How to...

Photograph dragonflies and damselflies

Michael Dimery lives close to Willsbridge Mill where he is a regular volunteer. A keen photographer (check his website mike.photos.gb.net) he has built up a stunning collection of images around and about the reserve.

“I viewed with interest the growth of digital cameras, their ease of use, no film, and the ability to print pictures without days waiting for processing. I finally took the plunge in 2003 and purchased a second hand Fuji S602Z which has a wide 6x optical zoom range. Essential for close up work, the camera has excellent macro and super-macro modes.

But really, a good digital camera with a close-up setting and a little patience is all that is needed. Find a medium or large pond, or slow moving river with plenty of reed cover. Approach very slowly, watching your feet. Turn the camera on in good time and avoid making sudden movements or noise as many insects are alert to sound as well as movement. Using the screen instead of the viewfinder with autofocus on means you can extend your arms rather than having to move your whole body close. Once within a zone of about 8-12” start snapping. Go in a few inches at a time snapping as you go. That way if it flies off you've got something that might be good enough to blow up on the PC, otherwise you might go in for the perfect shot and it flies away before you're ready. Remember, your digital media is cheap and reusable so take lots of shots then weed out the rubbish later.

Living close to Willsbridge Mill wildlife reserve has enabled me to capture many images of dragonflies and damselflies. The reserve sits astride Siston Brook, and has two artificial ponds with plenty of reeds and plant cover that they need. Stalking and photographing dragonflies and damselflies has been very rewarding for me, allowing me to gain a small insight into these fascinating and often stunningly beautiful insects.

Happy snapping!

Damselflies start to appear in late spring/early summer. The large red damselfly isn't all that large, about 1-1/4” long but it's easy to photograph. You need to get close for good detail though, within a couple of inches. Therein lies a problem as at that distance, depth of focus is very narrow. Because of that, long insects like these are best photographed square-on to their length so that the whole of it is in focus.			This is a rare species called the scarce chaser dragonfly. By July they are numerous along the banks of the Avon, but they're found in very few other locations. Above is a male, female below.
The azure damselfly is also quite small, but a very striking blue. Azures are more easily startled than large reds but have very short attention spans. Get within a couple of feet and just move in slowly.
Late May/June starts to see the emergence of dragonflies. Above is a male broad bodied chaser dragonfly (female beneath). I spent several sessions trying to get close to one without success, then finally I cracked it. The warmer the weather, the more alert and active they are. Choose a day when there are sunny periods but it's on the cool side. Then they are less active and easier to approach.			Southern hawker dragonflies are the most spectacular of the dragonflies with wingspans of 3-4” and striking body colours. Like many other insects they seem to have a sort of tolerance zone of about 12”. Once you get inside this zone with the camera then they just aren't bothered at all and you can snap away. Above is a male.
			Here is a female showing thorax, wing and head detail. The camera lens was probably about 3/4” away.
Demoiselles are somewhere between damselflies and dragonflies in size. Banded demoiselles are common around the River Avon near where I live. Very skittish and almost impossible to approach directly I twigged that I could get near a bunch of reeds, wait for a boat to go by that disturbed them and drove them towards me and my camera. Above is a male with the characteristic banded wings.			This is a common darter dragonfly. One of the UK's most abundant darters, it appears in July and can sometimes be seen well into late October. This one caught the sun on its wings just right and is one of my favourite shots.
This is a greenish female banded demoiselle.			Directions to Willsbridge Mill Take the A431 Bristol to Bath road, turning into Long Beach Road. Car park on left. Buses from Bristol to Long Beach Road or Willsbridge Hill. Access Wheelchair access via Willsbridge Hill to most of valley.

Mike will be leading a Snapping Dragons walk on Sunday 6 August 2-4pm. Ffi: see Events Programme or log on to the Members' area of the website.

Mike recommends:
Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland by Steve Brooks
The British Dragonfly Society's website is excellent www.dragonflysoc.org.uk