Mating Halloween Pennants

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Mating Halloween Pennants

July 6, 2020 by Mike Powell

I spotted this mating pair of Halloween Pennant dragonflies (Celithemis eponina) last Thursday during a brief visit to Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia with my dear friend and photography mentor Cindy Dyer. The wing patterns and coloration of Halloween Pennants have always attracted me, making them one of my favorites. As most of you know, however, I tend to have lots of favorites when it comes to dragonflies.

I was in stealth mode as I slowly moved closer to this couple and attempted to frame the image in a way that was interesting and creative, while trying not to feel too much like a voyeur. Yes, I will boldly assert that this is art, and not insect porn.

Posted in Art, Dragonflies, dragonfly, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Celithemis eponina, halloween pennant, Halloween Pennant dragonfly, halloween pennants mating, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Tamron 180mm, Vienna VA | 21 Comments

21 Responses

on July 6, 2020 at 7:43 am | Reply Dan Antion

Excellent photo, Mike!
- on July 6, 2020 at 8:19 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan.
on July 6, 2020 at 8:36 am | Reply Suzette Benjamin

Lovely photo an amazing capture. A work of art it is indeed. Thank you Mike.😊🙏
on July 6, 2020 at 10:09 am | Reply Wally Jones

Very nice work, Mike! It’s one thing to get a “documentary” image, but you succeeded in elevating a photograph to something special. Yes, it is art.
on July 6, 2020 at 11:29 am | Reply Laura Denise

Lol!! And great shot, as always.
on July 6, 2020 at 12:03 pm | Reply Michael Scandling

Art? Porn? Let’s see what the judge would say… no. Let’s not. This is spectacular.
on July 6, 2020 at 12:11 pm | Reply joyroses13

Wow! What a great photo!
on July 6, 2020 at 3:17 pm | Reply Josh Sanders

Awesome work! Their wing designs are amazing
- on July 6, 2020 at 3:35 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Josh. The wing patterns are one of the things that really makes this dragonfly species stand out from others (and makes it relatively easy to identify).
on July 6, 2020 at 5:15 pm | Reply Steve Gingold

Great catch, Mike. I’ve not even seen this much less captured it. Very nice!
on July 6, 2020 at 5:25 pm | Reply Ellen Jennings

Wonderful capture, Mike! Great job on the framing and position for a good background.
- on July 6, 2020 at 5:29 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ellen. In an ideal world, we would always have the luxury of leisurely composing our images, but that is not the world that I live in. So I rejoice when I am able to get my desired background.
on July 6, 2020 at 9:52 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Amazing image and ethereal background, proving once again that sex is like heaven. 😉
- on July 6, 2020 at 9:59 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  🙂 If I say anything more, I might get in trouble.
  - on July 6, 2020 at 10:07 pm Eliza Waters
    
    😀
on July 7, 2020 at 4:24 am | Reply krikitarts

Really must do the double-click on this one to appreciate your momentary capture of this exquisite pair. Such a beautiful portrait pair!
- on July 7, 2020 at 5:59 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Gary. Maybe this might qualify as boudoir photography. 🙂
on July 7, 2020 at 6:42 am | Reply Cindy

Oh. Perfect shot. Well done.
- on July 7, 2020 at 8:05 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Cindy. I am always reluctant to say any of my shots is “perfect.” No matter how good I think they may be, there is a part of me that always thinks I can do better. I think that is what motivates many wildlife photographers like me to go out repeatedly to shoot the same subjects, hoping to capture something better or different.
on October 2, 2020 at 9:49 pm | Reply iamthesunking

Gorgeous photo! I had never heard of these creatures before.
- on October 3, 2020 at 6:47 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. It is so much fun to search for interesting subjects to photograph when I am out in nature.