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Papilio machaon


Papilio machaon
Photo Information
Copyright: Maurizio Dalla Via (maurydv) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1859 W: 71 N: 4313] (15782)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08-28
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix P5100
Exposure: f/6.1, 1/220 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Silpa's "Unforgettable" Favourites !!!, Anna's Favourites 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-02-06 8:53
Viewed: 2046
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 94
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Papilio machaon (Linnaeus 1758)
Old World Swallowtail (inglese)
Machaon papillon (francese)

Ordine Lepidoptera
Super famiglia Papilionoidea
Famiglia Papilionidae
Sottofamiglia Papilioninae
Genere Papilio

Papilionidi

Papilio machaon
Il Macaone è sicuramente una delle più belle farfalle dell’intera entomofauna europea. E’ infatti uno dei pochi rappresentanti, presenti alle nostre latitudini, della maestosa famiglia Papilionidae, famiglia prevalentemente tropicale, alla quale appartengono infatti alcune tra le più belle e più grandi specie di farfalle oggi esistenti sulla Terra. Solo 9 specie sono presenti in Italia.
Molto appariscente, presenta livrea gialla con macchie e venature nere ed una fascia frastagliata blu nella regione postdiscale. Le ali posteriori mostrano le tipiche appendici caudali della famiglia (più corte che nel Podalirio) e, sull’angolo interno, un ocello rosso marginato di blu. Scarso il poliformismo, che si manifesta con una più marcata presenzadi macchie azzurre negli individui della seconda generazione. Dimosfirmo sesuale lieve, consistente nella taglia leggermente inferiore nei maschi.

Con i suoi quasi 8 centimetri di apertura alare massima, non è difficile incontrarla e notarla soprattutto nelle campagne o in collina dall'inizio della primavera (periodo in cui le crisalidi sfarfallano), fino ad autunno inoltrato. Purtroppo però il Macaone è ormai sempre più raro, soprattutto nella parte settentrionale del suo areale, a causa della rarefazione del suo habitat e dei biotopi in grado di ospitarlo, oltre che per l’uso indiscriminato di pesticidi.

Dalle uova deposte isolatamente sulle piante nutrici (apiaceae: Foeniculum vulgare, Ferula, Daucus carota, Seseli, ecc.; rutaceae: ruta) escono larve ad attività diurna che dopo alcune settimane svilupperanno un bel bruco verde con fasce nere punteggiate da macchie giallo-rosse. I bruchi, se disturbati, estroflettono da dietro la testa un paio di ghiandole a forma di corno (osmaterium), che emettono un odore repellente (acido butirrico) che tiene lontani i predatori. Le crisalidi sono cinturate e quelle derivanti dai bruchi dell’ultima schiusa svernanti. Gli sfarfallamenti avvengono in primavera ed estate, ma nelle zone meridionali ci può essere una terza generazione.

Elegante ed agile nel volo, ma mai planato come quello del Podalirio, il maschio è anche difensore del proprio territorio; se due volteggiano vicini in audaci acrobazie, probabilmente si stanno disputando un territorio. Il Macaone presenta il tipico comportamento “hilltopping”, ovvero cerca di volare sopra il punto più alto del terreno in cui si trova (dominio).

In Italia vivono due specie affini, Papilio hospiton Géné (Corsica e Sardegna) e Papilio alexanor Esper (Alpi occidentali, Calabria e Sicilia).

La fotografia
E’ stata scattata in Sardegna sulla spiaggia di Cala Osala di Dorgali come si può intuire dal tipo di ripresa con una fotocamera compatta, che privilegia la visione grandangolare. Si tratta di un Macaone comune e non dell’endimismo corso-sardo, di cui si parla sopra (Papilio hospiton Géné). Ho fotografato molte volte e in più occasioni questa farfalla, riscontrandola in vari habitat simili, spesso in “coabitazione” territoriale con il Podalirio. In questo caso si tratta di un habitat particolare e cioè quello della vegetazione tipica della spiaggia. Ha una livrea con colori ben marcati, probabilmente un soggetto della seconda generazione che da poco ha sfarfallato. Il punto e il tipo di ripresa con una fotocamera compatta e le ali della farfalla abbastanza chiuse permettono di apprezzare alcune caratteristiche tipiche del macaone e della sottofamiglia Papilioninae da confrontare con un tipo di ripresa con il teleobiettivo 300 mm, in entrambe le situazioni ci sono dei vantaggi e degli svantaggi ed in ogni caso non sono attrezzature specifiche per la macrofotografia.
elif, SelenE, banaei_nikon, Morigann, saguzar, nglen, flashpoint, boreocypriensis, siggi, Noisette, CeltickRanger, cataclysta, gpeler, phlr, Gert-Paassen, eng55, Argus, Alex99, marhowie, septimiu_nemes, peter_stoeckl, Heaven, MMM, anel, jusninasirun, iris has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Wow!
Excellent picture!
Good DOF and POV!
Sharpness also wonderful.
Congratulations
Ania

