David Kitching – Dragonflies and Chinese Dragons

A full house gathered on Tuesday 16th September to hear David Kitching describe two of his passions. The first was Dragonflies & Damselflies. David described how he became interested in these creatures while reconnoitering the Middlewood Way, a quarter of a century ago as Countryside Ranger for Cheshire CC. We saw images of a wide range of Dragonflies and Damsel flies of a standard that would have done well in our club competitions. David had an easy-going conversational style that carried his audience with him. We were pleased that our Canon Digital projector was able to do full justice to David’s images.

Dragonflies all have the same number of segments (I counted 9!) but have a wonderful variety of colours or markings; and it was interesting to note the the same dragonfly would change from yellowish to bluish over the season (if it lived long enough). The end of April was the time to start looking for them, and with its two million or so ponds or Marl pits, Cheshire County was a favoured area. Of the 45 or so different species, 25 have been found in Cheshire. They need vegetation by water and floating sphagnum moss was a suitable habitat. Dragonflies are cold blooded and need the sun to warm them up in the morning, So early morning is a good time to try and photograph them. David’s Web site at www.brocross.com gives more information. Sadly the book, “The Dragonflies and Damselflies of Cheshire” written with Richard Gabb is out of print. Richard was in the audience to help David with the finer details.

David’s Web site also has a section on Chinese Steam trains, the subject of the second half talk.. Apparently he was lucky enough to visit Northern China in 1992; and made further visits in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

Many of the images David regaled us with are to be seen on this web site. These images were notable for their brooding atmospheres particularly when taken at sunrise or sunset. David noted that steam was being replaced by Diesel at an alarming rate, and many of the Road-Rail intersections have already been replaced by road underpasses, reducing the photographic appeal of the intersection. They found that Mines (including opencast coal mines) were some of the best places to observe steam locos. Some of the best photographs were taken in the far north, close to the Russian border, but being winter-time with average temperatures of minus 30 degrees, the cameras did not always function. At a particular spot they might have to wait several hours for the appearance of the steam locomotive. Dedication indeed!! (and apparently they are going back this winter for more shots, before the steam disappears entirely.)

President Roger Dye thanked David for an eloquent, fascinating evening and told him that, anytime he wished, we had a place for him in North Cheshire Photographic Society.

Bill Chadband