Widow Skimmer by cbpics

Yesterday I discovered this really cool jeep trail down by the river.. I saw these incredible butterflies.. took some pics but they didn't come out.. so this morning.. I set off to find some more of those butterflies.. Well, they were no where to be found.. but as you can see this dragonfly was.. but.. dragonflies (as I"ve just finished reading) don't always stop for very long.. Well ... no shit..!! lol I chased this dude for twenty minutes.. slipped and slid down into the lake trying to get around this bush he had landed on.. made two fishermen nervous, I guess... because they took their gear and moved.. down quite a ways down the bank .... lol so finally I got smart and just waited.. and low and behold.. I " got " him.. He was huge..! and so full of beautiful colors... He was certainly very impressive.. !

I just hope no one was video taping my " escapade ".. of trying to get this picture.. lol

arthropleurida Featured By Owner Jul 6, 2003

Oh my GOD this is... beautiful! So worth scaring fishermen, sh**, I'd be running them out of there anyway. ;) (Wink)

Patience and stubbornness really do pay off. Well, there's nothing really more I can say about this photo, it's just about perfect in my book. :D (Big Grin)

marble911 Featured By Owner Jul 6, 2003 Photographer

Wow...great shot...and wonderful description - sounds so familiar. Laughing my ass off!

Thx for mentioning your dragonfly shot. Didn't show up on my devwatch and I nearly missed it. *grrrr*

Waiting is a good strategy, yeah. They'll often return to the same places anyway...and the more you run around, the more nervous they get. Poor fishermen. ;) (Wink)

I'm waiting for the day I'll be the cause of a major accident. People usually go by on their bikes and then start staring at me without looking where they are going...very clever, I must say.

Another thing which has happened to me while hunting dragonflies: I'm usually taking a water bottle with me and then put it down on the ground somewhere (holding it and taking pics doesn't work well)...and then this stupid dog takes my bottle away and throws it into the river...

two7heads Featured By Owner Jul 1, 2003

Funny, your "escapade", but i guess that could/had happen to more of us here who were hunting for a good shot of flying insects. For me, no way, not with my camera :( (Sad)

, but you did an excellent shot of this beautiful dragonfly. Very impressive i must say. So you see Lisa, the "escapade" was not in vain :-) (Smile)

stevesm Featured By Owner Jun 30, 2003

Stunning shot Lisa :D (Big Grin)

Worth all the effort you put in to get it. Love the way you got the insect in thw right plane of focus (I always try to :-) (Smile)

) I have also found that waiting for the insect to come to you is the best strategy. Especially with Dragonflies/Damselflies because they tend to hunt in an area.

Well done.