Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries at roost
Sorry-Posted wrong file. Looked dark but taken so late its hard to brighten them up without looking un natural.
As I think I mentioned last year from a paper I wrote, these are found on wetter rides, and seem to have the habit of often roosting on small Juncus flower heads. They are remarkably well camouflaged but when you get your eye in they are quite easy to find. Don't look for the butterflies - look for the Juncus flower heads !! They often roost in small loose colonies too.
This was taken quite late in the evening so the colour might be a bit off. One ore two bright blobs in the background dealt with.
Small tripod. Pity about the oof antennae.
All butts are having a bad time this year. Some only live a couple of weeks and so if they don't get chance to mate or feed then thats it buggered for next year.
ISO 500 15th sec @f10
Nikor 40mm Micro
80% of full frame.
Levels etc Paint Shop Pro
Cheers
Thanks for your comments on my last pic. - useful.
JR
Posted by David Sewell on June 29, 2012 at 8:47 AM
Nicely lit, John, the larger version seems almost 3D. Our local fritillary is heath fritillary. They at least seem to be having a good year. The wet weather means that their larval food plant is abundant as well.
David
Posted by Neil Burton on June 29, 2012 at 10:25 AM
Nice John. BG looks like a Monet.
Posted by Nick Mckeown on June 29, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Sorry JR this one has a little too much going on in the image for me and as the BF's heads are turned away from the camera they look OOFand IMHO detract from the image. Some gardening of the grasses or a move in position would have cleaned it up a little.
Nick.
Posted by John Robinson on June 29, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Thanks peeps
Yes Nick - I have tried tempting these to take up better positions but they often fall off into the grass . At 15th sec in a breeze I wasn't expecting much either
Cheers
JR
Posted by Nick Mckeown on June 29, 2012 at 2:09 PM
Aaaah the joys of macro!
Nick.
Posted by Andy Astbury on June 30, 2012 at 4:09 AM
Well, slightly OoF or not, it's better than anything I've got on file
I'd be more than happy with this, especially given the circumstances (breeze, fading light etc). I've never seen one of these beauties but must have a go at them sometime.
Discussion
12 repliesSorry-Posted wrong file. Looked dark but taken so late its hard to brighten them up without looking un natural.
As I think I mentioned last year from a paper I wrote, these are found on wetter rides, and seem to have the habit of often roosting on small Juncus flower heads. They are remarkably well camouflaged but when you get your eye in they are quite easy to find. Don't look for the butterflies - look for the Juncus flower heads !! They often roost in small loose colonies too.
This was taken quite late in the evening so the colour might be a bit off. One ore two bright blobs in the background dealt with.
Small tripod. Pity about the oof antennae.
All butts are having a bad time this year. Some only live a couple of weeks and so if they don't get chance to mate or feed then thats it buggered for next year.
ISO 500 15th sec @f10
Nikor 40mm Micro
80% of full frame.
Levels etc Paint Shop Pro
Cheers
Thanks for your comments on my last pic. - useful.
JR
David
Nick.
Yes Nick - I have tried tempting these to take up better positions but they often fall off into the grass . At 15th sec in a breeze I wasn't expecting much either
Cheers
JR
Nick.
They NEVER sit still long enough for me
I'll squirt 'em with hair spray next time !!
JR
Geez... getting one sharp with no subject movement is a feat... never mind two....
Phil
Not sure about the difference on the underside. One does seem slightly bigger .
Cheers
John
Matt
Should have said- I could have found you some but this weathers trashed about every thing now.
Cheers
JR
Matt