I love dragonflies!

Robert bought me a new lens for my Nikon D60 in May.  Lenses are very costly and being I'm new to photography, I was overwhelmed with choices for my first lens purchase, but settled on a very low end Sigma 70-300 mm F4-5.6 APO DG MACRO lens.  (less then two hundred dollars)  This purchase has opened me up to a whole new world of photography.  I'm able to get a lot of close ups (macro) shots of bugs.  I don't know that I ever appreciated a dragonfly as much as I do now, they are my new favourite thing to capture.  

checkered setwing - dythemis fugax (male)

checkered setwing (female)

Eastern (Common) Pondhawk Erymthemis simplicicollis

This was my first macro shot of a dragonfly and it was thrilling experience!

a lot of dragonflies hangout down by the big pond...

sun shadow fun

Eastern Amberwing

common whitetail 

I thought this one looked like garfield dressed up a like a dragonfly....smile.

....this one looked like it was good enough to eat - I called it a chocolate dragonfly

blue dasher

not the best capture, but the first and only one that I have them mating.....

carolina saddlebags (female)

black setwing

This series of photos were one of my prize finds this summer.  It's a Halloween Pennant dragonfly being devoured by it's captor, the yellow crab spider!  I was amazed at the beauty and darkness all at the same time.

This last photo was shot down by our little pond.  Although our big pond has shrunk significantly, the smaller pond that is connected still has some water and it's a haven for dragonflies, toads, frogs, and so many birds.  It's a little oasis.  

If you're interested in learning more about dragonflies.......  here's a quick link 
http://www.21facts.com/animals/dragonflies.php