Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Orange Sulfur
‹ PreviousMacro & Close-up GalleryNext ›

Orange Sulfur

by Mark Seaver

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted July 14, 2015243 views10 comments

On Saturday, I had two sulfers and several skippers nectaring on my purple coneflower.  One of them was clearly an Orange Sulfer (Colias eurytheme) the other one was probably a Clouded Sulfer (Colias philodice) and the two are known to hybridize.  This, backlit view is of the Orange Sulfer as indicated by the subtly darker color seen through the front wing.  Amazingly, I haven't seen the sulfurs since.  (5D3, 180mm macro + 1.4 TE, 1/400s, f/8, iso 400, tripod)

Comments

10 comments
Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 14, 2015 at 8:49 PM

Really like the dramatic backlit b-fly & flower Mark, shooting into the dark BG worked very well here..

I especially like those see through wings, and the rim lighting at the insects head/lower body.
You can count the tiny hairsdevil


 

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments
Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on July 14, 2015 at 9:15 PM

This is very cool. Mark!  I love the backlighting! 

Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on July 14, 2015 at 9:48 PM

Terrific backlighting, and I love the combination of contrasting yellow and purple colors, Mark.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on July 14, 2015 at 11:24 PM

BACKLIGHT!  DARK BACKGROUND!  AMAZING DETAIL!  LOVE IT!

OK, I'll stop shouting now.  Great shot, Mark.  Your comment about the disappearing sulfers reminded me of how common they seemed to be when I was a kid, and how few I see now.  Are they common where you live?

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Zablotny on July 15, 2015 at 9:09 PM

Hi Mark,

Nicely done with that backlighting.  I like it  as is with no nits.  I'm starting to see a few common sulfurs around my property, but nothing as photogenic as this onedevil........................Jim

Registered on January 17, 2004, 705 Posts, 3594 Comments
Comment posted by Yun Gao on July 18, 2015 at 1:06 PM

Mark, beautiful backlighting, good exposure, great plane of focus… lots to like about this one. I find them always flying and rarely stop. Excellent butterfly image! devil

Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on July 18, 2015 at 3:06 PM

Mark: Really excellent use of the backlighting! Great subject, great perch, great image.>=))>

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by Richard Harlow on July 19, 2015 at 2:29 PM

Mark, very nice shot, and the backlighting is pleasing to my eye, I will have try that. You must have an in with the butterfies, I have a ton of Purple Coneflower and only bees and flowerflies. Very envious!

Registered on July 9, 2015, 31 Posts, 77 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on July 20, 2015 at 11:51 AM

Hi  Mark crying   I agree  with  howard's  comment  100%   excellent detail and formdevil

 

Albert Darmo

Canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Rebmann on July 25, 2015 at 9:21 PM

The backlighting on that little sulpher butterfly & flower works on so many levels.  Well done.

Registered on July 17, 2012, 31 Posts, 122 Comments