As well as giving me lens envy (and lust!), the recent excellent macro shots cropping up on here inspired me to chase some butterflies when I spotted some today.
I slapped some Kenko tubes on my 70-200vr and went crawling around in the sand dunes just up the coast from me. It was entertaining for me and also entertaining for some birdwatchers who were viewing me from a distance as I bobbed up and down like a derranged man doing some form of strange ritual dance.
Anyway, I eventually managed to get some shots I was happy with and this is one of them. I'm no butterfly expert and it took me a while to work out what this was. Unfortunately though I've no idea what the plant is even after thumbing through my wildflower guide for the last hour. If anyone has any idea what this flower is I'd be really grateful if you could let me know.
This is a nice photo Paul and very good if it's your first close up. The DoF necessary to get the butterfly in focus from front to back has meant a background more distracting than is ideal, but it's not always possible to get over the top so the wings are parallel to the sensor, which is the best approach for butterflies. I've never heard the Common Blue called the Common Blue Hairstreak! The plant looks like Cardamine pratensis, Cuckoo Flower or Lady's Smock.
Yes its a C. Blue on Cuckoo flower or Ladies Smock as Greg says. (Its the food plant of Orange Tip butterflies by the way )
I love the framing and composition of this- I thinks its very nice indeed. Everything balances just about right in my view.
Well done .
JohnR
PS I 've just had another look at this and its a damn good picture. !
I am not a butterfly man Paul, but inspite of the distractions this looks to me like a very nice image. I too like the balance between the left hand flower head and the butterfly itself.
For an early macro attempt, this is a beautifully balanced, superb image. As has been already covered, this is indeed a common blue sitting on cuckoo flower. Well taken!
For a first attaempt this is very very good. The colours just smack you in the face as the image opens. I also like the composition. BG could be more OoF but it's not a major problem.
The creature 'pops' out very nicely, possibly helped by the thin black-line markings, that surround its wings, and the white flowers make an attractive perch
Discussion
11 repliesI slapped some Kenko tubes on my 70-200vr and went crawling around in the sand dunes just up the coast from me. It was entertaining for me and also entertaining for some birdwatchers who were viewing me from a distance as I bobbed up and down like a derranged man doing some form of strange ritual dance.
Anyway, I eventually managed to get some shots I was happy with and this is one of them. I'm no butterfly expert and it took me a while to work out what this was. Unfortunately though I've no idea what the plant is even after thumbing through my wildflower guide for the last hour. If anyone has any idea what this flower is I'd be really grateful if you could let me know.
Cheers, Paul
D300, 70-200vr@200mm+tubes, 1/160th@f11, ISO 400
Greg
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2007/07/cardamine_pratensis.php
a bit difficult to tell with the beautiful butterfly obscuring some of it.
I love the framing and composition of this- I thinks its very nice indeed. Everything balances just about right in my view.
Well done .
JohnR
PS I 've just had another look at this and its a damn good picture. !
Major.
For an early macro attempt, this is a beautifully balanced, superb image. As has been already covered, this is indeed a common blue sitting on cuckoo flower. Well taken!
Malcolm
For a first attaempt this is very very good. The colours just smack you in the face as the image opens. I also like the composition. BG could be more OoF but it's not a major problem.
Regards
Rob
Beautiful capture! A great macro lens!
The creature 'pops' out very nicely, possibly helped by the thin black-line markings, that surround its wings, and the white flowers make an attractive perch
Alan
Tim