always a treat when everything comes together and it all works out.
Thanks for the kind words and pointer to my photoblog, Mike! A good related resource for dragon-hunters in Northern Virginia is Kevin Munroe’s “Calendar of [Adult] Flight Periods.” Kevin is the manager at Huntley Meadows Park, and an odonate expert. http://dragonfliesnva.com/My%20Documents/KevinPDF/pdf/identify/FlightTimeCalendar-NEW.pdf
It’s funny how you end up with more patience for the things you love.
These guys are too fast for me. I’ll stick with trying to photograph bird flight. You’ve done very well, so keep it up.
I next time I may try with my telephoto lens vice the macro lens, though it’s a huge challenge no matter which way I try it. I’ve had my best success with species that hover or when the female is ovipositing and remains in the same spot for a few seconds.
Now, there’s a lifelong endeavor–or maybe a Master’s thesis–for someone, but it’s not me. If I find myself in a situation in which a superb individual chooses to hover repeatedly in a predictable location, then count me in. But I’m afraid I tend to spend more of my patience on the occasional opportunity. And, so far, it’s worked for me. Then again, I always try to keep an open mind…
Looking forward to hummingbird-in-flight shots soon, Mike! At least they hover at flowers and feeders. I love those TV programs (like Nature) that show videos of extreme slomo.
Fantastic shots Mike and as one of those who commented on your patience it’s lovely to see these shots working out.
Patience…it’s a tricky thing, but I seem to have a pretty good amount of it, when it comes to photography. When it comes to commuting in heavy traffic, I’m a whole lot less patient.