Blue Dasher & Muskrat Combo
While hanging around the boat docks with the Barn Swallows, I’ve also been trying my luck at the numerous dragonflies and damselflies that hunt the embankment.
Kudos to all you excellent insect photographers, these are not easy! Quite frankly, after a ton of takes over several days, I scored only two shots of the Blue Dasher dragonfly.
Blue Dasher “Smiling”
Blue Dasher
They were shot with a 70-200mm telephoto lens and 1.7 teleconverter combo from about 4-5 feet. I need to go back and work on these some more.
My “unusual combo” title also mentioned a Muskrat.
Yep, I had one come out from under the dock I was standing on while taking these dragonfly shots; it crossed the creek to swim alongside the bulkhead on the other side.
For over a month now, I’ve watched a muskrat going back and forth along the creek. I’ve finally gotten some great shots of him/her up close, with this one displaying a beautiful water-play of reflections.
Muskrat
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.”
— Frank Lloyd Wright
So cute! I remember the Dashers growing up on the lake in Michigan. I’d be rowing along in the John boat, they would just land on me and stay there!
Thanks, John! A free ride on the lake, of course, they wouldn’t pass that up! 😉
Dragonflies are cute critters!!
Yes, they are, thanks, Indira!!
Super dragon shots Donna! They are not easy, some will not settle.
Thank you, Brian, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get them showing such awesome details as you do!
Such ethereal colors! Gorgeous shots, Donna
Thank you much, Katya!
Great pictures Donna! And it looks like you had good lighting as well. I don’t know much about dragonflies but my husband (the gardener in the family) says we get them so I’ll have to look out for them. We also have a muskrat in our cove but I have never been able to get a good picture of him. Congrats on your great shots! Finally today, with good lighting, I got some relatively close photos of the green heron that likes to fish from our floating dock. What a difference good lighting makes!!!
Thank you, Susan! I want to go earlier on a calm clear morning, I think I’ll do better with lighting. I blew out most of my takes with lighting issues. Of course, the angle the little things play a role on light too. 🙂
The dashers are beautiful. They are tough to capture. I’ve only had luck with the smaller varieties.
Thank you, Belinda! 🙂
Congratulations on your magnificent blue dasher photos, Donna, not an easy subject but oh so handsome. Enjoyed the muskrat too. Thanks for this summer visit to the waterside today.
Thank you, Jet, they aren’t so easy, whew. The muskrat was as calm as could be, minding his own business and duties. I was glad I saw him/her. You’re welcome, come along any time!
Love the quote and your superb photos, Donna. Well done. 👏🏻
Thank you, Sylvia! 🙂
Those are great shots! You’re an accomplished photographer, Donna. 🙂
Thank you, HJ! I really do try to do my best! 🙂
Excellent shots, Donna! 🙂 I think that muskrats are charming and adorable creatures! 🙂
What makes an elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?
What makes the muskrat guard his musk?
Thank you, Tom! I do too. 🙂
COURAGE! 🙂
(Those unfamiliar with Tom’s quote on elephants & muskrats, it was said by the cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz.)
Great choices, Donna, I like captures of both muskrat and dragonflies, as you will see in my next post. :).
Thank you, Jane! I’ll be sure to check yours out!! 🙂
Wow, the two shots you managed to get are amazing. Such gorgeous colours, yet a scary face. I’m pleased they’re only little things.
Thank you, Chris! They do have scary, ‘buggy’ eyes, huh?!!
Awasome photos, Donna!!
Thank you, Isabel!!
Oh, how cute.
I battle to get clear shots of moving critters. Luck of the draw…
Thank you, Vic!
Beautiful captures of the dragonfly, they are not always easy to get all in focus.
Thank you, Ashley, they certainly are a challenge!
Wowww! Such amazing shots of dasher!😄
Thank you, Gunjan! 😊
Truly awesome shots of an elusive subject! We don’t see them very often here, though they hung around a goldfish pond I had at a previous house. Instead… a beaver busily chewing on a twig down in the creek gave me a great photo op yesterday evening. I have to figure out how to edit a video I shot that turned out reasonably well given the fading light… I need some extra hours in the day!!!! 😀
Thank you, Gunta! Looking forward to your beaver photo(s). Oh, it’d probably take me forever trying to figure out video editing myself. I’m with you, I need some extra hours in the day too! 🙂
Nice Donna! Dragonflies and Damselflies are fun to photograph. And it almost becomes addicting to find different ones. It can sometimes be confusing to ID them. Males and Females are distinctly different in coloring. Then you get some that change coloring as they mature. You might want to try an extension tube instead of a Teleconverter to get closer.
Thank you, Reed! I can easily see getting addicted to them, with their varieties, like birds. Thanks for the extension tube tip!