dragonfly – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

The Ruby Meadowhawk

Hello Friends! Tonight’s Feature Image is titled “Ruby Meadowhawk 72021a” and is available for purchase by clicking the thumbnail and reaching out to me on the contact page.

The red dragonfly sits carefully on his perch scanning for the flight pattern of his prey. His sharp eyes are genetically tuned for certain movements and he can see in almost a full circle. His powerful wings are like loaded springs waiting for the pull of a trigger. The mosquito rises up from the water’s surface and the dragonfly feels his feet leave the leaf as his wings engage the humid air. From his perspective the world seems to be in slow motion. The blink of a human eye is three hundred milliseconds but the dragonfly’s reaction time is only fifty milliseconds as he closes in on his prey. The mosquito seems to be frozen in time as the dragonfly maneuvers through the reeds. In truth, I had my camera in burst mode and the dragonfly completely vanished between frames. Yes, they’re that fast. It’s said by scientists that a dragonfly can fly at sixty miles per hour. And my observation is that they can go from zero to sixty in less than a second. While hunting they can even fly upside down in order to catch those nasty mosquitos. By comparison, a hummingbird flies at thirty miles per hour and can only reach sixty miles per hour by diving straight down while flapping their wings as hard as they can. ( Which is something hummingbirds do as part of their mating ritual. ) But I suppose that twice the number of wings means twice the speed. Much like hummingbirds dragonflies incorporate their whole body into their aerobatics. By changing the angle of their body they change the traction that their wings generate and can even turn around 360° in mid flight. Engineers are actually studying how dragonflies maneuve in order to create more efficient drones. In terms of scale speed a human being would pass out from the G forces that a dragonfly produces while just hunting. Even though I didn’t catch it on camera that sudden stop when the dragonfly returned to his favorite perch was as equally impressive as the flight.

The appearance of the dragonflies marks the midsummer page of my natural calendar and while I enjoy all of the varieties of dragonflies I think that the red ones are my favorite.

Good night friends and be blessed throughout your days.

Announcement 2.0

For those who have been following me on Facebook and know of the struggle content providers have to get circulation from big tech I’ve been recommending for people to adopt MeWe as a social media platform. One of the problems I’ve run into on MeWe is that people don’t know how to navigate the platform. So to help with that I’ve created a permanent page on my website as a basic Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe I’ve tried to anticipate all basic questions there and You can bookmark the page to have as a reference and if you have any questions or suggestions don’t hesitate to contact me. I do still have a day job and I help admin several pages on both platforms so replies might be a little slow but I will answer you.

We also have the Lloyd’s Lens Photography Discussion Group on MeWe that is set up as a fully functional community. There you’ll not only be able to see and connect with me but you can also make your own posts and interact with each other.

I want you to join my group on MeWe: https://mewe.com/join/lloydslensphotographydiscussiongroup

Click the link below to jump to the Basic Beginner’s Guide To MeWe.https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/guide-to-mewe/embed/#?secret=GJGnIQEVHc

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

WELCOME TO LLOYD’S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/embed/#?secret=ZBipPVJdZw

Lloyds Lens Photography web link — Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply use the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographerThank you again for your support of my page!♥️

A Red Dragon Encounter

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Ruby Meadowhawk 91320a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Along the gravel berm that lines the single lane road a red dragon stalks the sky. He moves as swift as an arrow snagging his prey from among the reeds and each time returning to his perch on the dry seedhead. His scarlet tones set him apart from anything else above the marsh. And if I am correct, he’s never been documented in this area before. I believe that what I have stumbled upon is a Ruby Meadowhawk.

The Ruby Meadowhawk is new to me. I’ve seen various blue, green and brown dragonflies and damselflies over my life and a few of the red ones in other states. But, this is the first red dragonfly that I’ve encountered in the state of West Virginia. So naturally the first thing I did was a Google Image search to try and find a match. I was presented with 3 possible hits.

The Ruby Meadowhawk, the White Faced Meadowhawk and the Cherry Faced Meadowhawk.

