Have you even examined dragonfly wings really closely? I tend to think of dragonfly wings as being made up lots of individual “cells” that are uniform in size and shape, like the squares on piece of graph paper. The reality, however, is that the wings are incredibly complex and are full of intricate designs and shapes that presumably help the dragonfly to maneuver its way so masterfully through the air.
Last week I captured this image of an immature male Needham’s Skimmer (Libellula needhami) while I was exploring in Occoquan Regional Park. I managed to position my camera so that I was almost perfectly parallel to the plane of the wings that are consequently in sharp focus. I highly encourage you to click on the image to see the breathtaking wing details that form such complex mosaic-like patterns. Wow!
It is no wonder that it is so hard for me to draw or paint dragonfly wings that look realistic.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Wow indeed!
Gorgeous detail, and such a beautiful gold sheen.
Thanks, Liz. I too love the touches of gold on the beautiful wings of this dragonfly.
This is so stunning, Mike! Intricate, graded, patterns within patterns. I kept going in and out to appreciate the whole design. The clarity of the shot is remarkable. You have a very steady hand.
Thanks, Chris. My 180mm macro lens can produce some amazing results, but it does require good handholding techniques, because it does not have any built-in image stabilization (nor does the DSLR). I have gotten pretty good at holding steady, but it is something that I really have to pay attention to when taking shots like this.
And to think evolution placed each line and angle – in the best possible position! Amazing. Thanks for this post. Humbling.
Amen. It is fascinating how it well works together, with incredible eyesight and flying ability.
Nature’s perfect design!
Amen. 🙂
Fabulous, Mike, and those patterns are just amazing.
Thanks, Ellen. It is definitely cool how intricate and varied the patterns are.
Impressive photograph 👏👏👏
I love the pattern in their wings.
It looks like he’s made from pure gold.
Very nice Mike! And yes their wings are very intricate and make Great Macro images!
Extraordinary.