Blue Dasher Wheel

While sitting by my pond last summer trying to catch dragonflies in flight, these two Blue Dashers (Pachydiplax longipennis) joined up in a mating “wheel” and landed in a spot where I could get both of them reasonably sharp without moving. Cropped to 73% of full frame.

7D2, 100-400 @ 400, 1/2500s, f/9, iso 2000, tripod

You may only download this image to demonstrate post-processing techniques.

Wow, Mark, what a shot. Great details as well as wonderful lines and shapes created by them as well as their perch.

Mark: What Shirley said. Good fortune comes to those who are prepared. Superb capture of the moment. >=))>

Hi Mark,

I tried looking at this one with my phone at lunch. It was worth the wait getting a look at this one on my big monitor. Great shot and the shadows on the abdomen of the lower dragonfly adds a lot of depth to the insects. Looks good as presented. Well done…Jim