Pushing the limit

November 7, 2015 by Mike Powell

Do you keep returning to the same places over and over again to take photos of the same subjects? For the last month or so, I have been going back repeatedly to a small pool of water in a secluded part of my favorite park, hoping to get another glimpse of a spectacular Great Spreadwing damselfly (Archilestis grandis).

Their numbers seem to have dwindled and it is possible that there is only a single damselfly of this species remaining. Yesterday, I watched and waited for quite some time before I was finally able to spot a male Great Spreadwing and it took several mini-encounters before I was able to get a decent photograph of the damselfly.

All of the female damselflies of this species seem to have disappeared several weeks ago, so it seems that any hopes he harbors for mating may be in vain. Indeed, the clock is definitely ticking for him—this species has never before been documented in Virginia this late in November.

I am cheering for this survivor and will try to find him again later this weekend. Despite my hopeful attitude, however, I can’t help but remember that yesterday I observed a large Shadow Darner dragonfly (Aeshna umbrosa) patrolling the pool and periodically chasing the damselfly, hoping to turn him into the main course of his lunch.

I’ve included two very different images of yesterday’s damselfly. The first shot is one that I framed very carefully, trying to get as parallel as I could with the damselfly and focusing manually. I like the way that it shows so many of beautiful details of the damselfly’s body. When I took the second shot, I was facing almost directly into the sun and I hurriedly played with camera settings to try to ensure that I did not get a mere silhouette. I really liked the way the sunlight was coming through the outstretched wings and used my camera’s pop-up flash to add a little light to the damselfly’s underside.

Posted in Autumn, Dragonflies, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Archilestes grandis, Canon 50D, Great Spreadwing, Great Spreadwing damselfly, Huntley Meadows Park, Tamron 180mm macro lens | 14 Comments

14 Responses

on November 7, 2015 at 7:57 am | Reply Dan Antion

I do go back to the same places, but they’re never really the same.
- on November 7, 2015 at 8:31 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Ah, Dan, you’ve gone philosophical on me. Of course, you are right–as the old adage states, you can’t step into the same river twice and the principle applies to dry land too.
  - on November 7, 2015 at 9:09 am Dan Antion
    
    I didn’t mean to get you thinking heavy thoughts. I just wanted to let you know that I would look forward to your pictures if you stood in the same spot every day.
on November 7, 2015 at 8:28 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Going to the same place repeatedly is the only way to really see everything that’s there.
It was certainly worth it this time. I love that first shot. Great colors!
- on November 7, 2015 at 8:33 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Allen. I agree with you completely. That’s why it’s tough to justify spending big bucks to go to an exotic destination–you’ll surely see only a small subset of what the location has to offer.
on November 7, 2015 at 4:21 pm | Reply svtakeiteasy

I have a few favourite spots too and the challenge for me is to look for something different or take a different angle. Beautiful shots and details Mike.
- on November 7, 2015 at 4:56 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. With wildlife shooting, I am never sure what I will stumble upon. I wonder if I would be as content if I did primarily landscape shots.
  - on November 7, 2015 at 6:03 pm svtakeiteasy
    
    May be not… I know that is why I have a mix of photographic interests. We have to be quite opportunistic.
on November 7, 2015 at 7:09 pm | Reply waltersanford

03 November is the former late-date for Great Spreadwing, according to the “official” records maintained by Steven M. Roble, Ph.D., Staff Zoologist, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
- on November 8, 2015 at 4:55 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks for the additional, more precise information, Walter.
on November 7, 2015 at 9:41 pm | Reply Charlie@Seattle Trekker

Fascinating bit of information; both shots are just spectacular. I am always amazed at the detail you are able to capture in your encounters.
- on November 8, 2015 at 4:54 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Charlie. I generally try to get as close to my subjects as I can to capture as much detail as possible. I find that the beauty increases as I move in. With this damselfly, I love the blue of the eyes and the colorful stripes along its thorax.
on November 8, 2015 at 1:37 am | Reply circadianreflections

I often go back to several places to photograph the scenery or wildlife. Happily I find it never the same…which keeps me going back.

I have a favorite lonely tree that I’ve been photographing since it was just a sapling. It’s getting bigger, and my widest angle lens isn’t going to net the shot much longer from my favorite vantage point. I’ve already been planning to switch to my Fisheye lens when that happens, so will be taking it along for the hike up to the Lonely Tree very soon now.

Those Damsel flies are amazing! I’m never quite fast enough to get a good image of them in flight, and when I’m around they don’t land! You have the gift that speaks to the them I think. I hope it continues for a long, long time. The images that you make of them are quite remarkable.
- on November 8, 2015 at 4:52 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks so much for your thoughtful response and encouraging words. I suspected (and your response confirms) that many of us have special places that call us back over and over. When it comes to damselflies and dragonflies, I’m not sure that I have any special gifts, but I do recognize that I am unusually patient and persistent. Perhaps, though, they do get used to my presence and find it to be non-threatening.