Living on the edge

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Living on the edge

July 25, 2020 by Mike Powell

This stunning Variable Dancer damselfly (Argia fumipennis) was living life on the edge when I spotted him amidst the leaves last week during a trip to Green Spring Gardens with my good friend Cindy Dyer. Many of you probably realize that this violet-colored beauty is one of my favorites, given that my most frequently used banner image for this blog is a photo of a Variable Dancer. Perhaps there are other insects that are this color, but none come to mind.

As for the title of this post, consider it to be a sign of the times—the content could easily have gone in multiple directions.

Posted in damselfly, Insects, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Alexandria VA, Argia fumipennis, Argia fumipennis violacea, Canon 50D, green spring gardens, Tamron 180mm, Variable Dancer, Variable Dancer damselfly | 21 Comments

21 Responses

on July 25, 2020 at 8:06 am | Reply Dan Antion

That’s a wonderful image, Mike.
- on July 25, 2020 at 8:10 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan. This is one of the rare images where I am equally happy with the way that the background and the subject turned out.
on July 25, 2020 at 9:30 am | Reply joyroses13

Love the purple shade!
- on July 25, 2020 at 10:24 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. The color is amazingly striking and I love seeing it in the viewfinder of my camera.
  - on July 25, 2020 at 10:26 am joyroses13
    
    🙂
on July 25, 2020 at 10:49 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Nice Mike! Beautiful colors! Never saw one of these before!
on July 25, 2020 at 1:39 pm | Reply Birder's Journey

Terrific title, and an excellent photo. There is just something about that purple…!
- on July 25, 2020 at 4:04 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks for “getting” the title–I wasn’t sure if it was a little too cute. I agree about the purple–it is unusual and really cool. Prince would have loved it.
  - on July 25, 2020 at 4:07 pm Birder's Journey
    
    ☺️
on July 25, 2020 at 3:56 pm | Reply Laura Denise

😂 You make me smile a lot. Great shot, too!
on July 25, 2020 at 4:05 pm | Reply Ellen Jennings

Lovely capture of this beauty and great title, Mike!
- on July 25, 2020 at 4:06 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ellen. I must confess that I love word plays and puns.
on July 25, 2020 at 5:08 pm | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

I thought it was blue!
on July 25, 2020 at 5:26 pm | Reply sv-anui.com

What a great image Mike, it could well be my favourite: beautiful colour, slender…
- on July 25, 2020 at 6:06 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. The color of this damselfly species always attracts me and I was fortunate enough to capture an interesting pose.
on July 25, 2020 at 11:48 pm | Reply Ms. Liz

The violet colour has come out so well in the photo, magnificent!
- on July 26, 2020 at 7:03 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Liz. I worry sometimes about how well certain colors will come across, given the variety of computer operating systems and types of devices that people use to view a posting. The violet color was particularly important for making this damselfly stand out from so many other damselflies that are some combination of blue and black.
on July 26, 2020 at 8:03 am | Reply Louella Lester

Love that colour.
- on July 26, 2020 at 8:05 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  It is an amazing color to see in nature. There are not many violet-colored creatures that I know of.
on July 28, 2020 at 5:50 am | Reply krikitarts

I can’t help but wonder if the one in your header might just be an ancestor to this one that you found last week. True, it’s a lighter shade of pale, but truly, anything’s possible.
- on July 28, 2020 at 6:25 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Perhaps at some point in time they were related. As you rightly said, anything is possible.