Blue Dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis) are one of my favorite summer dragonflies. I spotted this one recently at Huntley Meadows Park, perched on the railing of an observation deck in the obelisk pose.
The dragonfly was pretty cooperative and I was able to try few different angles and shooting positions. Although I had my camera’s aperture set to f/10, you can see that the depth of field was relatively shallow and I tried to take advantage of that to isolate the subject and the specific rail on which it was perched.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
wonderful – like a ballet dancer and such clear images
Thanks. I always think of them as aerial acrobats or gymnasts, but the ballet image sure works well too.
Wow! The sheen on that dragonfly is amazing. It looks like it has been cast from precious metals. I think you must be some sort of dragonfly whisperer, Mike. The dragonflies love to pose for you and your camera.
Thanks, Laura. Blue Dashers love to perch and often return to the same perch when they fly away. That sure makes them a bit easier to photograph. I enjoy trying to capture them in different kinds of light and with different backgrounds. I never know for sure when I will get a cool effect like the shiny body.
Terrific shots and wonderful detail. It looks like this one, though, has had quite a tumultuous life, judging by the tattered wings. I’ve seen individuals with much more damage, however, that appear to be able to fly as nimbly as younger ones with perfect wings. They must learn very rapidly how to compensate for the damage.
At this time in the summer a lot of the butterflies and dragonflies have tattered wings. I too am amazed that they are able to fly, but somehow they manage.
Looks like some of those at the Olympics. 🙂