Project 365 d-207

     When I came home tonight, I headed toward the pool to check the condition of the water and clean out any debris that had accumulated. As soon as I got near the edge, I spotted a dragon fly floating on top of the water.  It seemed this poor little soul had drowned and my heart sank to imagine this majestic insect meeting its end this way. Leaning over the side, I cupped my hands together and scooped out the lifeless flier and gently set it down on the side of the pool. I just stood there and studied it. This is normally not very easy to do as they zoom about like teenagers who are out for their first spin after getting their license. First drive without their parents that is. Sadly, my rescue had been in vain and this little guy would never take to the skies again.

     This will be a good photo opportunity I thought to myself and headed into my studio to get my camera. When I came back over to the side of the pool I could see that he was not there. He had been knocked off the side by a gust of wind and was not sticking to the outside of the pool. A dark shadow formed to his left side like an unfinished police chalk outline. "Perhaps there is a bit of art amidst this tragedy", I thought to myself as I began photographing him. It was hard to see exactly how the shots were turning out because of the glare from the late afternoon sun on my LCD. Many times when I am photographing; I am just doing so based on a feeling. A feeling that something special may reveal itself by further exploration of a subject. Often it bears fruit while other times it just becomes an important part of a bigger process. Sort of like practicing to see the minutia that's all around us everyday.

     As I rocked forward on my heels for a closer shot, I thought I saw a wing twitch. "Was it still alive", I wondered? Then another twitch and this time the it was the other wing. "IT'S ALIVE, I shouted! In the whole big scheme of things; I realize it's just one dragon fly, but I couldn't help feeling happy that it hadn't died. Maybe dragon flies only live for a few months out of the year, or maybe they fly south for the winter; I don't know. Still, I do know that with a little drying off this bug eyed, buzzed would soon be racing through the sky again. With and outstretched finger I touched its legs and it grabbed on. It was very wobbly at first and it looked like he would fall off at any minute. Gently I began to blow drying waves of air across its body hoping that it would help dry him off. I could see his legs making adjustments against the force of my homemade wind, and he was starting to move his front two legs around. Raising my hand with the winged aircraft standing firmly on the narrow runway; I began to photograph him. It was difficult trying to adjust the camera with only one hand free, but I managed to get three shots off. Just as the shutter clicked for the third time a gentle breeze washed across my hand and set him to flight. Just like that he was lifted up into the air and gone. I just stood there for a moment thinking about all that had just happened. My rescue wasn't in vain after all, and I smiled to think of him once again soaring above with his comrades on this lazy summer day. Maybe before the leaves start to signal fall is on the way; one dragon fly will buzz by a little closer than all the others do. Perhaps it will be the same little guy and his fly bye will be his way of saying thanks for the rescue.

Happy Shooting.