Many of you know that dragonflies and damselflies are my favorite subjects to photograph in the warm months of the year. There is something magical about these colorful aerial acrobats that spend most of their lives underwater before undergoing a remarkable metamorphosis. If you are not familiar with a dragonfly’s total transformation, you may want to check out a posting I did a few years ago called Metamorphosis of a dragonfly that documents in photos and in words the step-by-step metamorphosis of a Common Sanddragon dragonfly (Progomphus obscurus).
It is still a bit early in the season, but I have already been searching for dragonflies and damselflies for a couple of weeks now. Yesterday I finally found my first damselfly, the female Fragile Forktail (Ischnura posita) in the first photo that I spotted as she perched on some skunk cabbage in a muddy seep at Occoquan Regional Park. I scoured the area and eventually spotted a few more Fragile Forktails, including the male in the second photo that was also perched on the leaves of a skunk cabbage.
As their name suggests, Fragile Forktail damselflies are quite small and delicate and are only .8 to 1.1 inches (21-29 mm) in length. This species is fairly easy to identify, once you manage to spot one, because both genders have interrupted pale shoulder stripes that look like exclamation marks. I encourage you to click on the images, especially the first one, in which you can see the incredible details of this little lady, including her amazing wings, spiny legs, and tiny feet.
The dragonfly/damselfly season has now officially started for me and I will now begin to intensify my search for spring species, many of which can be found only in specific habitats for a limited period of time. Can you feel my excitement? Yeah, I an unapologetically a bit geeky about these little creatures.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I won’t say your excitement’s been noted, but when I starting seeing dragon and damselflies this year, the first person I thought of was you!
Yay. I am totally ok with the fact that I am associated with dragonflies and damselflies in your mind and memory. Of course, I do photograph lots of other subjects, but my focus on dragonflies is hard to miss as we move into the warmer months here. 🙂
Good to see them back. I’ve recently wrote a poem about a damselfly. So I have one of each now. 🙂
That is so cool–we are blessed with a variety of damselflies of various types and colors. Are they out and about yet where you are living?
Let the fun begin Mike !
The starting gun has fired. It is definitely a marathon and not a sprint. Generally I see my first spring species in April and the final fall ones in November (or even occasionally in December).
I love your excitement. Your post reminded me of a talk I went to a couple of years ago about dragonflies and damselflies. It was at Wildwood Park in Harrisburg, Pa and the speaker was just as enthusiastic as you. I learned a lot because he made everything sound so interesting.
Thanks for providing mini science lessons with your wonderful pictures and entertaining descriptions.👍
Thanks, Suzanne. I have a liberal arts background and not one in science, so I try to share information in a way that helps folks appreciate the beauty they see, rather than delve deeply into the scientific details. Hopefully it helps people see the world a little differently. One of my favorite quotes comes from Dorothea Lang, “The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” If I can get people to slow down and look a little more closely at nature, I will have accomplished my goal. 🙂
I think you have accomplished that goal with each post!
Woo-hoo! The new season has officially begun, and what a dazzling Fragile Forktail you have brought to us, Mike. I did click on the first photo, and was, once again after a winter hiatus, moved and thrilled by the details on your damselfly. Thanks so much, and happy days to you, my friend.
Thanks for your always encouraging words, Jet. I thought of you when a few minutes ago I happened upon this quote by Ansel Adams, “When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” I think those words sum up pretty well the relationship we both share with the natural world. 🙂
A sure sign that the seasons have changed. Wonderful photos, Mike.
Indeed. We all look for signs of the season and this is definitely one of mine. Thanks, Dan.
Such fantastic detail
Off to a nice start Mike. We have probably another couple of weeks to go.
A good sign! Great shots, Mike.
Thanks, Eliza.
Gorgeous photos – love the swooping shadow neath the female!
Thanks, Jazz. As you can probably tell, the shallow followed the shape of the leaf and created a really cool shape.
Beauties, Mike, and wonderful detail on these two. And I agree with Jazz about the swooping shadow, it’s always nice when our subject’s environment gives something extra to an image.
Thanks, Ellen. I love my macro lens and the wonderful detail it can capture, though I have to pay a lot of attention to technique, because my 180mm macro does not have image stabilization. I was a bit lucky with that shadow–the shape of the leaf made it especially cool.
I’ve just gotten a Canon 100mm macro lens, with IS. I’ve only tried it hand-held so far, and am looking forward to getting some more detailed images.
I have the Canon 60mm macro, the Canon 100mm macro (non IS) and the Tamron 180mm macro (non IS) and love them all. 🙂
Wow, that’s a lot of choice, Mike! Do you carry them all with you, or choose before you leave home based on what you hope to photograph?
In the wintertime, I leave all of the macro lens at home and walk around with my Tamron 150-600mm on the camera and usually have another couple of lens in my backpack, usually including my Canon 24-105mm. In the summer, I usually have the 180mm macro on the camera and carry with me a 70-300mm and the 24-105mm. Recently I have been using the 60mm for floral close-ups and have not used the 100mm very much.
Thanks, Mike. I’m trying to get into a mindset of taking new subjects, and not worry so much about missing out on a great raptor or wading bird shot. And to stop taking a gazillion images of anything too far away 😜.
It is tough to practice restraint when taking shots with a digital camera. I shoot way too many shots of eagles and ospreys in flight that are way too far away. Yesterday I was out on a misty day and there was not much wildlife, so I spent time shooting landscape type shots. Because I was not trying to capture action, I was a lot more intentional with my shots and worked out compositions before pressing the shutter button–a totally different mindset for me.
LOL, that is the truth! I find it’s good to have days like that, and spend more time looking around me.
Mike, Ellen has over gone to your side. Chasing Dragonflies from bloom to bloom the other day 😂. Now there’s a new piece of gear, Canon 100 macro. I fear I will be out looking for larger critters on my own this summer 😂😂
I too have a Canon 100mm macro lens, but when it comes to dragonflies and especially damselflies, I prefer my Tamron 180mm macro, which gives me the same 1:1 magnification but gives me a little more stand-off distance.
What does a “liberal arts” background mean (as I saw you mention in a comment above)?
“Liberal arts” is usually used to refer to a broad-based, well-rounded education that focuses on an exposure to a wide range of subjects like languages, literature, philosophy, history, mathematics, economics, etc. with a focus on learning critical thinking, reading, and writing skills and cultivating a sense of intellectual curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. It is often contrasted with technical, vocational, and professional training that tends to be more narrowly focused on “marketable skills.” A liberal arts education ideally produces a “Renaissance man,” who is capable of being used in a wide variety of ways.
Thank you Mike!
Absolutely superb photographs, Mike!
Excitement? Geeky?
I don’t know what you could possibly mean ………
(And I don’t apologize for our Odonata season beginning ahead of everyone else’s!)
Very nice Mike! Hopefully we will see some here in a few weeks!
We’ve had some warm weather the last few days–hopefully more will appear here soon and yours will start to emerge.