Sex in the open... - A Meeting of Minds

***Hans*** · Aug 29 2009, 03:04 PM

Oh, that got your attention, did it?

Well this tandem of dragonflies is indeed having sex in the open. He is hanging onto the upright leaf for dear life, using his so called "tenth segment" to grab her behind the neck. This is "foreplay" because she has to curl back to catch him at segment 2 to complete what they call a "mating wheel". But I find this picture pretty spectacular as it is and believe it or not, this was shot out-of-hand with a 70-300 lens on macro.

And they had a spectator, too! Well, beside me that is

This differently coloured dragonfly obliged me by posing for me. Both pictures are taken at the same plant at the edge of the pond in my wife's beautiful garden.

These might be a tad big but the subject is asking for that. The photographs are cropped and sharpened a little.

jube · Aug 30 2009, 03:37 AM

The question remains: did she say YES?

*chuckles*

P.S. GREAT SHOTS - mother nature at it's best - thanks for sharing.

**Cheryl** · Aug 30 2009, 07:23 AM

Those are awesome, Hans!

Kat · Aug 30 2009, 08:40 AM

Those are fantastic Hans!! We actually just got done watching the old BBC series Life in the Undergrowth. and that picture looks like a screenshot from it it's so good.

***Pam*** · Aug 30 2009, 01:29 PM

Those are really cool Hans!

I have to share the Two Striped Grasshopper love I took the other day (since we're on the subject.

) Yes, the lady is eating the Chrysanthemum flower, one I had just bought that morning. I have only two plants alive in my garden right now thanks to these things.

**Cheryl** · Aug 30 2009, 01:42 PM

In suggesting to Pam to post her recent grasshopper pic, she reminded me of the fritillary butterfly ones we both took last fall. These are the two pics I got of this amorous pair, which wasn't content to sit in one spot:

***Hans*** · Aug 30 2009, 02:37 PM

Fantastic photo's Pam and Cheryl!

Cheryl, "my" butterflies never stay in one place long enough!

AnnMarie · Aug 30 2009, 03:12 PM

OH THE DEBAUCHERY! LOL

Awesome pictures, all!

Weyrlady · Aug 30 2009, 05:35 PM

Hans, you dirty old man!

Awesome work, all! I love macros of living insects. I've done dragonflies and butterflies myself, but I've never caught a pair "in the act"

jube · Aug 30 2009, 11:30 PM

My thoughts exactly, Weyrlady and I daresay he gets a "No, honey, I've got a headache tonight" on occasions too.

However the photos that Pam and Cheryl produced are also fantastic. Maybe this should go in the thematic photography forum as a sub-ject

D. M. Domini · Aug 31 2009, 06:39 PM

I am highly tempted now to make LOLDragonflies a la "Ceiling Cat Is Watching You Masturbate".

It's not my fault. Hans said the "s" word first. Then he said the red one was watching. It's all downhill from there!

Edit: All this said, I love dragonflies and damselflies. My favorite insects, even moreso than butterflies.

Lady Maelin · Sep 3 2009, 12:01 AM

OH LORD....my eyes, my eyes....I didn't know we had a *Centerfold* section on MoM...ROTFL!!!! These photos Hans, Cheryl and Pam...and just amazingly incredible.

GHarris · Sep 3 2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Maelin

OH LORD....my eyes, my eyes....I didn't know we had a *Centerfold* section on MoM...ROTFL!!!! These photos Hans, Cheryl and Pam...and just amazingly incredible.

Hey, maybe it will give LM some ideas for a Ramoth/Mnementh or Beauty/? portraits.

GH

GinnyStar · Sep 3 2009, 07:53 PM

Well, that the way to make offspring, and make sure their characteristic are pasted on.

National Geographic had a TV show about how sharks mated.

mawra · Sep 4 2009, 11:25 AM

Great photos.

**Cheryl** · Sep 5 2009, 11:28 PM

Need more sex in the open? Learn about the birds and the bees (no really, it's birds and bees!).

Lady Maelin · Sep 7 2009, 09:55 PM

GHarris...Oh Lord...LOL...I think maybe I should stick to *People Portraits* and steer clear from the more racy dragon pairing portraits...LOL !!!

jube · Sep 7 2009, 11:44 PM

One learns something new every day, Cheryl.

Lady Maelin, oohhh is there a new portrait perhaps? And why not racy portraits of mating dragons? I've had avatars of mating dragons before. It's no different to seeing any other animal do it, even intelligent ones

GHarris · Sep 8 2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Maelin

GHarris...Oh Lord...LOL...I think maybe I should stick to *People Portraits* and steer clear from the more racy dragon pairing portraits...LOL !!!

I don't think it would be more racy than your Avril portrait.

GH

Lady Maelin · Sep 8 2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

I don't think it would be more racy than your Avril portrait. GH

Yes but dragon won't have a sheet to cover up the racy bits...ROTFL!!!

jube · Sep 9 2009, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Maelin

Yes but dragon won't have a sheet to cover up the racy bits...ROTFL!!!

