Almost perfect portrait

July 22, 2020 by Mike Powell

I ventured out into the heat for a couple of hours yesterday and was rewarded for my efforts by this beautiful female Halloween Pennant dragonfly (Celithemis eponina) that I spotted at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

What makes a portrait perfect? For me, an optimal portrait captures an interesting subject in a dynamic pose with good lighting and a complementary background. I think that this images ticks all of those boxes. Why, then, do I call it “almost” perfect in the title? I guess that there is a part of me that is never completely satisfied, that is steadfastly convinced that I can do better. That is why I was out walking the trails yesterday when temperatures soared above 95 degrees (35 degrees C). Don’t worry, I stayed in the shade, carried lots of water, and took it slowly. The good news was that social distancing was a breeze—I saw only one other crazy person walking about in the midday heat.

Posted in Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Portraits, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, female Halloween Pennant, halloween pennant, Halloween Pennant dragonfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 180, Woodbridge VA | 20 Comments

20 Responses

on July 22, 2020 at 6:42 am | Reply PaperKutzs

Awesome photo
on July 22, 2020 at 7:25 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Nice Mike! Really stands out against the blue sky! Almost done with focus stacking dragonfly post.
- on July 22, 2020 at 8:15 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Reed. I am definitely looking forward to your stacking post. It will certainly give me additional ideas on how to photograph my beloved dragonflies.
on July 22, 2020 at 8:03 am | Reply Dan Antion

Oh my, Mike, that’s a stunning photo.
- on July 22, 2020 at 8:17 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan. The simple blue sky helps the wonderful wing details really pop.
on July 22, 2020 at 8:25 am | Reply Suzette Benjamin

Wowza!!❤
on July 22, 2020 at 9:03 am | Reply Benjamin

Mr. Mike, I think this Halloween Pennant dragonfly and the photo are perfect! Doesn’t it look like she has a great big smile? Maybe she was happy that you took her picture! I am glad that she has all four beautiful wings.Thank you!
- on July 22, 2020 at 9:15 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Benjamin. I too thought that she was smiling. Yes, she seemed to be in perfect condition, which made me happy.
on July 22, 2020 at 10:06 am | Reply NJUrbanForest

What a beautiful butterfly! I’ve never heard of this species before.
on July 22, 2020 at 11:22 am | Reply kenneturner

Love it!
on July 22, 2020 at 9:30 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Fantastic image, Mike, worth braving that heat!
- on July 23, 2020 at 7:18 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Eliza. The heat is endurable in short stints, but I don’t expect to do any day-long hikes in this weather.
  - on July 23, 2020 at 10:43 am Eliza Waters
    
    I can barely stay out for 15 minutes when it is this humid!
on July 23, 2020 at 4:42 am | Reply krikitarts

I remember all too well the heat in your area at this time of year, though it’s been 10 years since I retired and saw it for the last time in my rear-view mirror. I have many fond memories there, and it’s good to be able to imagine being there again, through your eyes. Have you been to Whiteoak Canyon, near Syria, VA (https://krikitarts.wordpress.com/2012/01/10/places-remembered-white-oak-canyon-4/)? That was my favorite retreat.
- on July 23, 2020 at 7:39 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I’ll have to add White Oak Canyon to my list of places to visit. Even before the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, I have tended to stick to places within about 25 miles or so from where I live. That may sound limiting, but there are a lot of wildlife refuges in this area. This past week it has gotten even hotter, with the temperatures rising to 99 degrees. I went out shooting one day for a few hours, but it’s tough when it gets this oppressive.
on July 23, 2020 at 12:50 pm | Reply Michael Scandling

Given the true perfection is unattainable, I would say this is as close as one can get. Bravo!
on July 23, 2020 at 3:46 pm | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

That is amazing. I would have to call it PERFECT portrait.If you ever top that one then this one can be called almost perfect!
- on July 23, 2020 at 4:37 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Molly. I seem to recall an expression I heard a long time ago when I was spending my junior year of college in France that some professors were tough graders who believed that perfection was reserved for God and not for any of us. 🙂
on July 24, 2020 at 2:40 am | Reply sv-anui.com

Well worth the effort, Mike!
on July 27, 2020 at 9:29 am | Reply mitzybricker

Great reward!! Beautiful, Mike!

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