I see lots of Dragonflies here in Arkansas and Oklahoma and I enjoy photographing them. I photographed this one while walking on Fort Chaffee here in Arkansas. This was years ago (June 2008).
I believe this is a Halloween Pennant and here is a photo of a male one that I took: Halloween Pennant Dragonfly
While, hand-holding my camera I got as close as I could and began photographing this Dragonfly. I would move closer after each shot. This was on the same walk that I photographed this Cottontail Rabbit: Cottontail Rabbit Relaxing.
Technical:
• Location: Fort Chaffee (Arkansas)
• Date Taken: June 26, 2008
• Aperture: f5.6
• Shutter speed: 1/400 sec.
• ISO: 400
• Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
• Focal Length: 400 mm
• Lens: Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM
• Camera: Canon EOS 40D
So, have you ever heard of the Halloween Pennant Dragonfly? They’re pretty cool little critters, and you can find them all over Arkansas. They get their name from their bright orange-yellow wings with black spots, which kind of look like Halloween colors.
These dragonflies aren’t very big – their wingspan is only about 2.5 to 3 inches – but they’re really active during the day. They love hanging out near water, like ponds or streams, where they can find lots of vegetation for their babies to grow up in.
One of the coolest things about these guys is their flight pattern. They hover and dart back and forth, which makes them really easy to spot. And sometimes, they even like to perch on tall grass or plants, which is a great opportunity for photographers like me to capture some cool shots.
The males are especially noticeable, thanks to their bright colors. They use their flashy wings to attract females and defend their territory. The females are a little less colorful, but still pretty cool to look at.
If you’re interested in photographing Halloween Pennant dragonflies in Arkansas, be sure to keep an eye out for them near bodies of water and in grassy areas. They’re a beautiful and fascinating species, and capturing them on camera can be a real treat!