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1930 W: 6 N: 5388] (19222)
  • [2009-02-06 9:02]

Meno male che non sono attrezzature specifiche per le macro,altrimenti chissa' cosa ci avresti fatto vedere! Hai fatto un'altro scatto eccellente,a voler essere pignoli il corpo e' leggermente sovraesposto..ma e' un gran capolavoro! E poi guarda io che ciofeche invernali devo postare per sopravvivere..ehehhe....buon weekend,Luciano

really great butterfly Maurizio
Too bad that the BG is not that good
regards
patrick

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2345 W: 92 N: 5348] (17102)
  • [2009-02-06 9:07]

Hello Maurizio,
Another splendid photo in excellent sharpness and very beautiful light and colours. The DOF in this photo is perfect. Great POV.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 15 N: 1561] (6085)
  • [2009-02-06 9:16]

Hello Maurizio
Wonderful capture with perfect focus, good details and beautiful colors.
Regards.
Razvan

Hello Maurizio,
This is an excellent capture of a beautiful Papilio machaon.
Great focus, with very fine details.
Superb colors.
Well done
Have a nice week end.
Pierre

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2009-02-06 9:17]

Hi Maurizio,

A well captured butterfly,it looks like he has a beachview (as I can guess out from the BG),well captured with superb colors and focus,the POV is well chosen,tfs

Paul

hello maurizio
great picture
beautiful colours great sharpness
good details
i like this picture very much
greeting lou

Ciao Maurizio,
Hai fatto una otima fotografia, con uno dei più belli insetti europei, mi piace il buon foco che lascia veddere fini detagli. Anche lo sfondo sfocato è piacévole,
Bravo
Hernán

hello maurizio,
great picture and good details
Regards,
Flávio.

Hi Maurizio
A stunning image! I actually like the background as it conveys a sense of the insect being close to human activity. Very good detail and exposure. Well done!
Vinny

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2860 W: 34 N: 8481] (31692)
  • [2009-02-06 9:58]

Hi Maurizio . This is an amazing close up of the Butterfly. I dont think i have seen one so close ,with fine detail and rich colours. The efect is like 3D on the computer. You have used the light so well. A nice POV/DOF. well done TFS.
Nick..
Have a good weekend.

che dire...anche il mancaone se ne va al mare!!gli sei arrivato addosso per una ripresa cosi' vicina senza teleobbiettivo.
la cattura e' di una bellezza sorprendente
per qualita',definizione,cromatismo e ambientazione...subito tra le mie preferite!
complimenti Maurizio
e buon fine settimana sERGIO

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-02-06 10:28]

Hi Maurizio,

Wow - bold and beautiful - an amazing macro of this lovely Swallowtail. I have never seen a picture with as good a view of an entire butterfly. The pose is marvelous showing off not only the beautiful wings, but the face, antennae, body and legs. Wonderful colors and details. A superb setting and composition.

Jane

Hi Maurizio,
Beautiful capture. Nice POV, composition. Good sharpness on butterfly.
TFS - Regards - Adil.

