Dragonfly atop horsetail
From August 26th alongside the pond behind the Central Market on North Lamar (on the same outing that recently brought you a closeup of a rain-lily), here’s a dragonfly that I take to be a male blue dasher, Pachydiplax longipennis, clasping the strobilus of a horsetail, Equisetum spp. For a much closer look at the dragonfly’s face, click the thumbnail below. For a closer look at the dashing male (but not blue) photographer’s face, come visit me in Austin.
© 2015 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers 
Maybe you are an incognito Avatar.
Aggie
September 13, 2015 at 5:41 AM
I expect I’m one of the few people who hasn’t seen that movie. Maybe I am incognito and my real name is Strobilus.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 6:16 AM
Ha, I definitely had to look up strobilus. I was skeptical, but it’s a heart warming movie.
Aggie
September 13, 2015 at 8:29 AM
Strobilus is related to strobe, which is from the Greek word for ‘swirl, twirl.’
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 8:59 AM
Yes, definitely a strobilus 🙂
melissabluefineart
September 13, 2015 at 10:53 AM
Do you think this strobilus will ennoble us?
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 10:56 AM
What big eyes you have.
Excellent close shot.
Jim in IA
September 13, 2015 at 6:56 AM
Thanks. Your comment made me wonder if people have made masks in the form of a dragonfly’s face. When I searched online, I found that most of the dragonfly masks that turned up incorporate a whole dragonfly, and almost none limited themselves to the insect’s face.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 7:30 AM
There are some very interesting and artistic ones. Could you modify a motorcycle helmet to get the look?
Jim in IA
September 13, 2015 at 10:34 AM
I wouldn’t know how, but I’ll bet there are some people out there who could. Now, if they added dragonfly-type wings to those helmets, they might fly off the shelves.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 10:42 AM
Like this? http://411.fit.edu/threads/images/mia_6002793.jpg
Jim in IA
September 13, 2015 at 11:05 AM
It seems like Darth Vader meeting Art Nouveau. Do you know anything about the piece? I tried lopping off parts of the URL from right to left but didn’t find anything.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 11:10 AM
Here you go. http://411.fit.edu/threads/
Jim in IA
September 13, 2015 at 11:14 AM
Thanks. My subconscious must have picked up the connection to Samurai and translated it to Jedi knights.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 11:59 AM
If you make/buy one of those, I want to see a picture of you wearing it. It would make a good halloween costume.
Jim in IA
September 13, 2015 at 12:07 PM
I’d say it’s unlikely, but you never know.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 5:20 PM
What a fabulous photo. Not only that, I think it’s the same species as a dragonfly I photographed at Anahuac. Unfortunately, I had to be satisfied with a rear-end view rather than his face, and the photo’s mostly out of focus, but the colors and the wings seem identical. The good news is that I finally managed to capture one that was sitting still. One step at a time!
shoreacres
September 13, 2015 at 7:51 AM
Even though I have a good book about the dragonflies and damselflies of Texas, I still have trouble identifying a species, so when I say “here’s a dragonfly that I take to be a male blue dasher,” I’m leaving some wiggle room.
Like you, I’ve often encountered a dragonfly sitting in the wrong position for a good picture. With patience and good luck I’ve sometimes managed to get a better view, but many dragonflies have gotten away without my getting a decent photograph. I’m glad to hear you found at least one that was content to sit still for a while.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 8:01 AM
Dragons are such fascinating subjects; I never seem to tire of playing the patient stalking game with them. They are often quite accommodating in that many will return to the same perch repeatedly, so it pays to focus on the spot and wait. This is a gorgeous portrait–I can feel your elation as this came to fruition. Southern views of north-facing critters can be interesting, too, but it’s special when face-to-face works out!
krikitarts
September 13, 2015 at 9:22 AM
I’ve often patiently played that “wait till it returns to the same perch I inadvertently just chased it away from” game, though sometimes it goes to a nearby perch instead and then I have to try to move over without creating too much of a stir. After four or five changes of venue I usually give up on that dragonfly: after all, there’ll always be another one coming along, especially if I’m near water.
