As a novice photographer, it’s where she photographed a family of swans, an image that also won her recognition through a Daily Herald photo contest.

At each visit, she saw two swans. Then, one day, both swans had disappeared. Moments later, she spotted them, along with their five cygnets. And she was ready with her camera.

“I’m a person of faith. I absolutely believe those swans were God’s gift to me,” she said. “I am a survivor. I am going to make it through this.”

That success with photography spurred her on. With her cancer in remission, she participated in workshops, studied YouTube videos and read everything she could about photography.

“It was not just a passing fancy but a lasting passion,” she said. “I’m just loving photography at this point.”

The dragonfly shot was taken with a Nikon D7200 camera fitted with Nikon macro 105mm lens.

Havener said she found the insect’s markings beautiful and unusual.

“I had never seen one like that before. They are fascinating when you see them up close,” she said. “It was just being at the right place at the right time.”