The White Faced Meadowhawk is just what it sounds like. The photos and descriptions online say that the distinguishing characteristic of the White Faced Meadowhawk is a pure white face as compared to the Ruby Meadowhawk which gas a tan face. Likewise, the Cherry Faced Meadowhawk has a face that turns red when mature and seems to be a Western species.

My Meadowhawk has a tan face which is the mark of the Ruby Meadowhawk.

The only Map of species distribution that I could find comes from iNatualist.org and shows a few confirmed sightings in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle and sightings in Morgantown but central and southern West Virginia show no confirmed sightings. The map is updated daily and seems to be current.

So did I find something worthy of a note? I don’t know. Right now all I know is that it seems to something that’s not supposed to be in my area.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Encounter With A Blue Dancer

Color Photography, wildlife

Hello friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Blue Dancer In The Sun” and is available for purchase by following the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Summer days were made for enjoying the sunshine. It’s in our nature to want to take part in the simple pleasures that come with Summer.

As I sat down at the outside break table on my day job a living sapphire slipped across my field of vision. The blue dancer lived up to her name as she flew through the yard. Her rhythmic gymnastics in the air rivaled anything seen on stage. As a child dragonflies held an air of something magical happening before my very eyes. In all the books and websites about fossils is a picture of dragonfly with a wingspan of around two feet! As impressive as the size is the fossils that I’ve seen give no insight as to the amazing colors that modern day dragonflies show. Greens and blues and even bright red! They all seem to shine and glimmer in the light.

The blue dancer paused only for a moment on the leaf before the music that was bound up on spirit called her back into the air. I enjoyed the performance for a few minutes and soon my time in the sun was up. The blue dancer seemed to escort me back to the door as left. She’s still around. I’ve seen her almost every day since performing her routine in the sun.

Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply message me on Facebook oruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Quest For A Golden Dragon

Color Photography

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Natural Treasures” and is available for purchase by following the instructions at the bottom of the article.

The morning sun is already started to burn hot as I enter the marsh. I have heard a tale that somewhere in the maze of cattails lives a golden dragon who guards a jewel of great value. The crisp aromas of water mint fills the humid air. Rustling noises on the other side of the thick mat of leaves tells me that the birds are on the hunt. Silvery flashes dart through the water as I make my way towards the goal. Something moves just outside of my field of vision. I turned around but saw nothing. There’s a buzzing sound with a rattling that sounds a little like paper caught in a fan. I moved slowly in the direction of the noise and it moved away. I paused to give the sound a chance to settle. When the sound of papery wings ceased I gently moved the foliage aside and searched the lush green leaves underneath. And there I saw the legend was true. A golden dragon rested on a leaf guarding diamond sphere. I marveled at the shiny body and gossamer wings. Unlike the questing knights of tales told long ago I came not a sword and lance but a lens to capture my quarry. This tiny dragon breathes no fire. No smoke encircled it’s lair. The sun will soon reclaim it’s guarded treasure but it’s legend is forever preserved in my lens.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simply message me on Facebook oruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Capturing A Dragon ( An eight year quest)

black and white photography, wildlife

My grandfather had some unique names for what is commonly called a dragonfly. Usually he called it a “Snakedoctor”. Irregardless of the name insects of the order Odonata are notoriously hard to catch. I have purposefully trekked out to lakes and ponds just to find these but as soon as I raise the camera they move. I have a whole string of blurry images of dragonflies and damselflies that could just as easily be a Sasquatch picture.

But here is the first one that is actually in focus! Even on the cool morning that I found this one it took several tries to get a good shot. The order’s name odonata literally means flying tooth. From the moment they hatch these things devour mosquitoes! They are a great control method for the little bloodsucking pests that will not poison the food chain. The one here is of the most common type but there are brightly colored ones here too. Greens and blues are also common. They’re like flying gemstones around our bodies of water. If I can catch one staying still for long enough to get the right picture it will be published in color.

I still haven’t figured out why the old-timers call them Snakedoctors ( and sometimes Witchdoctors) but I’m always taken back to my childhood summers when I see one.