Howard Faxon
Dragonflies have existed on the earth for over 250 million years which is quite remarkable. Another interesting thing about them is that they can move each of their four wings independently. This makes them incredibly adept at flying. They can fly straight up or down and also backwards. They can reach a speed of about 30 miles per hour.They need good vision to safely maneuver so quickly and they have that as well. Their huge eyes cover almost all of their head and they use around 80% of their brain to process visual information. A dragonfly has nearly 360 degrees of vision.
Every summer I get a few pictures of them in my yard. This is one of my favorites that I have taken and it’s from last summer. The plant it’s perched on, the bokeh, and the position of the sun were all pretty much perfect and I got an incredible set of around 20 photos of this one. I noticed that if you approach one that is perched and it flies away then stay right there they will often return to the same perch.
© 2017, 2019 – Howard Faxon
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Thanks. Of all my dragon fly pictures this is probably one of the best ones.
They are also some of the most perfect insects predators!
Yes, I heard they eat mosquitoes in large numbers. I never sprayed anything in my yard except water and insects were never a problem. I had variety but not large numbers. These guys and also birds probably kept them down.
I can not take that picture. I have to buy a macro call. Thanks for the information on the dragonflies.
If you were six feet away and shot for a close up by zooming (I don’t know your camera) you may have to crop a bit and enlarge but you might get a very good photo.
Thanks so much – one of my luckiest photos perhaps.
The helicopter idea was taken from this one.
I did not know this but it makes sense as an inspiration.
Hello
the dragonflies are special.
so beautiful
great catch
Thanks so much. I am always glad to see them. This is maybe one of my luckiest photos.