Sheets, they need sheets? A convenient dragon wing would help

instead!

P'ter · Sep 9 2009, 04:16 AM

... thereby giving a new meaning to Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind"?

This little being aint having sex but it's rather pretty.

GHarris · Sep 9 2009, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Maelin

Yes but dragon won't have a sheet to cover up the racy bits...ROTFL!!!

Maybe not, but they do have 2 sets of wings to cover up the racy bits.

And it is up to each individual to determine how bigs those wings need to be to allow flight (especially since a dragon can lift as much as a dragon thinks it can lift).

GH

Aug 29 2009, 03:04 PM	#1
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern!	Sex in the open... Oh, that got your attention, did it? Well this tandem of dragonflies is indeed having sex in the open. He is hanging onto the upright leaf for dear life, using his so called "tenth segment" to grab her behind the neck. This is "foreplay" because she has to curl back to catch him at segment 2 to complete what they call a "mating wheel". But I find this picture pretty spectacular as it is and believe it or not, this was shot out-of-hand with a 70-300 lens on macro. And they had a spectator, too! Well, beside me that is This differently coloured dragonfly obliged me by posing for me. Both pictures are taken at the same plant at the edge of the pond in my wife's beautiful garden. These might be a tad big but the subject is asking for that. The photographs are cropped and sharpened a little. __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines. Last edited by Hans; Aug 30 2009 at 09:59 AM.

Aug 30 2009, 03:37 AM	#2
jube Dolphineer Journeywoman Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Gender: F Fan of: Dragons of Pern Now Reading: Puzzles and my thesaurus!	Re: Sex in the open... The question remains: did she say YES? chuckles P.S. GREAT SHOTS - mother nature at it's best - thanks for sharing. __________________ Dolphineer Journeywoman and part-time researcher.... Find me on ebay..... Here'tis!

Aug 30 2009, 07:23 AM	#3
Cheryl Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Paladin of Souls (Bujold)	Re: Sex in the open... Those are awesome, Hans! __________________ Visit one of the other sites of Cheryl's Anne McCaffrey Triad: Sariel's Guide to Pern: a detailed guide to the series The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey: largest fan site about Anne and ALL of her works McCaffrey Quest: annual trivia contest.

Aug 30 2009, 08:40 AM	#4
Kat Journeywoman archivist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina,USA Gender: F Fan of: DRoP Now Reading: Sky Dragons	Re: Sex in the open... Those are fantastic Hans!! We actually just got done watching the old BBC series Life in the Undergrowth. and that picture looks like a screenshot from it it's so good.

Aug 30 2009, 01:29 PM	#5
*Pam* Heptite Guildmaster Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Four Corners Fan of: Lars Dahl	Re: Sex in the open... Those are really cool Hans! I have to share the Two Striped Grasshopper love I took the other day (since we're on the subject. ) Yes, the lady is eating the Chrysanthemum flower, one I had just bought that morning. I have only two plants alive in my garden right now thanks to these things. __________________ You can take me down, you can show me your home. Not the place where you live, but the place where you belong. ~Toad the Wet Sprocket The Crystal Singer Continuum

Aug 30 2009, 01:42 PM	#6
Cheryl Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Paladin of Souls (Bujold)	Re: Sex in the open... In suggesting to Pam to post her recent grasshopper pic, she reminded me of the fritillary butterfly ones we both took last fall. These are the two pics I got of this amorous pair, which wasn't content to sit in one spot: __________________ Visit one of the other sites of Cheryl's Anne McCaffrey Triad: Sariel's Guide to Pern: a detailed guide to the series The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey: largest fan site about Anne and ALL of her works McCaffrey Quest: annual trivia contest.

Aug 30 2009, 02:37 PM	#7
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern!	Re: Sex in the open... Fantastic photo's Pam and Cheryl! Cheryl, "my" butterflies never stay in one place long enough! __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines.

Aug 30 2009, 03:12 PM	#8
AnnMarie Dragonrider Weyrwoman Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: On the Edge Gender: F Fan of: Pern and Talent Now Reading: The Name of the Rose	Re: Sex in the open... OH THE DEBAUCHERY! LOL Awesome pictures, all!

Aug 30 2009, 05:35 PM	#9
Weyrlady Dragonrider Weyrling Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sedona, Arizona USA Gender: F Fan of: DroP/Canth fangirl Now Reading: Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon	Re: Sex in the open... Hans, you dirty old man! Awesome work, all! I love macros of living insects. I've done dragonflies and butterflies myself, but I've never caught a pair "in the act"

Aug 30 2009, 11:30 PM	#10
jube Dolphineer Journeywoman Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Gender: F Fan of: Dragons of Pern Now Reading: Puzzles and my thesaurus!	Re: Sex in the open... My thoughts exactly, Weyrlady and I daresay he gets a "No, honey, I've got a headache tonight" on occasions too. However the photos that Pam and Cheryl produced are also fantastic. Maybe this should go in the thematic photography forum as a sub-ject __________________ Dolphineer Journeywoman and part-time researcher.... Find me on ebay..... Here'tis!

