12 Spotted Skimmer, Kennebunk Bridle Path, Kennebunk ME

The Twelve Spotted Skimmer was the first Dragonfly I ever photographed. Not this one. My first shot was at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in July of 2012, and it kicked of an interest that has persisted and grown over these past 3 years. Appropriately, the Twelve Spotted Skimmer is one of the easiest dragonflies to photograph. It is big and showy…and it perches often…returning regularly to the same perch. A bit of patience, and a suitably long lens (or even a great deal of patience and shorter lens) is all that is needed. My lenses have grown in length over the past 3 years, even if my patience has not. 🙂

Nikon P900 at 700mm equivalent field of view. 1/500th @ ISO 125 @ f5.6. Processed in Lightroom.

For interest here is an even closer shot with the Sony HX90V using some enhanced digital zoom.

12 Spotted Skimmer. Sony HX90V.