Blue-eyed Blue-faced Beauty

October 18, 2014 by Mike Powell

When I am trying to take a close-up shot of a dragonfly, I know that I have succeeded when I manage to capture some of the details of the ommatidia. What are ommatidia? Ommatidia are the up to 30,000 hexagonal facets that make up the incredible compound eyes of a dragonfly. For more information and a more scientific explanation, check out a posting entitled “Super-predators” that Sue did in June 2013 in her Backyard Biology blog.

Rather than think about science, today I would prefer to simply bask in the beauty of the blue-eyed Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum ambiguum) that I photographed yesterday as it perched on a fallen leaf at my favorite marshland park. The color of the dragonfly’s eyes completely captivate me.

As for the ommatidia, I’ve cropped a portion of the image and added it to the posting as a second image to make it even clearer what they look like. I chuckled a little when I examined the cropped image, because this dragonfly, like some others that I have photographed, has the sparsely distributed mustache and chin hairs that never fail to remind me of human teenagers who refuse to shave in a vain attempt to look older.

Posted in Art, Autumn, Dragonflies, Insects, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, Portraits | Tagged Alexandria VA, Blue-faced Meadowhawk, Blue-faced Meadowhawk dragonfly, Canon 50D, dragonfly eyes, Huntley Meadows Park, ommatidia, Sympetrum ambiguum, Tamron 180mm macro lens | 22 Comments

22 Responses

on October 18, 2014 at 8:54 am | Reply Mjollnir

Brilliant macro shots Mike 🙂
- on October 18, 2014 at 9:00 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. As you’ve probably noticed, I really like using my macro lens, though soon most of the subjects I photograph will disappear as the weather gets cold and reluctantly I will switch to using a telephoto lens most of the time.
on October 18, 2014 at 9:32 am | Reply Victor Rakmil

Beauty!
on October 18, 2014 at 9:52 am | Reply vedaeddy

That is amazing. Before I started following your blog I never even thought about dragonflies — that there were so many different kinds or that they were so beautiful close up. Thank you for giving me one more way in which to admire God’s splendor here on earth.
- on October 18, 2014 at 10:46 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  You’re welcome. Dragonflies are amazing creatures. Their beauty, flying skills, and incredible eyesight are only three of the things that really set them apart from many other insects for me. It’s a joy and a challenge to try to photograph them and I am always excited to share my new finds and newly acquired knowledge with others.
on October 18, 2014 at 11:08 am | Reply James Keegan

Amazing photo Mike. I remember all to well trying to grow facial hair back in high school. I think the dragon fly’s attempt was better than mine.
on October 18, 2014 at 2:00 pm | Reply nhillgarthnaturalist

Great shot Mike!
- on October 19, 2014 at 6:53 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. This is probably my favorite shot that I’ve taken in the recent past.
on October 18, 2014 at 2:46 pm | Reply Sue

WOW!! That’s a great close-up. Thanks for sharing my blog link with your readers.
- on October 18, 2014 at 5:02 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Sue. You did such a good job explaining the issue that I figured that there was no need trying to do it myself. It’s fascinating to think about that kind of eyesight and the ability to see in spectra that are beyond human capabilities. (not to mention the wraparound view).
on October 18, 2014 at 5:26 pm | Reply naturesnippets

Amazing colors in amazing pictures!
- on October 19, 2014 at 6:55 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I love bold colors and this dragonfly hits the mark in that department.
on October 18, 2014 at 11:37 pm | Reply krikitarts

Surely you remember, Mike, that the younger folk–who can’t grow anything at all on their faces–can’t help but admire the ability in those who can. So who’s to say (let alone those of us who do sport facial adornment–that it’s in vain at that stage in their metamorphosis? BTW, lovely detail!
- on October 19, 2014 at 6:58 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Ah, the joys of being a teenager. I never let the hair on my chin sprout like that, though I did have a mustache of sorts. At my age now, I am amazed at the rate of growth of my hair in odd places, like my ears.
on October 19, 2014 at 8:19 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Nice shots. Those eyes are really amazing!
- on October 19, 2014 at 8:27 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Allen. It’s the ability to take shots like this that causes me to use my macro lens so much (though you obviously know a whole lot about taking close-ups as well).
on October 22, 2014 at 3:12 am | Reply Marie Keates

Beautifully captured and such a lovely face.
- on October 22, 2014 at 4:59 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I am always amazed by the beauty that I see as I get closer and closer to my subjects (especially one with colors as vibrant as this one).
on December 13, 2017 at 1:02 am | Reply Five Eyes [series]: Mike Powell – Exploring Colour

[…] Blue-eyed, Blue-faced Beauty | Oct 18, 2014 […]
on June 13, 2018 at 10:00 pm | Reply exploringcolour

Hi Mike, I’ve just added links to all the Five Eyes posts to my “Series (Special Posts)” page, accessed from the top menu at my site. Since yours was the first post I’ve used the bottom photo of this post as the header for series “Five Eyes”. Just letting you know, I assumed you’d be fine about it but if not don’t hesitate to let me know. Cheers, Liz
- on June 14, 2018 at 4:38 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I love both the concept and the execution of the series and, in fact, recently showed a friend the posting you did of my five eyes.
  - on June 14, 2018 at 4:40 am exploringcolour
    
    How lovely! And I needed those encouraging words tonight, bless you!