It violates one of the basic rules of photography to have your subject in the center of an image, but for both of these shots of a male Widow Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula luctuosa), that’s precisely what I did.
In the first image, the blade of grass that bisects the image helps to emphasize the symmetric patterns on the wings of the Widow Skimmer.
In the second image, I was so fascinated by the geometric lines of the grass and their varying degrees of sharpness that I did not want to crop them at all, so I left the Widow Skimmer more or less in the center.
When it comes to my photography, I tend to look at “rules” as general guidelines that apply in many—but not all—situations. That approach helps me to remain centered and flexible.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Great contrast with those long straight green plant lines.
Thanks.
Love the head-tilt in the second photo!
I’ve never paid much attention to rules of photography and I have the subject dead center all the time. I figure if it pleases me then it’ll most likely please someone else too. These shots are very pleasing!
Stay centered as often as your artistic impulses lead you to be! Rules–piffle! For me, the main subject element(s) (nearly) always guide me to choose the composition and the format. There are times when centered works best!