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Lycaena phlaeas.


Lycaena phlaeas.
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter Stoeckl (peter_stoeckl) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1629 W: 287 N: 3647] (10221)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-05-20
Categories: Insects
Camera: Minolta Dimage 7Hi
Photo Version: Final Version, Original Version
Theme(s): Lycaenidae Butterflies [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-10-23 6:25
Viewed: 1010
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Lycaena phlaeas.


First of all, let me thank you for your kind responses to my previous posting, showing a Small Copper sipping nectar from an Erigeron blossom in resting position wings closed.

Looking into my files for a capture of that species with open wings, I found an old one from 2004 which I have shown here more than one year ago. Because of that original version's rather poor quality of presentation - small size, hard contrasts, some overexposed spots, unnaturally oversaturated red and undersaturated green colours - I decided to repost a version that was recently treated with some more practice in postwork.

The capture is showing a butterfly of the first generation in Spring which has brighter colours and clearer markings than specimens of the second and third generation. The upper side of hindwings is showing some blue spots here – a variation described as “caeruleopunctata”. The blue spots seem to be pointing at the butterfly’s Blues relationship.


Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus, 1761)

Small Copper
Kleiner Feuerfalter
Vuurvlinder
Liten Guldvinge
Argo bronzato
Le Bronzé
Manto bicolor

Wingspan: 25 - 30 mm.

Family: Lycaenidae (Blues).

Lycaena phlaeas is widely distributed through Europe, Madeira, the Canaries, North Africa to Abessinia, central and northern Asia to Japan, eastern parts of the North American continent, from the lowlands up to the mountains to 2700 meters. Caterpillars feed on Rumex and Polygonum.

The plant: Knautia arvensis.

The picture was taken in a meadow of the river forests of Donau-March-Thaya National Park, near the village of Marchegg in eastern Lower Austria, May 20, 2004.

Camera: Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi, with integrated tele-zoom and macro. No tripod, no flash. 2560x1920, sRGB, 51mm, F/4.5, 1/250sec, ISO-100. 20.05.2004, 14:57.

Postwork: Cropped, downsized to web, selectively sharpened, background slightly cleaned, levels readjusted.


References:

Tom Tolman, Richard Lewington: Die Tagfalter Europas und Nordwestafrikas. Stuttgart 1998.

Christopher Jonko: Butterflies and Moths of Europe: http://www.lepidoptera.pl/


Thank you for looking.
Have a very good day.
PaulH, ramthakur, marhowie, Alex99, fartash, anel, Maite, Juyona, jrobertop, wuta, angybone, TheMystic, tiklod, meyerd has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To anel: Alles ist relativ...peter_stoeckl 1 10-23 13:10
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1117 W: 23 N: 3672] (13129)
  • [2007-10-23 7:01]

Hi Peter,
once more an amazing shot with excellent clarity, perfect exposure and a lovely POV. The colours are are so vibrant. Very well done.
Paul

Great shot, Peter. Superb focus, colours and details on the wings of this marvellous butterfly.
TFS and regards,
Ram

Hi Peter,
The larger size of your repost has dramatically improved the impact of the image for viewing..
The inner wing color, textures, and patterns are dazzling :)
Howard

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3604 W: 143 N: 5699] (18633)
  • [2007-10-23 8:53]

Hi, dear Peter.
I like both pictures a lot. They are different and every of then has own charm. This one reflects your present preferences. The shot is charming. Colours and exposure are really more delicate. Lighting is soft and pleasant. Framing/cropping is very nice too as well as your impressive POV. My best wishes and TFS. Once more subtle work.
Yours Alexei.

Dear Peter
Very intersting shot of this Small Copper,
Perfect details,DOF and lighting,Welldone.

Good Luck
Fartash

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1735 W: 0 N: 3954] (15862)
  • [2007-10-23 10:28]
  • [+]

Hallo Peter,
Grosse Freude Dich als Nachbarn zu haben.
Sehr farbenfrohes Bild; interessant die blauen spots" auf den Hinterflügeln so deutlich zu sehen. Die Position des Falters ist vielleicht nicht optimal, um alles im Fokus zu haben.
Und noch.. Dein Feuerfalter ist grösser als mein Bietschhorn! Alles ist relativ..
Herzliche Grüsse nach Wien
Anne

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 51 N: 519] (2238)
  • [2007-10-23 12:48]

Hello Peter,
Great focus, beautiful composition and background
Regards, Dejan

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1007 W: 64 N: 1266] (5195)
  • [2007-10-23 12:50]

WOW!!!
What a marvellous job, Peter! Is that really the same picture? If the first was beautiful this one is great. What lovely colors and wonderful composition!
Congratulations and thank you very much for this valuable lesson.
Greetings
Maite

Hi Peter,

great colors, excellent image quality

TFS

Gio

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2273 W: 10 N: 2661] (15669)
  • [2007-10-23 14:40]

Hola Peter,
deliciosos colores,
original pov y foco,
buenos detalles,
saludos

Hi Peter.
Very beautiful butterfly!
Nice colors and very good details.
Excellent POV; the green background enhanced the first plan.
Well done!
Thanks for sharing!
Friendly,
José Roberto

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2007-10-24 13:11]

Hello Peter , This shot is very nice and so complete well taken shot ,good in pov and very find details and beauty flower good job thanks ,Greetings Teunie .

Such a beauty - wonderful colors and great sharpness. Perfectly composed. You are a master!!!!

Hi Peter! You have so many beautiful shots of butterflies, you could be filling several books. Your notes are very informative. This one is exceptional in its intricate details and precise focus!
Greetings from Canada
Cheers
Otto

  • Great 
  • zeca Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 373 W: 14 N: 538] (2881)
  • [2007-10-24 20:35]

Hello Peter!
Beautiful colours and sharpen details! The unfocused bg enhance it all!
Regards,
Zeca

  • Great 
  • tiklod Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 290 W: 74 N: 875] (3397)
  • [2007-10-26 16:34]

Hi Peter,
Amazing blue dots! Great capture wth wonderful vivid colours. DOF is really lovely in this photo. A beautiful shot!
Regards,

Claude

Lieber Peter,
Wunderbares Bild. Dank Dir weiss ich jetzt dass L. phlaeas diese schönen blauen Punkte haben kann.
Ich stimme mit Dir überein, dass erst die längere Erfahrung mit PS zu guten Resultaten wie hier führt. Und dann kommen dazu die verschiedenen Bildschirme und die wechselnde Farbverwaltung, ich schwimme noch. Gut gemacht Peter (Punkte später)
Mit den besten Grüssen
Dieter

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