A fly on the wall is widely thought of as a person who wishes to be or actually is witness to something without being seen or heard.  It is what I try to be as a photographer during a wedding, or in public places or events.  The expression has also been applied to a type of filmmaking '...fly on the wall documentaries' which are films of real life situations supposedly made without affecting the behaviour [of the participants]. (from o'reilly.com).  The writer in that O'Reilly piece indicated that "The first citation of it that I can find is from The Oakland Tribune, February 1921: “I'd just love to be a fly on the wall when the Right Man comes along.”  I suspect most people have uttered the statement multiple times.  

This week, I was not a fly on the wall, but a dragonfly on the wall did capture my attention.  My knowledge of many species in the insect world is somewhat lacking, so when I noticed the dragonfly, not only did my camera emerge, but after downloading the first collection of images, I returned to do research.  Because the dragonfly stayed in the same location for hours, I was able to photograph it at four different times that day.  As far as I can tell, I saw my first Variable Darner or Aeshna interrupta.  It is in the family Aeshnidae, and according to the Montana Field Guide, darners are among the largest and fastest-flying North American dragonflies.   Wikipedia indicates that the variable darner is native to the mountains of New Mexico, among other places including Alaska, and the Northern Territories, New Hampshire, and Michigan.  One of those widely scattered insects. Still, it was exciting to see one at close range and have the opportunity to photograph it.

Dragonflies have heads (with compound eyes), thorax, (which looks like some sort of tool for automobile repair) and abdomen - the multicolored sections with two dark colored things (technical term) - at the end.  They are the Cercus/clasper and the Epiproct, which are identifiers of the male of the species.  There will not be a test, I promise.

Butterflies and dragonflies 5 2024

 I never realized until seeing it in close proximity that the wings are so incredibly reflective.  Absolutely pure and beautiful design courtesy of nature.  The first three photographs in the series were made around 10:45 in the morning, when the wall on which I found the dragonfly was still in the shade, but enough light was coming from opposing surfaces to light the wings and make them reflective.  
 

Butterflies and dragonflies 1 2024

Butterflies and dragonflies 2 2024

At 11:50, the refraction of light through the wings onto the textured wall was something I simply could not ignore.
Butterflies and dragonflies 3 2024

The light had changed enough at 1:30 in the afternoon that the stained glass effect of the wings warranted another and very different take. 

Butterflies and dragonflies 4 2024

Now that northern hemisphere summer is here in earnest, I hope each of you has plentiful opportunities to witness what it has to offer.  

Many thanks to Orlando, Jean & Sam, Barbara F. R., Robert, Sara, TTT, Catherine, Jean, Lisa S., Steve, Dick & Carol, and M. Fred for writing this week. 

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image©