Dragonfly in sunlight

The Greenbelt Photo Contest 2006

Basking in sunlight, a dragonfly rests on a twig in High Rock Park.

Ray Ludacer
LaGuardia High School of Music and Art
First Place / Emma O'Brien memorial Award
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The Greenbelt is without a doubt, one of the most important places on Staten Island.
With the development of buildings and tearing down of trees, it is necessary
to maintain forests. The Greenbelt spans 2,800 acres of land.
When I went to the Greenbelt there were so many things
to take pictures of, and so many places to go.

My dragonfly picture was taken at High Rock
while I was crossing a small bridge over swampland.
I noticed the dragonfly's almost unnaturally bright red color
and I knew I had to take a picture of it.

I walked into the swampland to get a closer picture, only to have it fly away.
After a minute it landed back on the same plant.
I took the dragonfly's picture after some struggle.
Coming back home I had so many pictures.
It was very hard to choose which ones to enter.

The Greenbelt is a beautiful place in Staten Island,
and if you haven't visited it yet, you definitely should.