SPECIAL FEATURES:
Email
How to photograph the graceful dragonfly
The joys of 'dragonflying,' and how photographing dragonflies in flight can be a lesson in patience.
Sunday, June 5, 2011 - 17:15
Photo: NJ Wight
N.J. Wight lives in Montreal but is connected to New Hampshire as a local correspondent.
I have always been intrigued by the elongated shape and erratic movements of the dragonfly. But not until I started photographing them did I realize how intricate and beautiful they truly are. With their "stained glass window" wings, brightly colored tails and gigantic eyes, they are a small wonder of nature's design.
Part of the odonata order that also includes damselflies, they are believed to have been gracing this earth for more than 300 million years.
Equipped with two sets of wings that can beat independently, unlike other double-winged insects that beat in unison, their front wings can be going up while their backs ones are beating down. However, even with two sets they are considered to be slow flappers, so to speak, with an average of 30 wing-beats per second (whereas a bumblebee's wings move at about 300 bps). Dragonfly eyes are enormous and contain as many as 30,000 individual lenses (whereas humans have one), giving them supreme vision that enables them to respond to stimuli — like an eager photographer — up to 40 feet away. Still, they are quite accommodating and generally may grant you an audience quite close.
Once referred to as "The Devil's Darning Needles," myth would have it that dragonflies would seek out bad children and sew their mouths together with their claspers while they slept. Sadly, the myth fell apart after rigorous scientific study revealed they had no pockets or handbags in which to cart around needle and thread. They actually can do no harm to us humans as they don't bite or sting. In fact, they seem intrigued by us and generally come quite close. Frankly, I think they should be more revered as they help control our mosquito population.
Dragonflies pass through a fascinating life journey and you may not realize it, but the time they spend flying around our ponds and lakes is quite a short chapter in their lives. They actually hatch on the water surface and can remain in the larva stage for several years. The metamorphosis state brings the growth of wings, at which point they leave the water and begin their flying lifecycle, which lasts only weeks. This winged-stage is for mating and it is a common sight to see a male and female attached to each other, clinging to a blade of grass, or even mid-flight. Happy times for dragonflies before their precious few weeks of flight-time expire.
The art/challenge of photographing dragonflies
I am grateful to the dragonfly as it is teaching me patience. One of the biggest photography challenges for me has been capturing dragonflies in flight. I am generally impatient waiting for microwave popcorn, so standing in one spot for 50 minutes trying to focus and track spasmodically flying winged-things is not exactly in my comfort zone. But I love the challenge! I think of it as a zen meditation — with swearing.
I usually shoot with the Canon 7D and my 70-200 f4 IS L and after a few false starts and focus trial-and-errors, I have started to find my rhythm. Coincidentally, it has corresponded with finding the dragons' rhythm. Dragonflies really are unreliable, drunken flyers, changing direction and altitude very quickly. But, they also hover — and that is the photographer's moment.
I have learned to anticipate and concentrate on that brooding moment. Once I find my way with tracking and focus, and I seem to have to re-learn this every time, I am able to concentrate on composition. Luckily, these subjects enjoy flying around bushes and moss-covered water allowing for opportunities to explore creative and contrasting backgrounds with which to create interesting bokeh, (that nice, softly blurred background you sometimes see in photographs) and perhaps a little catch of light dancing off the wings. Is that too much to ask for?
The next time you see a dragonfly while you are out for a hike in the woods, kayaking on the lake or relaxing in your garden, take a moment to watch it dance. You are privileged to be witnessing the last few days of this graceful creature's life.
All photos © http://www.njwight.com
You might also like:
EDITORS' PICKS
Advertisement
TODAY'S MOST POPULAR ON
- 15 famous people who mysteriously disappeared
- Military dog comes home from Iraq traumatized
- 20 ways to reuse coffee grounds, tea leaves
- 10 of the top U.S. cities for nature lovers
- Justin Bieber will lose his monkey at midnight
- 10 false facts most people think are true
- 13 natural remedies for the ant invasion
- The 9 nastiest things in your supermarket
- Stem cell discovery reignites human cloning debate
- U.S. solider and stray cat save each other in Afghanistan
NEWSLETTER
Advertisement
I can never forget how we kids (long ago and far away) used to catch dragonflies, tie their little bodies with a sawing thread and let them fly while we're holding the other end. And we had our version of helicopters. It was fun.
Wonderful shots. There is so much beauty in nature if we would only stop and listen and watch patiently.
I could not agree more Phyliss. Thanks for your comment. NJ
I'm not as popular among dragonflies sadly. My camera having awful zoom, requires me to be very close to photograph such a tiny animal. That's why i never photograph them! Hopefully I'll have a better camera one day, with which I'll be sure to take pics of dragonflies all day haha.
And by bad camera I mean it's no nikon 43-blahblahblah. It's like a 50 dollar Kodak Easy Share. x)
Well, like I say, the best camera is the one you have with you. :-)
You are as good a writer as a photographer. I've thought that combination would move photography along. Our world is both, but then tradition separates and moves them down different streams by and large.
Well that is high compliment Marcy-thanks. Some days I wonder if I am a good writer as a photographer or a good photographer as a writer. :-) I am certainly trying to find a way to bring them together as they are both loves of mine. I appreciate the note. Nancie
Correcttion: http://biodiversitynet.blogspot.in
Would you please like to share some photos on above blog. Else, I will definitely cover them through a link.
Zaka,
By all means you can link the article to your blog. I am happy to come post as well.
Thanks, I am glad you found it interesting.
Nancie
I liked the contents giving some interesting and factual information on dragonflies. Can you share one or two on my blog: http://biodiversityet.blogspot.in
Very nice article and photos. Nice close-ups. Thanks for sharing these - and your joy in photography. I had never heard the tale of dragonflies sewing shut the mouths of bad children. Whew!
I am wondering how dragonflies survive the winter in larva stage. They must, because we will see them in Southeast Alaska later in the summer and our winters are not known for being warm and toasty.
Thanks for your kind words. I didn't know you had dragonflies in Alaska. I will have to try to figure that one out. I mean, you have bad children up there too so I guess it makes sense. :-)
They're my totem animal. I've been fascinated with them since childhood. Don't know how well I'll be able to capture them with my simple camera, but I'll try. Thanks for the lovely photos and suggestions.
Wow. I didn't know dragonflies were totem animals. Very interesting and I will have to read about that. Give it a go-they do have moments of hovering so watch and learn. And enjoy them regardless of the photos. They are such little wonders. Thanks for the comment. Cheers, NJ
Nancie, quick question...did you switch lenses at one point and use a macro to get the close up shots. Just curious as I'm trying to get into shooting macro more often.
Hi Edith
Actually the other lens I used for these was a 300 F4 IS L. I find having the distance helps with focusing. I do have a Canon 100M IS L Macro-look forward to trying it this summer with dragonflies but the depth of field is tough with moving subjects. I love shooting macro-be warned, it gets very addictive! :-)
I will be sure to try that Lollie.
Growing up in Australia I found them fascinating. Some of them are electrically coloured; IE electric blue, pink, red, green etc. We also have them all sizes from a single inch up to about six.
I love those electric blue ones! The largest I have seen is likely closer to 3-4 inches.