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European Swallowtail (papilio machaon)

Discussion

12 replies
Posted by Chas Spradbery on August 29, 2007 at 3:20 PM
Pretty much full frame, cropped a slither off the right and the bottom

Canon 300mm f4 @ f4 + 22mm extn tube
Posted by Daniel Read on August 29, 2007 at 3:41 PM
I like this a lot, simple background, and the backlit wings look great. My only nitpick is the way the rear flower is more in focus than the one the Swallowtail is on, as it's slightly distracting.

Cheers,
Posted by Paul Ashton on August 29, 2007 at 4:13 PM
Stunning. The light through the wings is quite breathtaking.
Posted by Barrie Harwood on August 29, 2007 at 4:24 PM
Hi Chas

Lovely photograph.

May I ask in what country this was taken? I only ask as I notice you have called it the European Swallowtail as distinct from the britannicus sub species so I assume it wasn't in good old blighty (the Lantana is a bit of a give away too I suppose)

Barrie :smile:
Posted by Phil Shaw on August 29, 2007 at 4:32 PM
Very attractve image. If I was going to make a print of this, I think I would probably crop it a bit tighter.
Posted by Paul Thomas on August 29, 2007 at 5:55 PM
Lovely image. I think I'd be tempted to crop out some of the empty space at the top though.

:toast:

Paul
Posted by Marko Trebušak on August 30, 2007 at 2:48 AM
Great image. Crop it to 8x10 ratio (from the top) and it would get even better IMO.

Cheers,
Marko
Posted by Chas Spradbery on August 30, 2007 at 2:55 AM
Thanks Guys - Taken in Crete, I believe the only place you are likely to see these in the UK is at hickling broad in Norfolk.
Posted by Danny Green on August 30, 2007 at 3:15 AM
Nice Shot Chas, you can see them at many other places in Norfolk, Strumpshaw and Catfield Fen have big populations and also Upton fen is worth a visit too.

Danny

:toast:
Posted by David Kjaer on August 30, 2007 at 6:00 AM
Hi Chas

Beautiful!

David :toast: :toast:
Posted by Dave Courtenay on August 30, 2007 at 6:23 AM
Chased one of these buggers all over the Jura mountains the other day only to have the AF freeze on my MKIII-Lovely image by the way love the backlighting :toast:
Posted by Alan Bryant on August 30, 2007 at 2:31 PM
WOW that light through its wings look superb :eek:

Love this shot, well done :toast: :toast: :toast:
Posted by Alan Woolnough on August 31, 2007 at 1:35 PM
Super composition Chas!

Very nicely taken :toast:

Alan