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Reproductive Itch

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted September 21, 2009586 views13 comments

Sony A700
Minolta 200mm macro
ISO 800, 1/1000 @ f4

There are actually two itches at play here; the male giant swallowtail on the right has amorous intents toward the lovely lady on the left and I had an itch to capture this behavior after seeing Howard Cheek's superb capture of similar behavior in his EP selection of a couple weeks ago. I got lucky and saw this pair cavorting around in our garden Saturday and popped off a couple hundred shots. This was one of the better ones. All comments welcome.>=))>

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Keith A Anderson on September 21, 2009 at 5:18 PM

Very cool, Bill. The wing position and outstretched look of the male really gives a sense of motion and intensity. Great color and your dof has very nicely kept the eyes of both butterflies in focus.

Registered on February 13, 2006, 166 Posts, 1818 Comments

Comment posted by Buck Ward on September 21, 2009 at 6:09 PM

We get giant swallowtails in our yard and we also have red pentas, but I've never seen two GSs together like this. Great catch. Good photographing.

Registered on December 8, 2003, 96 Posts, 1917 Comments

Comment posted by Keith Tate on September 21, 2009 at 6:10 PM

Very nicely captured at just the right moment Bill,,,,, well done

Registered on December 11, 2004, 150 Posts, 1667 Comments

Comment posted by Paul Duval on September 21, 2009 at 7:43 PM

Incredible shot Bill.

Registered on June 30, 2009, 508 Posts, 1907 Comments

Comment posted by Angela Classen on September 21, 2009 at 8:53 PM

This is just incredible! You caught them in perfect position and everything is sharp where it needs to be. Wonderful colors as well.

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Lynn Markarian on September 21, 2009 at 11:24 PM

A perfect capture Bill!

Registered on August 17, 2009, 35 Posts, 168 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on September 22, 2009 at 1:47 PM

Excellent color and motion Bill. Perfect capture in every way. Beautiful work.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on September 22, 2009 at 7:43 PM

Fantastic, Bill! This is a prize winning shot if you ask me.

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on September 22, 2009 at 7:49 PM

Congratulations Bill on an extraordinary image! All I can say is WOW.

Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 23, 2009 at 9:53 PM

Darn!! Looking very good Bill..I'm starting to turn green

Speaking of green, your environment really helps make this a great one.
I shot my two in the garden of course, but was shooting into a shaded area with distant fencing..
It produced a neutral grayish BG color..
I like yours better..Although my male is approaching from the right direction - the rear

Well done

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on September 25, 2009 at 8:50 PM

Lovely image Bill, and to get them both sharp is fantastic.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on October 12, 2009 at 8:01 PM

Amazing shot. Gorgeous and technically just perfect.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on April 29, 2010 at 1:40 AM

Amazing, gorgeous. incredible.

Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments