Sympetrum - landing in windy conditions

[MacroLuv]

The wind was from behind.



Model Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Date/time original 29.07.2007 13:44:37
Shutter speed value 1/250 s
Aperture value f/9
ISO speed ratings ISO 200
Focal length 100 mm

[jmlphoto]

i like the split background on this one.

[Erland R.N.]

Nice picture indeed.

The pose of this S. fonscolombii male, may be used to maximise the impact of the sun on it's thorax and abdomen. It looks like the sun comes from the right side of the picture. That would increase the temperature gain from the sun on especially the abdomen. If it was a windy and not particular hot day, that may be an explanation to the pose. If it was the wind, I would expect the dragonfly to pose like this only for a short moment, before settling in a more usual pose.

Erland

[MacroLuv]

Thanks guys.
Erland, you are right about light source. The dragonfly was oriented to the west and time was almost 2 p.m. So sun was still pretty high shining from his fore left side. I took 32 photographs of him in time span between 13:43:35 and 13:45:02. On each of them he is in this pose or even more upward. Except on one which is "empty" because he flew up and landed back several times.

[LordV]

Lovely shot and pose.
Normally they do this to minimise the sun's heat (ie they are over-heating) and point their tail roughly toward the sun. First time I saw this pose I thought it was an aggression pose.
Brian V.

[MacroLuv]

Thanks Brian.
Last summer had many hot days but I didn't see this pose too often.