Winged Wednesday 7/17/2024

[Eric Gofreed]

Please post anything with wings, birds, bugs, airplanes, drones, helicopters, bats... anything. My contributions for today's Winged Wednesday are dragonfly photos. The first 4 photos were taken a week ago at Lake Mary, Arizona.

Blue-eyed Darner

Wheel Formation/Copulation: The male has clasped the female behind the head. The female has curled her abdomen to connect with the male, forming a heart-shaped or wheel position where mating occurs.

Wheel Formation #2

Common Green Darners, Post-Mating Bond: The female is laying eggs while the male stays attached. This behavior, known as mate guarding, ensures that the male's sperm has the best chance of fertilizing the female's eggs.

Dragonfly nymph devouring a tadpole. Though no wings are present in this photo, the voracious appetite of the dragonfly nymph highlights the fascinating, underwater stage of the dragonfly's lifecycle.

 

[Kurt Harrigan]

I like the colors in the first few images. They are amazing insects. How do you catch them in flight?

 

[Trent Watts]

My oh my Eric. What an excellent selection of dragonflies. That last one with the nymph eating the tadpole is unbelievable. Love them all.

 

[Trent Watts]

My wings today are all man made. I thought I would post some images of art work that friends have brought me to photograph.

This is a piece I made a few years ago for a show about insects. It is called 'Motherboard Wasp. And you thought computer viruses were bad". The wasp body is turned from wood, carved and painted. The legs, wings and eyes are made from Acrylic sheets that are used to make eye glasses. The whole insect is fastened to a mother board from an old computer.

I made this urn for a friend's daughter that died at a young age. She loved dragonflies so I carved one into the top of the urn.

The rest of these are all made by my friend Jamie Russell. He is a master carver and furniture maker.
This is a pair of Praying Mantis that were installed in neighbour's window.

This pair of mythical birds are carved out of wood and hold up a glass table top. Jamie is a master of incorporating elements necessary of stability and making them fit into the overall design.

Closeup

A carving of a mother bird with her baby.

This piece is carved out of one large piece of Maple burl. It takes a lot of talent to imagine this and start cutting away the wood that doesn't look like a bird.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

I like the colors in the first few images. They are amazing insects. How do you catch them in flight?

You need good light, clutterless background (water, sky), Lots of dragonflies, patience, and luck.

My wings today are all man-made. I thought I would post some images of artwork that friends have brought me to photograph.

This is a piece I made a few years ago for a show about insects. It is called 'Motherboard Wasp. And you thought computer viruses were bad". The wasp's body is turned from wood, carved, and painted. The legs, wings, and eyes are made from Acrylic sheets that are used to make the glass eyes. The whole insect is fastened to a motherboard from an old computer.

View attachment 74297

I made this urn for a friend's daughter who died at a young age. She loved dragonflies so I carved one into the top of the urn.
View attachment 74303View attachment 74304

The rest of these are all made by my friend Jamie Russell. He is a master carver and furniture maker.
This is a pair of Praying Mantis that were installed in neighbour's window.
View attachment 74298

This pair of mythical birds are carved out of wood and hold up a glass table top. Jamie is a master of incorporating elements necessary of stability and making them fit into the overall design.
View attachment 74300

Closeup
View attachment 74299

A carving of a mother bird with her baby.
View attachment 74301

This piece is carved out of one large piece of Maple burl. It takes a lot of talent to imagine this and start cutting away the wood that doesn't look like a bird.
View attachment 74302
[/QUOTE]
Thanks, Trent. Amazing woodworking skills and photography. The urn is special because it's an urn. The wasp on the motherboard is a brilliant idea. The bird table reminds me of a pterosaurs. Kudos on the great photography too,

 

[Ken Rennie]

Dragonflies but not to the standard of Eric's superb images
Phone shot of dragonfly laying eggs

Nikon D810 with 70-200 lens with achromat close up attachment

Sony A7r4 with Sigma 105 macro focus stacked at f4 to try and get a creamy out of focus background.

 

[Trent Watts]

These are wonderful Ken. That second image checks all my boxes. Beautiful.

 

[AlanLichty]

My wings today are all man made. I thought I would post some images of art work that friends have brought me to photograph.

This is a piece I made a few years ago for a show about insects. It is called 'Motherboard Wasp. And you thought computer viruses were bad". The wasp body is turned from wood, carved and painted. The legs, wings and eyes are made from Acrylic sheets that are used to make eye glasses. The whole insect is fastened to a mother board from an old computer.

