During the summer, most of my dragonfly photos tend to be variations of the stereotypical “dragonfly on a stick.” I am always on the lookout, though, for more interesting or photogenic perching places and behaviors.
The first shot shows a male Eastern Amberwing dragonfly (Perithemis tenera) perched on the end of a piece of rebar that sticks out of the water near a small fishing dock at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. Generally I try to avoid having manmade objects in my nature photos, but in this case I really like the juxtaposition of the natural and manmade elements in this shot. The warm tones of the amber wings contrast nicely with the cooler rust color of the rebar and the lines on the rebar are mirrored by those on the dragonfly’s body. Almost every year I return to this spot to capture a similar image, though each encounter is unique in its own way.
The second image shows another male Eastern Amberwing perched on a large rock jutting out from the water. I couldn’t get close to the dragonfly so I took the opposite approach and zoomed out to capture the dragonfly’s reflection (as well as the amber shadow it was casting on the rock). I really like the contrast between the diminutive size of the dragonfly and the large jagged rock—it seems almost like a visual metaphor for life’s challenges.
These two shots are examples of how I try, when possible, to visualize a shot before I take it. Frequently, though, I am forced to react instantaneously to a given situation, with a primary goal of keeping my subject within the frame and hopefully in focus. It’s a weird mental juggling act to simultaneously attempt to think creatively, instinctively, instinctively, and analytically—that’s wildlife photography in a nutshell.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I look at the photos before I read the text so I thought I was having deja vu when I saw that first shot. It’s interesting that you capture the same type of dragonfly on the same perch so regularly. I wonder if there is something about the heat of the metal that appeals. I certainly enjoy the juxtaposition of the natural and manmade and also the way the rusty hues of the rod make the glorious amber of the wings more emphatic.
Thanks, Laura. I am not sure what attracts the dragonflies to the perch, but I have photographed several species on the same rebar post since about 2017. “:)
So excellent, Mike! The reflections in the second shot are stunning!
Thanks so much for you kind words. As you can seem, the water in the pond was almost like glass when I took the photo–normally it is full of ripples.
Incredible images.