It is hot! It seems that much of Europe and the United States is currently experiencing sweltering heat. Here in Northern Virginia where I live, high temperatures are going to hover around 100 degrees (38 degrees C) each day this week. I might consider going out with my camera when there are heat advisories, but today there are extreme heat advisories and people are advised not to go out in the heat unless absolutely necessary.
This morning I went over my photos from an outing earlier this month and recalled my thought process when I was taking photos of Common Sanddragon dragonflies (Progomphus obscurus). I was trying to frame the shot in a way that showed the dragonfly’s face and body with an interesting background, which was a bit frustrating, because the Sanddragons tended to perch at the edge of the water facing the water.
I changed positions repeatedly and eventually I got the shot that I was imagining in my head. I love how the green of the dragonfly’s eyes matches some of the mossy vegetation and how the yellow and brown body matches the stones. The dragonfly also seems to be looking up at me and smiling, though I suspect that may be my imagination.
Stay cool and hydrated this week if you have to go outside this week!
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Great details and beautiful photo Mike. Stay cool weatherwise. Cheers.
Thanks, Suzette. I’ll do my best to stay cool, in all senses of the word. 🙂
Very wise plan, Mike. Cheers.
You succeeded on getting the interesting background, Mike, with all the texture and colors in those rocks.
Maybe few backyard photos this week but certainly not venturing far.
Thanks, Ellen. I may venture out a bit if the humidity is down a little. I live in a townhouse, so my backyard is pretty small. If I get creative, though, I am sure there are things that I can photograph. 🙂
Beautifully captured! I can imagine how challenging it must have been to get the perfect angle, especially in such intense heat. The colors really do blend wonderfully with the surroundings. Nature has its own subtle harmony, and you brought it out so well in this shot. Stay cool and safe out there!
Thanks so much.