View attachment 74297

I made this urn for a friend's daughter that died at a young age. She loved dragonflies so I carved one into the top of the urn.
View attachment 74303View attachment 74304

The rest of these are all made by my friend Jamie Russell. He is a master carver and furniture maker.
This is a pair of Praying Mantis that were installed in neighbour's window.
View attachment 74298

This pair of mythical birds are carved out of wood and hold up a glass table top. Jamie is a master of incorporating elements necessary of stability and making them fit into the overall design.
View attachment 74300

Closeup
View attachment 74299

A carving of a mother bird with her baby.
View attachment 74301

This piece is carved out of one large piece of Maple burl. It takes a lot of talent to imagine this and start cutting away the wood that doesn't look like a bird.
View attachment 74302

Incredible woodworking in this series Trent. My own woodworking talents lies in making things with straight lines and none of it looks anything like these works of art.

 

[AlanLichty]

Please post anything with wings, birds, bugs, airplanes, drones, helicopters, bats... anything. My contributions for today's Winged Wednesday are dragonfly photos. The first 4 photos were taken a week ago at Lake Mary, Arizona.

View attachment 74291
Blue-eyed Darner

View attachment 74288
Wheel Formation/Copulation: The male has clasped the female behind the head. The female has curled her abdomen to connect with the male, forming a heart-shaped or wheel position where mating occurs.

View attachment 74287
Wheel Formation #2

View attachment 74289
Common Green Darners, Post-Mating Bond: The female is laying eggs while the male stays attached. This behavior, known as mate guarding, ensures that the male's sperm has the best chance of fertilizing the female's eggs.

View attachment 74295
Dragonfly nymph devouring a tadpole. Though no wings are present in this photo, the voracious appetite of the dragonfly nymph highlights the fascinating, underwater stage of the dragonfly's lifecycle.

Great series Eric.

 

[AlanLichty]

Very tough acts to follow this week. I have a shot of a Scrub Jay at the top of an arborvitae in my back yard.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Dragonflies but not to the standard of Eric's superb images
Phone shot of dragonfly laying eggs
View attachment 74306

Nikon D810 with 70-200 lens with achromat close up attachment
View attachment 74307

Sony A7r4 with Sigma 105 macro focus stacked at f4 to try and get a creamy out of focus background.
View attachment 74309

Your second and third photos are technically flawless and beautiful too. Exquisite details and DOF. Highest compliments, Ken!!!

 

[Eric Gofreed]

Very tough acts to follow this week. I have a shot of a Scrub Jay at the top of an arborvitae in my back yard.

View attachment 74325

I assume he is a California scrub jay, known for its vibrant blue plumage. In my area, we typically see the Woodhouse's scrub jay, which is quite similar in appearance but has more subdued blue hues. The contrast between the two species is subtle, yet noticeable, with the California scrub jay often exhibiting brighter, more striking colors.

 

[AlanLichty]

I assume he is a California scrub jay, known for its vibrant blue plumage. In my area, we typically see the Woodhouse's scrub jay, which is quite similar in appearance but has more subdued blue hues. The contrast between the two species is subtle, yet noticeable, with the California scrub jay often exhibiting brighter, more striking colors.

My ancient copy of Peterson's Field Guide didn't go into that much detail but you made me look around to see the variants of Scrub-Jays.

You are correct in calling the ones we have as the California Scrub-Jay. The black/gray in the collar just below the neck and the darker contrasts in the wing are notable differences to the illustrations of the Woodhouse Scrub-Jay I see online (CornellLab All About Birds).

 

[Eric Gofreed]

My ancient copy of Peterson's Field Guide didn't go into that much detail but you made me look around to see the variants of Scrub-Jays.

You are correct in calling the ones we have as the California Scrub-Jay. The black/gray in the collar just below the neck and the darker contrasts in the wing are notable differences to the illustrations of the Woodhouse Scrub-Jay I see online (CornellLab All About Birds).

View attachment 74337

Thank you for posting them side by side. Two great pics, Alan

 

[AlanLichty]

Thank you for posting them side by side. Two great pics, Alan

Not my pictures - this is from the Cornell Labs All About Birds web site. They have links to compare birds like these which is great for idiots like me who need pictures

 

[Jon Bev]

This is the only shot I have of a Dragonfly, Made in the 30s by De Haviland Aircraft co for the rich, not as colourful as your showings.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

I have no insect images I haven't already shared in Focal World. So here are some birds in flight.

Red-shouldered Hawk.

White Ibis

Harris Hawk

 

[Eric Gofreed]

I have no insect images I haven't already shared in Focal World. So here are some birds in flight.

Red-shouldered Hawk.
View attachment 74407


White Ibis
View attachment 74409


Harris Hawk
View attachment 74410

superb flight shots, Doug. Birds are always better than bugs