Lately I’ve been working harder at “making art” rather than just getting a shot. How am I doing?
The preceding photo shows a mating pair of Autumn Meadowhawk dragonflies (Sympetrum vicinum) spotted during a photowalk at Huntley Meadows Park on Sunday, 28 September 2014. The pair is shown “in wheel.”
The copulatory, or wheel, position is unique to the Odonata, as is the distant separation of the male’s genital opening and copulatory organs. Source Credit: Paulson, Dennis (2011-12-19). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East (Princeton Field Guides) (Kindle Locations 377-378). Princeton University Press. Kindle Edition.
All dragonflies and damselflies have a 10-segmented abdomen: male dragonfly secondary genitalia are located in segments two and three (2 and 3); female genitalia in segment eight (8). Therefore, the male dragonfly is on top; the female is on the bottom.
Copyright © 2014 Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.
Tags: adult female, adult male, Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly, Huntley Meadows Park, in wheel, mating pair, Odonart, Sympetrum vicinum, wildlife photography
walter sanford's photoblog 
October 1, 2014 at 5:08 am |
I’d say that you are doing a great job. You have a colorful subject with great detail that you captured from an interesting angle and the whole image is set off perfectly by a beautiful background. What more could you ask for?
October 1, 2014 at 5:18 am |
Reblogged this on Mike Powell and commented:
Here’s an awesome image of a pair of mating dragonflies by a photographer with whom I often go shooting at my local marshland park. Be sure to check out the rest of his blog for some more amazing shots.
October 1, 2014 at 5:22 am |
Excellent!
October 1, 2014 at 6:59 am |
Doing great! Wonderful shot!
February 1, 2015 at 12:14 am |
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February 4, 2015 at 5:01 am |
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