Not all people like to have insects perch on them, but I thought it was pretty cool when an inquisitive Variable Dancer damselfly (Argia fumipennis) landed on my hand Monday at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetlands Refuge. The real challenge was getting a photo of the damselfly shooting one-handed with my DSLR and 180mm macro lens.
Sharp-eyed readers may have recognized that this is the same species of damselfly as the one featured in my blog’s banner. I just love the beautiful purple markings of this damselfly, which is also known as a Violet Dancer (Argia fumipennis violacea), if you use the name of the sub-species.
It was interesting trying to get shots as I tried to hold my left hand still and slowly extended my arm out as far as it would go. The damselfly was relatively cooperative, but moved about a little as it explored my hand. Steadying my shooting hand was an even bigger challenge. Normally I like to try to get as close to parallel with a damselfly’s body as possible, so that most of it will be in focus, but that was not possible in this situation, given the anatomical limitations of the human body.
Looking at these images, I have reached a sad conclusion—I am going to have to give up on my dream of becoming a professional hand model.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved
Mike Powell 
Ah Mike, sometimes you have to enjoy the moment when a creature lands on you and simply commit the image to memory😊 But I relate to the urge to photograph these precious moments. Recently a female Bowerbird landed on my arm as I was photographing another bird with my big lens, then it hoped on the camera and tried to pick at the knobs with it beaks. I was lucky … Doubly lucky, as Leanne Cole was with me and took a few shots! I’ll have to do a post on this some day!
He’s actually kinda cute in that bottom shot!
Those eyes! Beautiful!
How did you get him to stay long enough to take those great shots?!!
There is no real secret. I simply moved very slowly and deliberately and the damselfly stayed in place. Some dragonflies and damselflies are very skittish and will fly away at the slightest disturbance, but others are remarkably tolerant of my presence.
I’ve done that too, and it can be quite an exercise in contortionism–and also quite rewarding, sometimes. In your second image, I can’t get over the impression that the damsel is saying “Oooooh!”
I have never seen them be that cooperative, fabulous shots.
May I have the next dancer? 😉
I think the damselfly said, “I’m your private dancer,” or maybe I was happily hallucinating in the heat and channeling Tina Turner.
I love it when insects land on me. I once had a dragonfly land on my head and rest there for quite a while like a living hair ornament. The photos are great, especially given the restrictions you had.