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Kissing Dragon

Discussion in 'Macro, Flowers, Insects, and Greenery' started by j.ankanpaa, Aug 30, 2008.

  1. j.ankanpaa

    j.ankanpaa

    1,535
    Jul 13, 2005
    Helsinki, Finland
    Hello!

    I´m sorry I don´t have a picture to show how it really happened, you just have to take my word for it, and I swear this is a true story...

    We visited at our favorite pond to see some late Darners. Weather was typically bad as it has been here past weeks. Still, there were two Aeshna grandises lazy patrolling... Very difficult to photograph, they just don´t seem to tolerate anything close to them...

    So... I desided I just wait still and trusted my luck that in some point another one of them is going to perch close enough and I could try to get some shots. Well... another one of them passed by very close couple of times and I thought I noticed he sort of slowed down his flying when passing me, sort of "checking"...

    I think it was maybe 3rd or 4th time passing me by, when he suddenly came literally on to my face, as close as (about) 5cm = 2 in hovering still... about 10 seconds... AND then he desided to land on my LIPS... Kissed me about two seconds... It tickled...

    ...after this "first degree contact" he posed us for awhile just to took off and then disappeared deep in to the woods, this kissing Dargon:
    300808006.
    NIKON D200    ---    300mm    f/8.0    1/80s    ISO 100


    300808010.
    NIKON D200    ---    300mm    f/8.0    1/80s    ISO 100


    300808015.
    NIKON D200    ---    300mm    f/8.0    1/100s    ISO 100
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 31, 2008
    j.ankanpaa, Aug 30, 2008
    #1
  2. Spectre

    Spectre

    1,989
    Feb 20, 2008
    Oregon
    He was just happy to see you Jukka. I like the amber wings on this Aeshna.
     
    Spectre, Aug 30, 2008
    #2
  3. tojor

    tojor

    5,279
    Jul 27, 2005
    Denmark
    Maybe he took you for a giant Butterfly. :biggrin: How lucky you were that he made friends with you. They are so hard to get. I think they have some special sensors that detects when you get closer than 4-5 meters. You got some great shots of him.

    I had an encounter with a male A. cyanea yesterday. I had heard of a place with Water Soldiers and was checking it out for A. viridis. Behind that pond was a smaller pond where 6-7 male A. cyaneas were patrolling and hovering. One of them checked me out several times and suddenly I saw him coming towards me and he just bumped into my forehead with his wings. I guess he didn't like me. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me. I would have been a great opportunity to catch them hovering.
     
    tojor, Aug 31, 2008
    #3
  4. kiankheong

    kiankheong

    148
    Nov 19, 2007
    Malaysia
    Those blue spots make this dragonfly extra special.
     
    kiankheong, Aug 31, 2008
    #4
  5. mdsign

    mdsign

    496
    Jun 14, 2006
    Netherlands
    That is unbelievable story. Your sure you didn't eat mushrooms? ;) 

    I would' love to see your face when it happened.

    cheers, Mark
     
    mdsign, Aug 31, 2008
    #5
  6. fuss

    fuss

    1,084
    Jan 19, 2007
    Sussex, Wisconsin
    Awesome!
     
    fuss, Aug 31, 2008
    #6
  7. lanthier

    lanthier

    3,717
    Sep 21, 2007
    Vienna, Virginia (Washington DC Suburbs), USA
    Great story and awesome shots Jukka!
     
    lanthier, Sep 1, 2008
    #7
  8. Crave

    Crave Guest

    Probably he wanted you to transform into a beatifull female Dragonfly!!!!
    Eheheh!!
    Sure would like to see some pictures of the kissing!!!
     
    Crave, Sep 2, 2008
    #8
  9. threecats

    threecats

    4,777
    Mar 27, 2008
    Chgo/Glenview. my heart, New Mexico
    I am still trying to get anything that compares to your shots and now you practically have em asking you for dates! Love it.

    glenn
     
    threecats, Sep 3, 2008
    #9
  10. spalding12

    spalding12

    26,905
    Jan 11, 2006
    Clearwater, Florida
    Jukka,
    honestly, i think that the dragons appreciate how you've imaged them over the years....
    and this one just wanted to say an appropriate "THANK YOU"
     
    spalding12, Sep 3, 2008
    #10
  11. TomP

    TomP

    11,834
    Apr 12, 2006
    Central Georgia, USA
    Great shots, and what an experience, very amazing. I did have one land on my finger once, and I got the picture:smile:
     
    TomP, Sep 3, 2008
    #11
  12. j.ankanpaa

    j.ankanpaa

    1,535
    Jul 13, 2005
    Helsinki, Finland
    Thank you all!

    I was really a great experience!

    There were another, well more like a funny incident last summer when I was shooting these cuties:
    250708032.
    NIKON D200    ---    300mm    f/8.0    1/250s    ISO 200


    I spotted one male perching on a branch and I though that would be like a nice shot to take. As soon as I placed the tripod and started to focus it took of and landed on my arm. "Oh man, you can´t do that", I said and shaked gently my arm. He took off but landed straight back on to my arm. I shaked my arm again and he landed on my arm again. Then I thought I´ll be smart and after shaked my arm I moved it behind my back... After a short flight the Dragon landed on the top of my head.

    At that moment there came a man on the near by bridge asking me what I was photographing. I told him Dragons. He was very interested to hear what kind of Dragons there were and was very pleased when I told him about these O. cecilias, that having them in this stream means the water is very clean as they are very sensitive about that. "But as you can see, I can´t exactly photograph of it right now as it is sitting on the top of my head."
    ...and ofcourse we had good laughs...

    How come I think I have writen this here before? :smile:
     
    j.ankanpaa, Sep 4, 2008
    #12
  13. BUCKEYE BIKER

    BUCKEYE BIKER

    2,163
    Feb 26, 2007
    BUCKEYE STATE
    I would never kiss and tell:biggrin:. Nice shots Jukka! That is a beauty.
     
    BUCKEYE BIKER, Sep 4, 2008
    #13
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