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Co-ed Gymnastics?

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted August 3, 2011165 views13 comments

I know what these four Damselflies are doing. I'm just not too clear on who's who and so on. Some of the bottom ones in other pairs became completely submerged and did not seem to re-surface.(Damsel in distress?)

Can anyone give me a link to a detailed description of damsel mating? I haven't found more than a few vague sentences, and they've got me curious.

Nikon D300; Sigma 500/4.5; f7.1 @ 1/800th; ISO 400; HH; approx. 50% crop.

I could have used a bit more DOF, I know, but would appreciate other suggestions.

Thanks for looking.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on August 3, 2011 at 4:43 PM

Very nice moment. I think they are laying eggs in the water.

D&L

Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments

Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on August 3, 2011 at 4:48 PM

I think you have achieved great DOF in this situation. I've tried taking similar pictures of damselflies mating on creeks which have not turned out well. Superb lighting on this; the damselflies seem to glow against the blue water BG. Wonderful lines formed by the DFs and great reflections in the water. I think a slight crop from top and bottom to make this more rectangular may be helpful but also wonderful as is. Great capture, Tom!

Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments

Comment posted by David Taylor on August 3, 2011 at 5:13 PM

Looks like a weird alien doing the backstroke.

Great symmetry captured beautifully.

Registered on April 24, 2006, 101 Posts, 837 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie Baugh on August 3, 2011 at 8:34 PM

A rather spectacular capture Tom. The upper most (I believe male) and the female he is attached to are laying eggs. I have seen before, another DF hanging onto other DF's like this, but never saw one of the females submerges like this one on the left bottom.

Registered on April 18, 2011, 329 Posts, 1985 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on August 3, 2011 at 8:38 PM

Tom:
This is unusual. I didn't know DF are into group activity. Nice symmetry from the reflection and warm light.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments

Comment posted by Adam Seward on August 4, 2011 at 7:52 AM

Very cool image!

Registered on October 18, 2007, 6 Posts, 14 Comments

Comment posted by Barbara Graham on August 4, 2011 at 9:08 PM

Beautiful! Wonderful colors and light!

Registered on July 27, 2010, 1310 Posts, 5035 Comments

Comment posted by Tom Lusk on August 5, 2011 at 11:54 AM

Thanks for all the input!

I had been wondering about the original "blocky" crop and have taken Carolyn's advice. I agree it comes across better. Thanks.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 312 Posts, 600 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on August 5, 2011 at 12:55 PM

Great shot. The pose and the reflections are very interesting. This is the first time I've seen one male using another male as a perch. Having the female underwater is not unusual in some damselflies. I don't see much difference between the two posts.

If you want to read up on damselfly behavior "Damselflies of Florida, Bermuda and the Bahamas" by Sidney W. Dunkle and Damselflies of Texas" by John C. Abbott are both good and the many of the damsels described are found across the USA. Both books talk briefly about laying eggs underwater. "Females of some damsels descend completely underwater for up to two hours while ovipositing."...Dunkle p 13. I don't know about damsel related web sites.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by John Robinson on August 5, 2011 at 7:21 PM

Great picture !!
Love it ( And I hate reflections !!!

)

Registered on March 2, 2008, 535 Posts, 2453 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on August 7, 2011 at 10:42 PM

Hi Tom

looks like their making a sacred image, turn this image sideways and see!! seriously, a fine capture of natures wonders

Albert Darmo

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Leekam on August 10, 2011 at 9:32 AM

Excellent shot, Tom. I don't see why you need more DOF, all seems pretty sharp to me. Apart from the Nature aspect I love the various geometric shapes here - they all seem to combine seamlessly into a single complex pattern.

Registered on May 28, 2009, 83 Posts, 646 Comments

Comment posted by Sam Rua on August 13, 2011 at 1:53 AM

Nice find and capture.

Registered on September 9, 2006, 130 Posts, 2281 Comments