Do you have a favorite dragonfly? Almost everyone who reads my blog knows that I love dragonflies. Like parents with children, I am probably supposed to love them all equally, but I actually do have a favorite dragonfly, the Blue-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum ambiguum). On Thursday, I was thrilled to spot my first Blue-faced Meadowhawk of the season at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge which turned out to be a female.
Why are these my favorites? The males of this species are spectacular, with bright red bodies and stunning turquoise eye and I also find the females to be quite attractive. At a time when the dragonfly season feels like it is starting to wind down, these little dragonflies appear on the scene and keep me company for several more months—that is at least as important to me as their physical appearance.
If you want to know a bit more about why I like dragonflies so much and especially Blue-faced Meadowhawks, check out my posting entitled “My favorite dragonfly?” Almost every year I am flooded with similar feelings when I see my first Blue-faced Meadowhawk and the linked post shows a handsome male that was the first one that I spotted in 2018—it is also an easy way for you to compare today’s female with that male to see some of the differences between the two genders.
Blue-faced Meadowhawks are also special to me for a personal reason—I was awarded second place in a local photo contest several years ago for a macro shot of a Blue-faced Meadowhawk. Here is a link to the 2015 posting Second place in a local photo competition that shows that prize-winning entry and tells some of the back story of the image.
I captured the two images below from more or less the same spot—it is interesting to see how much difference a slight change in the angle of view can make. I like the overall pose and the background of the first image, which I believe was shot from a crouched position. The second image, which looks like it was shot from a higher angle, is a little sharper and you can see some of the details much better, like the spines on the legs. Overall, I think I prefer the first one. What do you think?
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Beautiful posts as per your usual great work Mike. I like both images. The first however, has a bit of “the magical” feeling to me. Because it looks like there is movement in only the right wing – which seems to support the dragonfly as it rests. Great capture both of them. Thank you.😊
Thanks, Suzette, for your always supportive comments. I appreciate your explanation about why you preferred one image. I never really know how others view the images and for obvious reasons it is hard for me to look at them with unbiased eyes.
My pleasure. Thanks again Mike.😊
I really like that image at the end, Mike. There’s something about the color.
Thanks, Dan. I was thinking of inserting a poll, but decided I did not want to risking inducing any problems. 🙂
Do you post your shots on iNaturalist? Just curious. William
I have not been posting photos to iNaturalist, but I do post images and sightings of uncommon species to odonatacentral.org that has a similar type function for dragonflies and damselflies.
I’ll have to check that site out since you’ve successfully stirred my interest in odonata. William
Like the sharpness of the second image Mike.
Thanks. As you are well aware, there are always compromises involved in getting close-up shots of creatures like this and many of them involve depth of field and the angle of view. I happen to like frontal, eye-to-eye shots and have gotten used to the idea that much of the image will not be in focus.
I like seeing the wings better in first photo. 😀
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Thanks, Mitzy, for the feedback. When in doubt I like to post multiple photos, but I am always interested in trying to see them through the eyes of others, which is why I value comments so much.
me too!
Both are nice, Mike, but I like the first better because of the green highlights in the background framing the wings.
I too prefer that image, though I acknowledge that it is a little soft in the focus. Thanks, Eliza, for explaining the reasoning behind your preference.
Happy to join in the responses you requested. It’s a tough choice, but since you ask, I also prefer the first: The face is clearer, as are the amazing pseudo-pupils. Further, I find the greener background more complementary.
Thanks, Gary. Most of the responses that I received support my instinctive preference for the first photo. I appreciate your willingness to provide the reasoning behind your choice.
Oh the face on the first image is terrific! She is a mystical looking creation with what appears to be hands. Maybe it is just the creativity of the photographer.
I sometimes feel like I can read facial expressions with some dragonflies–they often seem to smile at me. As for hands, I think they manage quite well with their tiny feet.