Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Dealing With The Heat
‹ PreviousWeekly Challenge GalleryNext ›

Dealing With The Heat

by Wayne Jones

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted April 8, 20162,277 views3 comments
Since this WC is for NATURE photos, I am surprised that  we don't have a lot of photos of plants and animals dealing with the heat.  This is a Seaside Dragonlet in the "obelisk" posture, pointing the tip of its abdomen directly toward the Sun to minimize the amount of body surface exposed to the sun's rays, while on an exposed hunting perch.  It's a simple form of behavioral thermoregulation to prevent overheating.

Canon 5D3; Canon 24-105mm
1/400 sec. @ f/8; ISO 320

Comments

3 comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on April 9, 2016 at 7:44 AM
Hi Wayne,

You captured this little dragonfly trying to stay at an optimal temperature without overheating. It is a difficult exposure with the light seed-head and black body and you handled it fairly well.  The dragonfly appears sharp and wish that you were in a little closer to pick up more of the details.  Other than that, I believe your photo documents the presence of a warm day and how a dragonfly thermoregulates through behavioral meanscrying....................................Jim
Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 9, 2016 at 10:22 AM
Wayne, a fine look at the obelisk pose.  The overall brightness and the pose show the heat well.  The large view shows excellent details in the df.  The structured background and the perch provide good habitat details.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Lockhart on April 10, 2016 at 12:10 PM
Great view of that insect Wayne; very sharp, well-defined against the background,  and you've caught a nice pose displaying interesting behavior.  I will never look at another one again without wondering why its positioned as it is...cooling off, or in attack mode?  Thanks for the science lesson.
Registered on February 19, 2013, 91 Posts, 500 Comments