This bug is holding its wings like a Damselfly (and it was consistent in this wherever it landed), but its body parts look like a Dragon. It is quite small compared to the Variegated Meadowhawks it was hanging out and sparring with at what used to be called Hugh Ramsey Park in Harlingen Texas (now the Arroyo Colorado World Birding Center). If anyone knows what it actually is, please let me know via email or in the comments. Thanks.

This is another 1680mm equivalent field of view, hand-held macro, using the full optical zoom (840mm) on the Canon SX40HS and the 2x digital converter. I continue to be amazed a the quality possible. Images look good up to large viewing and medium print sizes. They fall apart at 1 to 1 resolution, but I don’t plan to view them or print them at that kind of resolution. The digital wizards at Canon have certainly produced a workable long lens solution in a very small package! And it is particularly effective at close range for these kinds of macro…since you get the image scale of 1680mm lens and the depth of field of a 150mm lens. Best of both worlds.

Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation (which is becoming my standard setting on the Canon).

Processed in Lightroom for Intensity and Sharpness.