Damsels and Dragons

It has been a rather hot and long summer.
I usually stay out of the sun in the middle of the day but these strikingly beautiful insect have kept me chasing them even in the blazing sun.


Kodak Cine 102mm f2.7  1/500sec

Where most other animals worthy of attention are hiding in the shade or sleeping, dragonflies are most active buzzing around hunting.


Kodak Cine 102mm f2.7  1/1600sec

The delicate cellophane wings are in stark contrast to the menacing looking body, certainly inspiration to the modern helicopters.
And every so often they land to rest, usually in the same favorite high spot, giving me the opportunity to take a few quick images.


Kodak Cine 63mm f2.7  1/200sec



Kodak Cine 102mm f2.7  1/3200sec



Kodak Cine Telephoto 152mm f4.5  1/100sec

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Winged predators

The fast buzzing dragonflies fly erratically in the summer heat, darting along the water.
And every so often they come to rest on their favourite patch that they claim their own.


adapted Pentax-110 50mm f2.8 (freelens technique)  1/30sec

Fascinating bright colors make them very attractive although at closer look some might appear a bit menacing. They are predators snatching other bugs mid flight


adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4  1/1250sec



adapted Jupiter-11 135mm f4  1/1250sec

But what goes around comes around and themselves become meal for others.


adapted Jupiter-11  135mm f4  1/160sec


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Bug invasion

They favored a particular root of a tree, gathering en-masse.
I am not sure what was going on but at close inspection the bugs were very colorful.


PEN G.Zuiko 38mm f1.8   @5.6  1/20sec

Dragonfly

Standing in the creek laying eggs on a log just under the water's surface.


Meyer Optik Trioplan 50mm f2.9  1/1000sec

Flower bugs

It's only now that I pay closer attention to flowers that I notice a world of bugs living in them.
Some of them are tiny, hardy visible to the naked eye.


Helios 44-5 58mm f2  @f5.6  1/1000sec


Helios 44-2 58mm f2  @f8  1/125sec


E.Ludwig Meritar 50mm f2.9  @f8  1/250sec


Helios 44-2 58mm f2  @f5.6  1/500sec

Heavy dew on the moth

Early morning, waiting for the dew to evaporate.


SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4  @f2.8  1/90sec