Aug 31 2009, 06:39 PM	#11
D. M. Domini Talent Finder Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicagoland Gender: F Fan of: Afra Lyon, and Robinton! Now Reading: Sabriel by Garth Nix	Re: Sex in the open... I am highly tempted now to make LOLDragonflies a la "Ceiling Cat Is Watching You Masturbate". It's not my fault. Hans said the "s" word first. Then he said the red one was watching. It's all downhill from there! Edit: All this said, I love dragonflies and damselflies. My favorite insects, even moreso than butterflies. __________________ Read my Pern and Talent fanfic on Archive of our Own. Fanfic WIPs: The Day Benden Went to War (Pern/Talent); Slosh (Pern); Weyrbred Lads (Pern); When You Fall Asleep /Between/... (Pern) Completed Fics: Flight (Pern), Flight v2 (Pern), Golden Glow (Pern)

Sep 3 2009, 12:01 AM	#12
Lady Maelin Master Artist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Gender: F Fan of: Pern,The Ship Who Sang Now Reading: Anne's Pern EVERYTHING !	Re: Sex in the open... OH LORD....my eyes, my eyes....I didn't know we had a Centerfold section on MoM...ROTFL!!!! These photos Hans, Cheryl and Pam...and just amazingly incredible. __________________ "To the Horsehead Nebula and back we shall make beautiful music"..."Together!" The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression,and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cut out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived........Howard Pyle

Sep 3 2009, 07:53 PM	#14
GinnyStar Dolphineer Craftmaster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wausau, WI USA, Central Standard Time Gender: F Fan of: Pern, other SF works Now Reading: Dragonback Bargain	Re: Sex in the open... Well, that the way to make offspring, and make sure their characteristic are pasted on. National Geographic had a TV show about how sharks mated. __________________ Lover s s, s and friends Lover of and beads, http://www.change.org/profiles/GinnyStar Dragoncave GinnyStar2 Jellied Dragons Lair of Dragons http://dragcave.net/user/GinnyStar2 Thanks! Others: None at this time WIP http://archiveofourown.org/works/252259 http://www.daisy.org/learning-difficulties

Sep 4 2009, 11:25 AM	#15
mawra Dolphin Friend Craftmaster Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CONCORD VA Gender: F Fan of: PERN Now Reading: Dolphins of Pern and Queens ow	Re: Sex in the open... Great photos. __________________ MEDDLE NOT IN THE AFAIRS OF DRAGONS, FOR YOU ARE CRUNCHY & GOOD WITH CHOCOLATE SO MANY BOOKS SO LITTLE TIME DRIVING SMART KEEPS YOU ALIVE

Sep 5 2009, 11:28 PM	#16
Cheryl Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Maryland, USA Gender: F Fan of: Pern! Now Reading: Paladin of Souls (Bujold)	Re: Sex in the open... Need more sex in the open? Learn about the birds and the bees (no really, it's birds and bees!). __________________ Visit one of the other sites of Cheryl's Anne McCaffrey Triad: Sariel's Guide to Pern: a detailed guide to the series The Many Works of Anne McCaffrey: largest fan site about Anne and ALL of her works McCaffrey Quest: annual trivia contest.

Sep 7 2009, 09:55 PM	#17
Lady Maelin Master Artist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Gender: F Fan of: Pern,The Ship Who Sang Now Reading: Anne's Pern EVERYTHING !	Re: Sex in the open... GHarris...Oh Lord...LOL...I think maybe I should stick to People Portraits and steer clear from the more racy dragon pairing portraits...LOL !!! __________________ "To the Horsehead Nebula and back we shall make beautiful music"..."Together!" The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression,and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cut out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived........Howard Pyle

Sep 7 2009, 11:44 PM	#18
jube Dolphineer Journeywoman Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Gender: F Fan of: Dragons of Pern Now Reading: Puzzles and my thesaurus!	Re: Sex in the open... One learns something new every day, Cheryl. Lady Maelin, oohhh is there a new portrait perhaps? And why not racy portraits of mating dragons? I've had avatars of mating dragons before. It's no different to seeing any other animal do it, even intelligent ones __________________ Dolphineer Journeywoman and part-time researcher.... Find me on ebay..... Here'tis!

Sep 9 2009, 04:16 AM	#22
P'ter Crafter Craftmaster Join Date: May 2006 Location: Wolverhampton Gender: M Fan of: Favorite? Now Reading: avidly	Re: Sex in the open... ... thereby giving a new meaning to Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind"? This little being aint having sex but it's rather pretty. __________________ "Truth is stranger than fiction: fiction has to make sense." Leo Rosten. "When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up." C. S. Lewis "I find television very educational. Whenever somebody switches it on I go in the other room and read a book." (attributed to Groucho Marx) The Pedants are revolting! (against bad grammar)

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