It is getting to the end of ode season here in NH. However, there are still a significant number of large darners around.
Darners are difficult to photograph as they spend most of the time flying. They are very fast and erratic in their flight patterns so photographing them in the air is nigh impossible. When they do perch, it is often 8 or 10 feet up on a tree trunk which does not make for a good photo. They also usually stay perched for only a short interval.
Thus, when I noticed this mating pair of darners perched on a blueberry bush roughly three feet off the ground, I was ecstatic. I exposed seventeen frames total (three different angles and different exposures) before I spooked the critters. I processed three of the files. Here is the best:
That's a real beauty ! It's been my experience that Dragonflies in general will normally seek out a little protection during mating so it's extra special to photograph them with no obstructions. Great shot.
Gary
Agreed! Mating pairs are very skittish and do like a bit of shelter. I often don't get more that a frame or two exposed between spotting a pair and them flying off (still often paired up). This was the case with this pair. After I spooked them I saw them land on a, not too distant, tree trunk about a dozen or more feet off the ground.
