The Green Damsel (Fly) by Chipka
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Description
“I’m not smiling,” Kentaro said, as I pointed my camera in his direction. I’d told him to look natural, to not smile. He did his best, breaking into a fit of giggles, instead. I snapped a picture. Giggles make Japanese friends blurry. The same happens with Mako, though in subtle ways, Mako’s camera-giggles are tinged with more of a blush.
I sat, with Kentaro and with Corey in the air-conditioned confines of a non-Starbucks coffee chain in Chicago’s BoysTown neighborhood. I suspect I’ve overcome my THX-1138-induced aversion to the neighborhood. It’s still there, but more like a background radiation; the presence of international friends is a nice antidote. Kentaro, like Mako, sees something different in BoysTown and enjoys it for reasons that aren’t entirely logical in the local manner. I’m rather pleased with the fact that both Mako and Kentaro can enjoy BoysTown, and express that enjoyment in an efficient, compressed language. (Japanese is an exquisitely compressed language, until you get to counting, and then it just becomes bizarre, complicated, and just flat-out odd. There are different ways of counting things, based on whether or not they’re alive or inanimate, round or long…in short, an element of Japanese linguistic compression relies of a complicated set of reasons for something simple. Japanese linguistic imports are most welcome in BoysTown, as far as I’m concerned.)
Though the day began with extreme heat, a breeze wafted in from the north—it seems—and brought lower temperatures in its wake. This was a good thing, as Corey and Kentaro and I sat, guzzling iced coffee and eating something yogurt-based with fruit. We didn’t have much time together, as Kentaro had other obligations he couldn’t escape, but we made the most of the hours we had…giggling (and not smiling) and talking about…well…everything…especially Lady GaGa, and Japanese pop group, Every Little Thing. Their seventh album, Crispy Park, is currently doing rather well in Japan. (Apparently, parks in Japan are crispy?” They sound rather good, in a Japanes pop sort of way.)
As afternoon meandered into the early hours of evening, Kentaro parted company with Corey and me, with promises for at least one more visit with us, before his return to Japan.
Corey and I—in the mood to photograph something— meandered toward the lake and endured a massive load of synchronized clones, and apparent sports fans with room-temperature IQs. It was the clones who noticed this. As the South-sider, room-temperature sports fans passed a duo of North Sider quasi-clones: one of them declared: “Your team sucks. Our team is better than your team.” The North Sider responded with: “You were waiting all day to use that one, weren’t you?” The exchange, though brief, was amusing, though all too telling of what much of Chicago has become.
I found comfort in conversation with Corey, a few photographs of flowers, random bicyclists, and…a damselfly. What began with Kentaro (not smiling) ended at sunset, with Corey and I meandering back to his apartment with a massive load of photos between us. This particular damselfly is one of the more pleasant, non-human markers of that day. I was amazed to capture it at all, and so here it is. I'm happy to say that in a way, Corey and I fulfilled the edict of BoysTown...we were productive (in terms of making photography,) we consumed, (in terms of drinking coffee and eating sweet stuff,) and thus, we were happy.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (27)
Sepiasiren
brilliant macro
blinkings
Lovely macro Chip.
treasureprints
Sounds like a lovely day, and a nice photo.:)
caviedes
EXCELLENT SHOT!!!!
Faery_Light Online Now!
Great photo. I love the way the wings are shimmery and transparent on dragonfly's.
mgtcs
As usual, love the glimpse into your day. The image is lovely. A beautiful damselfly indeed. You seem to have quite a talent for pictures of tiny things in close proximity (those are hard to take).
bmac62
Well written...got all the vibes of having been a fly-on-the-wall listening to you, Corey, Kentaro and Mako enjoying the day together. As for the damsel fly...outstanding macro. But then you've been specializing in insects for some time...you are a master:)
jac204
Great capture and story.
auntietk
I can imagine your day ... it sounds like a lot of fun! Loads of non-smiling giggles and good friends. Glad you found a smaller friend, as well! This one is quite pretty. :)
beachzz
Simple pleasures--sounds like your day was full of them!! And your little green friend is a beauty!!
evielouise
It sounds like a great day: we all had alovely one also and just looking at some fireworks down the street here (in park supervised by the firemen) still going on but coming to another end of the party: lovely excellent marco:
Lashia
Awesome shot, love the beautiful vivid colours- thanks for sharing! :-)
durleybeachbum
What a lovely Damsel! I like the turquoise thorax, and I think that makes it one we don't have here. Interesting ramblings!
whaleman
I've never seen one of this coloring before; very nice! Nothing like a happy day, eh?
praep
Very nice damselfly in a great shot. Some weeks in the past I went to my favourite pond in the woods and when I walk the waterline one of the small damselflies took a seat on my hand. Poor boy I was because this was the right hand, no chance to get the cam for a shot.
fallen21
Fantastic capture!
kgb224
Stunning capture my friend. God Bless.
Feliciti
wonderful closeup !! like all details !!!...it's sounds like a lot of fun and a nice day you have :)
helanker
What a Gorgeous little creature. Seeme that you were quite lucky capture such one there. In all a happy day finding a demsel fly and being with good friends. :)
flavia49
stunning capture! great text!
RodS
Lovely and detailed macro of this delicate little creature! Superb, Chip!
dreampaint
very nice work, good shot.
Orinoor
I love green damselflies, hard to imagine them in Chicago, so I'm glad you found the only one that live there....sounds like a good day to me!
MrsRatbag
And what a beautiful shot this is; glowing greenly, radiant in its damselness! Well done!
bobrgallegos
Awesome Macro and narrative!!!
sandra46
GREAT SHOT , CHIP
danapommet
This is a beautiful capture Chip and wonderful details in zoom mode. Dana