It love it when dragonflies cooperate and choose particularly photogenic perches, as these female Eastern Amberwing dragonflies (Perithemis tenera) did on Tuesday at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, Virginia, not far from where I live. The males of this species, whose wings are a solid amber in color, mostly seemed to be hanging out at a pond at the bottom of a hill, while the females were flitting about among the flowers in the gardens at the top—the gender separation reminded me of the awkwardness of junior high dances when I was growing up.
As many of you may recall, dragonflies and damselflies are part of the Odonata order of flying insects. My friend and fellow dragonfly enthusiast Walter Sanford has coined the term “odonart” to refer to artsy-style photos that we manage to capture of our favorite aerial acrobats. I think that both of these images qualify to fit into that self-created category, given the beauty of the dragonflies and their particularly photogenic perches.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Beautiful pictures!
Thanks. I tend to find dragonflies beautiful all of the time, but their beauty is magnified when the perch is so pretty.
Wow! Excellent photos. I chuckled at your comment that the dragonflies “chose” the right backdrop and pose for their portrait. Awesomeness. Great work Mike.
Thanks, Suzette. I will try sometimes to send mental messages to my subjects, trying to will them to choose the best perches. It doesn’t work most of the times, but I figure it can’t hurt to try. 🙂
From your photos, I suspect it works quite often🦋😊
I try often enough, as for success, who knows? 🙂
These dragonflies are neat and the flowers are pretty. I couldn’t find any bees or bugs on the biggest ones like I told you about on the yesterday butterfly photos. Thank you, Mr. Mike! Bye!
Thanks, Benjamin. I appreciate your checking for additional bugs in my photos–you have such sharp eyes for details.
OMG! These are so beautiful they almost don’t look real. They look like they are made out of glass. And I am paying attention to how the background contributes to the subject:) Thanks again.
Thanks, Ann. A neutral background that is not cluttered can help the viewer focus of the main subject, but one that is as pretty as was the case in these two photos, helps to magnify the overall sense of beauty, I believe.
These are spectacular, Mike. Spectacular. Oh, did I mention that I think that they are spectacular?
Your comment, Michael, reminds me of the approach that I was taught in the Army for teaching–tell them what you are going to tell them; tell them; and then tell them what you have told them. 🙂
I’m going to tell you that I agree with your comment most exactly.
Exactly.
I agreed with your comment in a most precise and exact manner.
Odonart! I like it. These are fabulous portraits. I think the magenta bokeh in the first image add to the “theme” of these little beasties being dragonflies being jewel-like. I especially like that second image though. The composition is strong and I really love the way the blue hue in the plant is then echoed in the tips of the dragonfly wings. There is also a mirroring between the wing shapes and the forms of the segments of the plant. I don’t know how to describe that lozenge type shape but hopefully you understand what I am trying to communicate.
Thanks, Laura, for explaining what you like about the shots. I think that many people are really drawn to the bright colors in the first photo, which grabs their attention immediately. You have to study the second image a bit more to grasp its more complex beauty. The mirroring of shapes and color helps to give that image a somewhat more sophisticated feel. I deliberately chose to leave plenty of space around the subject rather than cropping in more closely. I think the composition benefits from that additional breathing room.
I completely agree.
Truly stunning photographs, Mike. When I cursored down and saw the first one I gasped…the exquisite beauty. Both photos capture the winged beauty of these Eastern amberwing dragonflies so wonderfully. I love the new term Odonart that you and WS coined, and I think it’s perfect. Thanks for this Odonart today, it truly brightened my day, Mike.
Always happy to accommodate, Jet. It would be wonderful if more dragonflies hung out among the flowers, but I am happy to have found the ones that I did.
These are excellent shots, Mike.
Beautiful!! I have recently become addicted to photographing and identifying dragonflies in our local area. They are most fascinating!! Your photos are beautiful!!
Thanks, Lisa. I too am somewhat obsessed about dragonflies and they are my favorite subjects during the warmer months of the year.
Art indeed and both are lovely, Mike. I especially like the first with the Amberwing’s eyes echoing the color of what appears to be a Smartweed. Or maybe it’s the other way around. 🙂
Smartweed? Thanks, Steve, for helping to identify the plant–I had not idea what it was.
Each of these is a peach of a perch, and the first one seems to be wearing that typical, knowing smile, while the second seems to be having second thoughts about something.
Ah, the mystery of reading dragonfly expression–who knows what is going on in their minds? It would be fun to know.
Wauw…. so nice !
Thanks.
Great images Mike! Love the term “odonart”!
Personally, I think these look like award winning photos. Where are you going to submit them?
I have only entered one local contest, but may try to participate in others some time in the future. (For the record, I got second place in that contest with a macro shot of a dragonfly https://michaelqpowell.com/2015/12/21/second-place-in-local-photo-competition/)