Maurizio,

Great image. Stunning colors and capture to near perfection.
TFS

fototab

Hi Maurizio,
An amazingly perfect macro capture of this swallowtail in a fine composition with lovely posture, excellent clarity, nice pov and dof my friend!
TFS. Have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1336 W: 56 N: 4502] (15508)
  • [2009-02-06 11:29]

Hello Maurizio,
Excellent shot. Very good sharpness and details. Perfect lightind and background. A very fine composition.
TFS, Best regards Siggi

ciao Maurizio
What a nice shot of this swallowtail
great sharpness on his wings showing us his beautiful markings
have a good weekend
Jacqueline

Ciao Maurizio, mamma mia quant'è bella, vero che è la più grande farfalla italiana, ma nella tua macro sembra immensa, magnifici colori, splendidi detagli, perfetta messa a fuoco, piacevole composizione e splendida nitidezza, bravo, buon week end, ciao Silvio

hello Maurizio

WOW ! i rarely seen (j'ai rarement vu) an as close butterfly
photograohy with as beautiful luminosity and colour tones,
as great sharpness and details, this one i can say it, it is TN's
one of best if not the best butterfly close-up photography,

TFS

Asbed

Hi Maurizio
Perfect shot. Great sharpness, beautiful colors, great 3-dimensional effect Nothing to critique Very good job
TFS
Krzysztof

Hello Maurizio,
This is perfect. I can't find any other words to write this wonderful macro. TFS and TF note.
Best Regards,
Gamze:)

Maurizio merhaba çok çok güzel bir kompozsiyon,netlik,renkler ve detaylar müthiş.Dağa ve gökyüzüne meydan okuyan bir kelebk,çok heybetli bir çekim,ellerine sağlık :)

Bonjour Maurizio,
C'est une photo vraiment spectaculaire; une photo de papillon mais un paysage en même temps! Les couleurs sont vives et bien saturées, les détails superbes et la proximité impressionnante, bravo!
Claudine

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 51 N: 519] (2236)
  • [2009-02-06 15:41]

Hello Maurizio,

lovely pic!
I like the POV, great work,
great sharpness and beautiful color!

best regards,

Dejan

  •      
  • jignasi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1236 W: 0 N: 1982] (14389)
  • [2009-02-06 16:43]

Impresionante acercamiento Maurizio, y a pesar de lo cerrado del encuadre, no desvirtua para nada la foto. Buen control de la luz. Un gran trabajo técnico.
Saludos: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1879 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
  • [2009-02-06 23:03]

Hello Maurizio !
Wow, my favourtie butterfly ! He's so beautiful, but I see him so rarely in my country, so I'm always happy to look at picture, specially when the pictures are as good as this one. Amazing details on body and wings, warm summer colors, beautiful composition, nice blue sky, excellent blured BG... Very well done !
Valérie.

Hi Maurizio,

very good macro picture from these butterfly.
Extremely sharpness and details.
beautiful colours.

Gert

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1074 W: 30 N: 1046] (3270)
  • [2009-02-06 23:57]

Hi Maurizio,
Magnifient close up.POV,natural colors,DOF,sharpness and clear details are excellent.
Thanks for posting.

Wow, awesome photo, good POV and DOF and good details tfs

  •      
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3260] (14687)
  • [2009-02-07 2:39]

Maurizio, Fantastic shot and a wonderful moment. Brilliant closeup with all details are captured perfectly. Good and superb composition. Ganesh sorry no stock

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3748 W: 186 N: 11161] (34473)
  • [2009-02-07 3:59]

Hello Maurizio,
A fine close macro of a P. machaon with its wings closed taken from a great POV in this sharp frame-filling image- This looks like a fresh female that has settled on her larval host plant.
A very nice reminder of summer!
TFS!
Regards from a cold, dark S. Sweden,
Ivan

  •      
  • Alutka Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 132 W: 42 N: 370] (1576)
  • [2009-02-07 6:42]

Witaj,
niesamowita ostrość detali i wspaniałe kolory! Bardzo dobry POV, dużo światła, niezła kompozycja. Jedyne do czego mogłabym mieć słówko to tło (BG) - ono psuje harmonię tego zdjęcia i odbiera mu urok. Pozdrawiam
Alina

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3551 W: 143 N: 5621] (18399)
  • [2009-02-07 7:11]

Hi Maurizio.
I am always impressed with such subjects – close-ups with amazing and well detailed BG. This shot is from such series and I am amazed. You managed to catch a wonderful specimen of swallowtail at the best POV. Details is simply fantastic as well as the reproduction of the plant. And so pictorial BG strengthens the esthetic impression in many times. Bravo and congratulation.
Alexei.

