Great Blue Skimmer


I've made my way through Queen Anne's Lace (wild carrots) to pond's edge where sweat bees sting my legs with great persistence. I watch as frogs jump across the water's surface like a skipping stone before they disappear into darkness. The sun's beading down on my head when I see a great blue skimmer perched on a reed. He submits himself to the sun and surrounding quietness for only a moment before flitting off to another reed.

Note: Image is sooc (straight out of camera) with the exception of some cropping.

25 comments:

Unknown said...

Beautiful capture!

Cheers!
Julie
Julie Magers Soulen Photography

James said...

That is a very cool shot!

Anonymous said...

Yes, that is a beautiful capture. That is a dragonfly I have only seen in my field guide.

By the way, last evening, I went out to my garden to get some cucumbers around seven. It was just getting dark, and the air was full of large dragonflies. I couldn't make out exactly what they were. This morning, they were gone!

Kat Mortensen said...

I love how the background is a bit blurred and the focal point is bright and crystal-clear. Well done!

I like your words too.

Kat

Kateri said...

This is just stunning.

Al said...

Great shot. We don't get bugs of that size around my part of the country.

Travis Cody said...

I think my preference is for SOOC.

Deb said...

Gorgeous shot. The skimmer (I'd call him a dragonfly if I'd seen him in the PNW -- are they the same?), the stalk & shape, the colors, the background.

!Fabulous!

San said...

good job with the depth of field! this is wonderful! and to see such beauty everyday is even better. :)

there was an open-back truck (health and safety reglautions arent really taken seriously in india) carrying constuction wires in front of me while i was driving back home from work last night. the wires had been braided together in a really intricate pattern - it was just so they didnt get jumbled, but it was lovely nevertheless. and unintentional. made me smile. :)

Caroline Gill said...

Really exciting shot, Naquillity. I've seen a number of odonata [here] ... Darters, Chasers, Hawkers, Damsels and Demoiselles this summer - but not Skimmers.

I agree with Kat: great words.

Thanks for broken arm enquiries... fracture confirmed, signs of slow healing! Still in sling 24/7 [so no new photography for me just yet] ...

:-(

chasity said...

i think it was worth your effort.
it's a wonderful capture!

Geraldine said...

This is an intriguing shot. I miss these pretty "critters" we saw so many on the Prairies, not many here in BC. Thanks for sharing. G

Max-e said...

I find these dragon flies are are difficult to photograph. They don't sit still long enough and if they do they fly off before you get there. But with perseverance I have managed to capture them. Good shot.

BTW the T-Rex is priced around $50,000 depending on the model.

Anonymous said...

I really like the atmosphere you created here . . . well done :)

one more believer said...

wow.. love it when that happens... really like the moment you described....

Carver said...

That's wonderful. They are so hard to photograph and you did a great job.

TC said...

Beautiful.

You must be a really patient person. I don't think I sit still long enough to capture a lot of these images.

utenzi said...

The focus on that bug's body is great. The detail makes it look almost too real.

Naquillity said...

thanks to everyone for stopping by and leaving such wonderful comments. it's always appreciated. glad you enjoyed this great blue skimmer (dragonfly).

deb the great blue skimmer was listed under insects in my field guide as a dragonfly order. so yes, it's the same, :)

san the wires being braided like that sound beautiful. glad it made you smile.

caroline glad to hear your arm is healing in the sling and not having to be operated on. fingers crossed for NO surgery. sorry you can't take any photos though. but, when you heal completely you can make a mad dash to take pics.

max i could almost buy a house for the price of that T-Rex but, still... it's a beauty.

TC i think the weather played in my favor when photographing this little guy. it was sooo hot even he didn't want to move. as for patience... i'm learning everyday that it helps but, i'm left to say i'm not so patient, sigh. maybe in time, :)

thanks again to everyone who left me a kind word. hope you have a great weekend.

Lynda Lehmann said...

Lovely photo and words! I love the blue iridescent dragonflies.

Did you know that dragonflies live only 24 hours, on average?

Dr. Cheryl Carvajal said...

Truly lovely!

Cynthia said...

Oh yes, sun and quietness so
wonderfully serene. Great shot,
Naquillity.

christina said...

i love this!

Quiet Paths said...

Oh, very nice... very peaceful. Just the way I like it! :)

Unknown said...

The bugs are really bad this year! But that Skimmer is wonderful!!