The members of Order Odonata, the dragonflies and damselflies, are deft and often ferocious aerial hunters. The insect “face shot” is usually a coveted one, but the large compound eyes of this group are particularly striking, often spectacular and almost always full of character.

The ebony jewelwing has proven to be an elusive capture for me over recent years; miraculously this beauty was one of two that allowed me to approach close enough for high-magnification shots.

Dragonflies often like high perches, but they can also be found in the grass.

The damselfly’s stare.

This dragonfly’s sand-covered face with its happy smile belies the malformed abdomen not visible from the bug face view.

Dragonflies can appear to other insects like merciless war planes, master of the skies, but sometimes you find them hanging out in the grass like this Eastern Amberwing.

A blue dasher dragonfly perches above a black-eyed susan.

Morning dewdrops on the compound eyes of a male blue dasher dragonfly.