If I’m behind a dragonfly I usually try to move to a better position or wait and hope that my subject will turn around. Once in a while, though, I’ve gotten an acceptable picture from behind:
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2013/08/08/a-bright-red-dragonfly-on-a-grapevine/
In today’s picture I was grateful for having the strobilus as the perch and for managing to get it in focus along with the dragonfly’s face and legs.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 9:39 AM
Excellent shot, Steve. You managed to get the face and stay parallel to all four wings…but you already knew that.
Steve Gingold
September 13, 2015 at 9:56 AM
And as you knew, in this head-on shot I was trying to keep the plane of the face parallel to the plane of the camera’s sensor. I didn’t expect to keep much of the wings in focus, but I did get some parts.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 10:02 AM
What a good idea, a dragonfly mask. If you could get all those lenses for the eyes, wouldn’t that be something? Hmmm. Ideas swirling in my head. Kinda like a strobilus.
melissabluefineart
September 13, 2015 at 10:55 AM
You’re the artist, Melissa, so go for it, girl,
And let’s see your creation make our heads swirl.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 10:58 AM
Ooh lal la – what a dasher! I can never get one to rest, let alone focus on it like this. Baby steps…
Heyjude
September 13, 2015 at 11:59 AM
Babies do eventually learn to walk.
When I was out taking pictures a couple of months ago I encountered two guys who each had a long telephoto lens and a monopod attached to his camera. They were out looking for dragonflies, and their equipment let them zoom in close while keeping enough physical distance to keep from chasing their subjects away. I did my picture the hard way, slowly getting in close with a 100mm macro lens.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 12:04 PM
Awesome capture Steve
norasphotos4u
September 13, 2015 at 2:08 PM
Thanks, Nora.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 2:57 PM
Wow, you images are consistently good, but this is just absolutely stunning.
Charlie@Seattle Trekker
September 13, 2015 at 2:19 PM
Thanks for your enthusiasm. Sometimes it’s good to confront one’s subject.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 3:00 PM
Outstanding close up. Thank you.
mayadeb02
September 13, 2015 at 2:50 PM
You’re welcome. A close look reveals lots of new things.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 5:20 PM
Could you get a more perfect shot, Steve? The combination of the dragonfly with those amazing blue eyes and the delicately detailed horsetail is superb. When the money tree starts to flower I will visit you in Austin to judge the level of “dashing-ness.” 🙂
Jane
September 13, 2015 at 6:48 PM
In my photography I’m trying to live up to the Constitution of my country, the preamble of which begins: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union….”
May your money tree flower, Jane, so you can dash over here and see the dashingness.
Steve Schwartzman
September 13, 2015 at 6:54 PM
Very dashing but the expression ‘to go blue in the face’ also comes to mind.
Gallivanta
September 14, 2015 at 8:38 AM
I just hope I don’t go blue in the face (or red, for that matter) from all the dashing around I do in the heat with a heavy camera bag.
Steve Schwartzman
September 14, 2015 at 2:40 PM
Me parece una libélula preciosa y una extraordinaria foto. ¡Enhorabuena!
Estoy preparando una entrada para mi blog con libélulas.
Un abrazo.
Isabel F. Bernaldo de Quirós
September 14, 2015 at 3:39 PM
Gracias, Isabel. Esperaré tu entrada con libélulas.
Steve Schwartzman
September 14, 2015 at 3:57 PM
What a marvelous photo of the closeup view of a dragon fly’s face – and those exquisite gossamer wings. A striking photo, Steve.
Mary Mageau
September 14, 2015 at 9:04 PM
Aren’t dragonflies wonderful? We have many kinds in Austin, Mary, and I see some almost every time I go out in nature near a pond or creek. Sometimes I’m surprised to see them when there’s no water near by.
Steve Schwartzman
September 14, 2015 at 11:00 PM
By the way, since you’ve mentioned gossamer wings, I like the way the strobilus of the horsetail mimics that with its division into cells.
