My Favourite ImageBlue Tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)

This species is one of my favourite Odonata subjects and it is also one of the easiest to approach.  It goes to say that it is also one of the more amenable to photograph.

The Blue Tail is fond of perching on upright grassy stems and sits up very well for the camera. It can often be seen with its legs stretching away from its perch, making it a photogenic subject.

Close up images like this one are generally quite easy to obtain. They will tolerate the camera lens to within a few inches.

This late season male was found basking in the sunshine, typically on a long grassy stem. A still day is required to capture pin sharp images, as a swaying stem will hinder this process greatly.

A moderate depth of field setting can be used as this species settles with its wings closed and parallel to its body. This enables the background to be nicely blurred.