dragonfly – Daffodil Hill Photography

A Dragonfly From Awhile Ago

With the temps in the single digits tonight I decided to go to the way-back-files. While I was there I found this dragonfly. Here is to the time I can pursue thee again ol’ flying dragon!

I was out and about our place earlier this month trying out my Sony A300. I was having a decent test drive of the Sony but was not finding much to shoot because of the always present wind that day. I like shooting nature in macro and well wind is not your friend if that is your thing. As I was heading back in when I saw two Dragonflies on some weeds by the fence roll. As I approach one chanced the wind and headed farther into the field but the other, well he just decided to ride it out. So here is one cool Dragonfly Hanging Tough!

A Dragonfly On Our Place

I wish is was a real dragon but a dragonfly is still really cool too. I just wished I could tell them apart because, there seems to be a main type and it’s family on our place, yet there are several others species that come through from time to time. I have no idea where they are going or where they have been but the just show up for a breath in time then off they go. Me? I am left wondering and searching for answers which is a good thing I believe. This photo is of the skimmer family and is a Baskettail Dragonfly I believe…….. none the less here is a Dragonfly on our place.

New Kid On The Block

I think dragonflies are cool. I find the way they move about our place hunting and chasing each other fun to watch. And cool. This year I spotted some new kids on the block so to speak. But about a month ago the dragonflies seemed to disappear from our place. I do not know if the mild summer we had is a contributing factor but they just left. I must admit I was a little bummed out because I had hoped to get some shots of them.

Today as I tried again to capture Hummingbirds in the fields I saw a few of the usual suspects flying about. I suspect the hot weather putting in a late though expected appearance had them back on top of their game. AS I was walking back to the creek I spotted several of Spotted Skimmers and Common White Tailed Skimmers about. As I stopped to get a few shots of a Skipper Butterfly on an Iron weed the following beauty came by. I have not been able to identify it yet but it was small as far as dragonflies go. Getting a good focused shot was difficult but I think you will like the new kid on the block.

Three From An Old Friend

I have been posting on this blog for about a year and four months. When I started I was using my old beloved Canon Powershot S3is more than not. It was less than three months into my journey as a photo-blogger-dude that my beloved Powershot S3 died. Well not in the literal sense but a fatal lenses error was to much for my ~~lack of technical skills~~ mad skills to overcome. In some ways I feel it may have been my old friend’s way of paying me back for upgrading to newer tech.

Fast forward to yesterday when package was awaiting me at our front door. In it was the winning bid of an online auction and one I was glad to see. Here are three from my-new-to-me-Canon Powershot S3is and one of the most versatile point-and-shots out there to date, that is my humble and very biased opinion by the way 🙂

Hanging Ten In A Heat Wave

The heat and its ever presence weight was rising as I did an mid-morning walkout today. The sun was hiding behind the oncoming storm clouds but it’s hot self was felt with every step. As I wrapped up the walk, and headed back to our home to mow the yard, I was thinking about insects and their ability to tolerate heat that makes me whine. So here is a couple of those wonders hanging ten, or six :), in a heat wave!

Motorcycle Widow this one is for you. Peace.

A Few Since The Last Time

Though I have not an opportunity to get to know my D60 better on the up side I have done some work around our place. Sorry no photos on that end but trust me I am truly saving you from being underwhelmed. What I did get to do was do a quick walkabout this evening with my Canon Powershot SX10is. Here are a few since the last time!

This wasp is either bring home dinner or getting ready to go fishing. Dinner I think, no?

The Monarch Butterfly is one cool Butterfly. Every Summer I marvel at these wonderful butterflies but there are less of them to marvel at it seems recently. One blogs I follow, Her Way at Crabtree Gardens, has a passion for these Magnificent Butterflies as well. Check her place out and hear her thoughts on this subject.

I cannot shot reds of yellows very well. Just can not do it. So as I was checking out one of the Blogs I love, Googsy Photography, I came across this beautiful yellow Tulip he had captured so very well. I commented how I have trouble with the color yellow in my captures. His gracious reply with words of encouragement had me pursuing a great capture of yellow flora. Well the above capture is not great but I wanted you to see this little yellow flower just because…it is really tiny! That is my wedding band for a size comparison.

Smooth Phlox taking in the last golden rays of the day on our place.

I have been in pursuit of a good shot of this Dragonfly. I saw it for the first time on our place a few weeks back. I have been on the lookout for it since. Today as I standing on the path to the creek it showed up just outside optimal shooting range of course! And as you see it is green. So is grass. We have a lot of tall grass on our place so it was challenge to get my camera to focus on the Dragonfly not the grass. I lost a lot of the battle but this capture was worth it. Notice its lower left-wing: Part of it is missing. Trust me it did not affect its ability to fly and allude me!

A Dragonfly Hanging Tough

I was taking a few pictures of one of the Button Bushes on our place late this afternoon. As I was about to head back towards the house a dragonfly happens by. I hoped he would land close so can get a few shots of him. He obliges and I start taking several captures with my zoom since he is about eight or so feet from me. Just as I got about six or seven captures the wind shows up. I keep shooting thinking he will fly off anytime now. On top of that I have never seen one like him so I may not get another chance if he is not a native. He does not fly off and I am amazed at this since the wind was quite brisk. Below are three photos of this amazing little Dragonfly hanging tough!