Steve Schwartzman
September 14, 2015 at 11:01 PM
Spectacular!
photoleaper
September 14, 2015 at 10:25 PM
I’ll say!
Steve Schwartzman
September 14, 2015 at 11:01 PM
These are really amazing shots. I like the blue on the eyes of the dragonfly.
weaselwiththecam
September 15, 2015 at 3:20 AM
And all those micro-lenses in the compound eyes are something, aren’t they? Call this one a success.
Steve Schwartzman
September 15, 2015 at 8:22 AM
Yesterday, WordPress foiled me as I was scrolling through the latest photos and tried to “like” and “comment,” but I’ve made it in today. I absolutely love this–somehow reminds me of a circus high wire act, and the close-up is terrific. All we’re missing now is one of that dashing Austin photographer . . .
Susan Scheid
September 20, 2015 at 9:31 AM
Sorry to hear about WordPress foiling you yesterday. It crashed my browser yesterday evening but went back to normal after I restarted the program.
Speaking of high-wire acts, Cirque du Soleil is coming to Austin, but with tickets starting at $40 and going up into the hundreds, I think I’ll stick with dragonflies, which cavort and pose for me for free.
As for the dashing photographer, he’d be happy to show you around Austin if you ever visit.
Steve Schwartzman
September 20, 2015 at 9:52 AM
That thar’s a seriously handsome dragon. The eyes really do have it, don’t they! I haven’t seen anyone quite this dashing in my own garden this year—barring the frequent-flyer hummingbirds, who are far too speedy for my little camera in my shaky hands!—though this afternoon I did get to have a little tête-à-tête with a good looking mantis, who I very much hope is feasting on any pests out there besides me. Maybe I’ll get lucky and see some fabulous insects and/or flora during Spring Break, when Richard and my older sister and I are coming down to New Braunfels for the week. Much needed playtime *away* from school, work, etc! Hoping your neck of the woods will treat us to early bloom and such, but frankly, the scenery and the holiday will be a more than welcome gift as it is. 😀
This shot is the perfect confluence, of course, of two extraordinary and beautiful prehistoric beings, so I guess the fact that the insect is such a looker is a bonus as it is!!
Cheers, and happy Equinox!
Kathryn
kathryningrid
September 21, 2015 at 4:49 PM
Aye, happy equal-night to you, too.
You raise a good point about the insect and the plant both being survivors of primitive forms in their respective domains. I’ve read that there used to be giant versions of each, as well.
When you spoke of spring break, did you mean autumn break, or are you far-sightedly looking ahead to 2016?
Steve Schwartzman
September 21, 2015 at 7:26 PM
Spring 2016 (14-18 March, to be precise). Fall is loaded up already—Richard has gigs in Portland (OR) and Stockholm, besides doing a 1.6 FTE load this year—so we deliberately planned ahead for a genuine break more than we usually do!
Can you imagine a forest of giant horsetails, with giant dragonflies flitting (more likely, whatever the equivalent of flitting would be for something as ominous as a Blackhawk copter!!!) around?! What an amazing scene that must have been. I’d go for a time machine to see that, but only if I could observe from a safe distance!!
kathryningrid
September 22, 2015 at 2:23 PM
That really is planning pretty far ahead. Your five days will probably be pretty packed, but perhaps our schedules will allow a meal or meeting as you pass through Austin in one direction or the other. I think that would be a lot safer than meeting giant dragonflies (or worse, whatever preyed on them).
Steve Schwartzman
September 22, 2015 at 2:57 PM
That’d be fabulous! The getting-together thing, not the being-stalked-by-monsters thing. Hopefully, the former wouldn’t feel like the latter to you. 😀 Let’s confab as the time gets closer. Cheers!
kathryningrid
September 22, 2015 at 7:05 PM
Okay. Let’s make it work out.
Steve Schwartzman
September 23, 2015 at 8:02 AM
great picture!
absengeralois
September 23, 2015 at 9:46 AM
Agreed!
Steve Schwartzman
September 23, 2015 at 11:53 AM
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