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Saxifraga and Sacerdos.


Saxifraga and Sacerdos.
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter Stoeckl (peter_stoeckl) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1538 W: 269 N: 3370] (9375)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08-20
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC-H5
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): European Butterflies 7 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-09-15 16:14
Viewed: 865
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Saxifraga and Sacerdos.

Parnassius sacerdos (Stichel 1906),
female.

Hochalpen-Apollo,
Small Apollo.

Wing span: approx. 60 - 65mm.

Busy background that may look distracting, but it should tell of the extreme habitat the species is living in.

The Small Alpine Apollo is rare and hard to find in some years. Its habitat is severly endangered from two sides: from the rapid withdrawal of Alpine glaciers, and from a local powerplant lobby that is busily planning to flood remote high valley areas with giant artificial reservoir lakes. People engaged in the protection of genuine Alpine nature have to be very alert these days.

On the last day of my trip to the Tyrol in early July I spotted a few individuals of the Alpine Apollo flying up and down a steep rocky slope near Gries im Sulztal, while I was on my way back from an extended trip to a peak called Schrankogel, just trying to escape a rapidly approaching thunderstorm. So there was no time to wait for one of these butterflies to sit down for a shot. My feeling at that time was: I had just missed my last chance for 2006 to get a picture document of that unique Alpine endemite.

But on another trip to the Tyrolese Alps by the end of August to Hohe Tauern National Park together with Susanne, my wife, we finally succeeded to see a few individuals of the Alpine Apollo near a torrential glacier river in front of Grossglockner. The butterflies were less busy than those in July and not that difficult to approach for a shot - like the female shown here that apparently was just laying eggs in front of the caterpillars' feeding plant:

Saxifraga aizoides (L.),
Yellow Mountain Saxifrage,
Fetthennen-Steinbrech.

For more information on the species and its taxonomy, please see some of my previous postings to TN:

Parnassius sacerdos, male.
Parnassius sacerdos, female.
Parnassius sacerdos, female, from below.


Literature:

Jonko, C.: Butterflies and Moths of Europe: http://www.lepidoptera.bai.pl/

Wikipedia: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpenapollo



The camera:

SONY DSC-H5, 3072 x 2304 pixel, sRGB, 17mm, F/4.5, 1/1000 sec., ISO-125, hand held, no flash.
20.08.2006, 11:17.

Postwork: Photoshop Elements, slightly cropped, downsized to the web, slighly sharpened.

Hope you enjoy. Thank you for looking.
Have a very good weekend.
batu, RAP, wallhalla15, jmp, Argus, dew77, thor68, SkyF, Christopher_PL, Merlin, TheMystic has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Merlin: a thousand words in a single picturepeter_stoeckl 1 09-23 02:45
To RAP: environmentpeter_stoeckl 2 09-18 16:24
To Argus: Thank you, Ivan.peter_stoeckl 1 09-17 06:57
To marmottelolo: merci laurentpeter_stoeckl 1 09-17 06:56
To dew77: details,lighting and compositionpeter_stoeckl 1 09-17 06:53
To jmp: connection with the backgroundpeter_stoeckl 1 09-17 05:32
To c_rapp: perfect combopeter_stoeckl 1 09-17 05:26
To batu: freie Wildbahn/natürliche Umgebungpeter_stoeckl 1 09-17 05:19
To wallhalla15: ... bei der "Fetten Henne"peter_stoeckl 1 09-17 05:12
To poin_45: photosession with her ;)peter_stoeckl 1 09-17 05:02
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 139 N: 7809] (24333)
  • [2006-09-15 16:24]
  • [+]

Hello Peter,
Your other sacerdos shots were perfect. This one is only very good, especially if it was meant to be for documentary purposes!
TFS, regards, Ivan

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1021 W: 285 N: 3410] (11296)
  • [2006-09-15 16:26]
  • [+]

Guten Abend Peter,
das sieht so richtig nach Hochalpen-Natur aus. Da bekomme ich gleich wieder Reiselust. Ein erstklassiges Bild, dass den Alpenapollo in seiner freien Wildbahn/natürlichen Umgebung zeigt. Hier stimmt alles ...
Beste Grüße, Peter

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-09-15 17:12]
  • [+]

En esta escena amigo mío se puede apreciar el nivel de mimetismo que puede alcanzar una mariposa tan llamativa en otro entorno.
Excelente POV, con nitidez y colorido intenso, aunque el correcto manejo de la luz, permite ver las zonas blancas sin sobre exposición.
Mis mejores saludos... Ricardo

In this scene my friend, it can appreciate the level of mimicry that can reach an butterfly such showy in another environment.
Excellent POV, with clarity and intense coloring, although the correct handling of the light, allows to see the white areas without over exposed.
Best regards... Ricardo

Absolutely gorgeous picture! Not just this one but the others are amazing as well. The learning and visual experience is a perfect combo. Thanks for sharing.
Christan

bonjour peter
je ne me trompe pas,si on veut connaitre le nom d'un papillon c'est dans votre galerie qu'il faut regarder.celui -ci est devenu un modele pour vous.tres bien vu la prise du dessus.
laurent

Guten Morgen Peter,
wieder einmal eine perfekte Arbeit von Dir! (macht sich aber auch sehr gut dieser Apollo) Ich frage mich nur was er auf der Erde bei der "Fetten Henne" sucht. Mineralstoffe wohl nicht, ich tippe eher auf Sonnenenergie. Neben Deinen schönen Fotos erfreue ich mich immer wieder über Deine interessanten Erläuterungen. Ich wünsche Dir ein schönes Wochenende.
Gr.
Heinz

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1836 W: 94 N: 2340] (8406)
  • [2006-09-16 3:59]
  • [+]

Hi Peter,
As I have said before, I like these natural shots more similar to direct vision and far from blured background. They permit me a connection with the background, what is right and beautiful to me.
This shot shows a good comouflage and I find it artistic too.
Thank for this document that completes very well the other post.
Best regards my friend.
José M.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2006-09-16 14:47]
  • [+]

Hello Peter,
Very nice capture.I liked POV,clear details,lighting and composition are wonderful.Have a very good weekend too!
TFS...:-)

Good shot of this nice creature. Obviously "she" gave you enogh time made photosession with her! Thank you for sharing this beauty with us.

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 770 W: 59 N: 640] (6628)
  • [2006-09-17 15:19]

Bonjour,
Jolie composition montagnarde.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2006-09-18 10:24]

Hallo Peter,
die Bildgestaltung gefaellt mir sehr gut and diesem Bild. Herrlich wird der Falter inseiner natuerlichen Umgebung gezeigt. Wunderschoen wie er sich dem Umfeld anpasst. und trotzdem sticht er durch seine tolle Schaerfe vom Hintergrund ab. Klasse Foto.
Sky

Wow!
Another excellent picture. Just great composition, all other details also perfect. Congratulations!

Chris

Now I feel more at home - on an eroded alpine mountaintop! This photograph says so much - maybe not as "pretty" as your other postings of this species, but a thousand words in a single picture.
Many thanks, Nigel.

Hello Peter! An excellent note to go with this beautiful picture. I like the inclusion of the flora as an essential part, as explained in your note. Remarkable detail in the markings.
Cheers
Otto

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