While in Des Moines last weekend for the annual art show, I made some time to drive to the nearby Neil Smith NWR to photograph wildflowers and wildlife. One of the highlights was finding and photographing Ebony Jewell-winged Damselflies. I had found a ton of these beauties when in town last year; this year there were far fewer of them, only about a dozen. Here are a few of my favorite images of these black beauties:
The above images are of male damselflies. Below, is a female, identified by the white “dot” at the tip of the wings:
I have been fortunate to find a few of these around my rural home, from time to time. But not on a regular basis.
Photographic Equipment Used:
- Canon 7D Mark II body
- Canon 100-400mm, f/4.5-f/5.6 IS lens
- Handheld, with IS “On”
- ISO 800 (due to being in wooded area)
- Aperture f/5.6
- Shutter 1/60 sec. to 1/80 sec.