Hi Maurizio,
Very good color and detail, well exposed..
I like the different look the coolpix brings, with its small sensor/DOF factor.
Nice work,
Howard

wow , amazing macro shot Maurizio !
perfect sharp and fine details , wonderful vivid colours and very good natural light ,
great POV ,
well done !
septimiu

bonjour maurizio
superbe netteté et jolies couleurs,l'effet grand angle donne un resultat interessant mais je pense que cela aurait été plus fort avec un BG flou,mais ce n'etait peut etre pas realisable avec votre appareil photo!
laurent

Maurizio,
che bello! Very powerful presentation of il Macaone in rich colours, perfectly well approached. Must have been an exciting moment! And so nice to see the beach in the distance - that turns the dramatic close-up into a most pleasant cheerful story. Thank you!
With best regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5578] (18516)
  • [2009-02-07 22:23]

Hi Maurizio,
Outstanding shot of this great looking Swallowtail with immaculate sharpness, bright colours and neat details. Superb handling of harsh sunlight and you have captured it in a classic pose. Excellent POV, DOF and composition.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1297 W: 0 N: 2467] (8757)
  • [2009-02-08 3:08]

Hi Maurizio,
this is really pleasant and outstanding. The colours are so attractive and you presented it splendidly.
excellent clarity and the butterfly is very lively with the eyes so big and shining.

regards,
Foozi

Hi Maurizio!

It is important for me to congratulate you for this magnificent picture! It's such a joy and a pleasure to look at it. It gives the "butterfly-photography" another, almost unreached dimension. The butterfly is superb, shown in its fabulous colours and with a great depth of view. The only little disturbing element could be the persons in the background. But here, the composition and the point of view give the impression that the butterfly is obeserving them...

Kind regards

Markus

Hello Maurizio

The colours in this are striking,
Wonderful colour saturation and terrific use of the natural light.
Excellent focus and sharpness.
The POV and DOF are well handled.
Great job.
TFS

Wolf

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 927 W: 0 N: 1965] (8837)
  • [2009-02-09 6:54]

Hi Maurizio
Wow beautiful closed up .Excellent POV it look like a 3d image.Excellent sharpness with great detail.Beautiful BG and colors combine with a nice pose from your subject.
CIAO and TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1689 W: 0 N: 3811] (15342)
  • [2009-02-10 2:01]

Bonjour Maurizio,
Quelle image intéressante par sa composition! Non seulement tu as photographié un de nos plus beaux papillons, mais tu le montres dans son environnement et ici, c'est vraiment très particulier. D'avoir inclu la plage et même des baigneurs,d'une manière presqu'impressionniste, rend cette image unique. Du grand art!
Heureusement que j'ai cherché sous ton nom, ayant été absente lors de la publication.
Une très belle journée
Anne

Selamlar Maurizio,
Mükemmel bir çalışma,
Adeta rüya gibi olmuş.
En güzel dileklerimle hoşcakalın.

Olá Maurizio

Uma foto espetacular.
Linda composição e cores fantásticas.
Belos detalhes da borboleta, boa nitidez e luminosidade.
Parabéns!
GA
Vera

Hi Maurizio,

I like this one where the blurry backdrop adds interest about the butterfly whereabouts. Excellent sharp focus displaying excellent markings on the wings.

Well done and have a great weekend,
Jusni

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2009-02-16 0:48]

Hi Maury,

Isnt that a P& S shot and one that you must be so proud of !!!!
The butterfly filling up the frame shows the best details that i have seen in this specimen in any photograph.The DoF you have chosen makes the shot looks rich and beautiful.Well saturated colours, sharpness and contrast.

Every element in the frame seems to be complimenting the colours of the butterfly itsel.The yellow is seen in the flower while the blue is spread out in the wide blue BG.
Very well done.
TFS & Cheers
Silpa
P.S:This beauty goes right into my theme of "unforgettable favourites".

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2399 W: 63 N: 4206] (13770)
  • [2009-03-03 1:30]

Ciao Maurizio,
Focus, sharpness, background, DOF, POV, light, colors and composition look very good.
Grazie e complimenti,
Selen

  • Great 
  • elif Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 169 W: 0 N: 98] (458)
  • [2009-03-08 15:09]

Hello Maurizio,
it is excellent with sharpness, details,perfect focus, good green colour tones.Congratulations!!!!
Best regard.
Elif

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