February 6, 20215 yr A departure from birds this week. Today it's dragon flies and damsel flies. Most people categorize damsel flies and dragon flies as all dragonflies. But they are different species. Dragon flies have their wings extended horizontally at rest while damsel flies have their wings extended vertically at rest. That's the easiest way to tell them apart. The weekend after labor day the wildlife refuge hosts it's annual dragon fly festival. I used to drive the van around with a dragonfly expert and visitors to places in the refuge where the insects gathered and he would give his speech. That's when I would go around and take these pictures until the host was ready to leave. Then I would drive back to the refuge center and pick up another group of visitors to take out to the viewing area. Many of the ponds and sink holes at the refuge have different salinity of the water. That makes it an ideal place for the many different species of dragon flies and damsel flies to spend their seasons there. One of the lakes, Lake St. Francis, has the same salinity as the Gulf of Mexico and in fact has a type of seaweed found only in the Gulf of Mexico. I was told it probably arrived years ago in the feathers of a migrating duck or goose. Many of the serious photographers would put on a macro lens to take pictures of the insects. But they would have to get so close that the dragon fly or damsel fly would fly away. I used my 200-500 zoom lens to take these. The only one of these I know the name of is the first picture of a Ruby Red damsel fly. I know it because it was a photo contest winner. The first three are damsel flies. The fourth is a dragonfly at rest and the fifth is a dragonfly in flight. Notice the two sets of wings. Noel The tires are worn. The shocks are shot. The steering is wobbly. But the engine still runs fine.
February 6, 20215 yr Very beautiful photos. I managed to show a photo in one post once, but was having some trouble with it today, so I just showed a link. But I think I understand now, one needs not just a url, but it has to stem from certain sources to ensure one is using one's own photos. Amazing that zoom, the sharpness of the image.
February 6, 20215 yr Author 4 minutes ago, Antipodeslonghaul said: Amazing that zoom, the sharpness of the image. I tell people skimp on the camera and splurge on the lens. At the time my Sony A700 camera cost about 400 dollars. The lens cost over to 2,000 dollars. The lens is the eye of the camera. You want the best eye can afford even if it means getting a cheaper camera. Noel The tires are worn. The shocks are shot. The steering is wobbly. But the engine still runs fine.
February 11, 20215 yr I'm not a big fan of insects, I will never be an entomologist. I have a phobia I suppose. Heck if a cicada or cockchafer beetle flew at me (or any large insect, dragonfly included) I would be quite traumatised, and you could all laugh at my hysterical screaming. NOPE! NOPE! The smaller the bug, the easier it is for me to deal with. Not stomp on it, just let it alone. Spiders? I'm better with those. However, damsel and dragonflies are a couple of nature's living helicopters and that is a wonderful thing (other genus & species are available). Some damsel flies have a lovely blue colour too! Mark Robinson Part-time Ferroequinologist Author of FLIGHT: A near-future short story (ebook available on amazon) I made the baby cry - A2A Simulations L-049 Constellation Sky Simulations MD-11 V2.2 Pilot. The best "lite" MD-11 money can buy (well, it's not freeware!)
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.