The Emperor Dragonfly is absolutely stunning but has proved the most difficult of the three main species to photograph. The darter spends plenty of time hanging around on fences and plants, as does the chaser. The Emperor, however, spends almost all the time flitting at speed over the pond and I've yet to see it settle on anything but floating twigs.
When I went down to the pond today I noticed that the female was settling on a drifting twig. It was a fair distance to the centre of the pond and even with a powerful lens tricky to photograph in detail. But there was a breeze. Combined with the constant dipping of its tail either side of the twig (somewhat like an oar), I watched as the small raft drifted into range.
I've placed a number of shots in the Emperor Dragonfly album, but here are a few to be going on with.
Flying Red Fox Blog
3 Aug 2007Wow stunning pics, well done Words, you are excellent at macro photography and the patience to get good pics of these insects that are harder to get, 😀
The last one is the best i think with the close up texture of the wings.
yousof
3 Aug 2007amazing pics. nice job.
and such beauties.
SittingFox
4 Aug 2007Magnificent! Well worth waiting for the breeze to bring the dragonfly within range. The wings look like jewels in the last picture.