Perching Halloween Pennant

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Perching Halloween Pennant

July 31, 2019 by Mike Powell

Last Thursday I spotted this beautiful Halloween Pennant dragonfly (Celithemis eponina) perched on a very photogenic plant at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I love the curlicue curves of the plant that remind me of ornamental wrought iron.

The perch in the second and third images is not as interesting, but I thought that I would share those images because of the way that I was able to capture the sky and the clouds in the background. As you can probably tell, the vegetation was really high and I was shooting at an upwards angle.

Posted in Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Celithemis eponina, halloween pennant, Halloween Pennant dragonfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 180mm, Woodbridge VA | 14 Comments

14 Responses

on July 31, 2019 at 8:25 am | Reply Jet Eliot

There’s something very other-worldly about these photos, Mike…really fantastic.
- on July 31, 2019 at 9:22 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Jet. I think the sky in the background helps to give the other-worldly effect that you noted. Some of the other dragonflies that I have been photographing recently have been perched on the ground and it has been impossible to get this kind of uncluttered background.
on July 31, 2019 at 8:50 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Nice Mike! You can really see the patterns in the wings!
- on July 31, 2019 at 9:21 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Reed. There was a slight breeze and the dragonfly kept swaying and adjusting its position. I tried to select photos that in fact showed the wing markings.
on July 31, 2019 at 1:53 pm | Reply Laura (PA Pict)

I love that first image a lot. The curling plant form definitely makes me think of wrought iron and, when combined with the wings, the whole thing makes me think of stained glass.
on July 31, 2019 at 2:46 pm | Reply rugby843

Very detailed, nice!
on July 31, 2019 at 3:20 pm | Reply Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography

Impressive shots of a tiny creature !!
- on August 1, 2019 at 7:49 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ted. Dragonflies really put my stealthiness. Some of them are really tolerant of my presence, but many are quite skittish.
on July 31, 2019 at 5:39 pm | Reply sv-anui.com

Love the colouring in the wings and the angle of the shots. Great detail, Mike!
- on August 1, 2019 at 7:50 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. Halloween Pennants are one of the coolest-looking dragonflies in our area. I can thank the frequent rains this year for the height of the vegetation, which allowed me to get the upward-looking angle of view.
on July 31, 2019 at 6:32 pm | Reply pattyanneart

Awesome photos, Mike!!
- on August 1, 2019 at 7:48 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Patty Anne. Halloween Pennants are one of my favorite dragonflies.
on August 2, 2019 at 8:11 am | Reply Molly Lin DutinaMolly Dutina

First and second shots are my favorites. There is an upcoming program at the CIncinnati Nature Center about dragonflies. I might even go after the interest you have spurred within me! All depends on the heat and humidity that day. It has been awful here. Things in the gardens are dying even though we water them.
on January 7, 2020 at 8:00 am | Reply Looking back at 2019—part two | Mike Powell

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