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Blue Morpho


Blue Morpho
Photo Information
Copyright: Siegfried Potrykus (siggi) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1382 W: 56 N: 4768] (16394)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-09
Categories: Insects
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-22 0:31
Viewed: 213
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Photographed in the butterfly house.

A Morpho butterfly may be one of over 80 species of the genus Morpho. They are Neotropical butterflies found mostly in South America as well as Mexico and Central America. Morphos range in wingspan from the 7.5 cm (3 inch) M. rhodopteron to the imposing 20 cm (8 inch) Sunset Morpho, M. hecuba. The name Morpho, meaning changed or modified, is also an epithet of Aphrodite and Venus.
Coloration
Many Morpho butterflies are colored in metallic, shimmering shades of blue and green. These colors are not a result of pigmentation but are an example of iridescence: the microscopic scales covering the Morpho's wings reflect incident light repeatedly at successive layers, leading to interference effects that depend on both wavelength and angle of incidence/observance[2]. Thus the colors produced vary with viewing angle, however they are actually surprisingly uniform, perhaps due to the tetrahedral (diamond-like) structural arrangement of the scales or diffraction from overlying cell layers. This structure may be likened to a photonic crystal. The lamellate structure of their wing scales has been studied as a model in the development of fabrics, dye-free paints, and anti-counterfeit technology used in currency.

The iridescent lamellae are only present on the dorsal side of their wings, leaving the ventral side brown.

The ventral side is decorated with ocelli or eyespots. In some species, such as M. godarti, the dorsal lamellae are so thin as to allow the ventral ocelli to peek through. While not all Morphos have iridescent coloration, they all have ocelli. In most species only the males are colorful, supporting the theory that the coloration is used for intrasexual communication between males. The lamellae reflect up to 70% of light falling on them, including any ultraviolet (UV). The eyes of Morpho butterflies are thought to be highly sensitive to UV light and therefore the males are able to see each other from great distances. Some South American species are reportedly visible by the human eye up to one kilometre away.

There also exist a number of white Morpho species, principal among these being M. catenarius and M. laertes. An unusual species that is fundamentally white in coloration, but which exhibits a stunning purple iridescence when viewed at certain angles is the rare M. sulkowskyi, while among the metallic blue Morpho species, M. rhetenor stands out as the most iridescence of all, with M. cypris a close second. Indeed, M. cypris is notable in that specimens that are mounted in entomological collections will exhibit color differences across the wings if they are not 'set' perfectly flat.(Wikipedia)
boreocypriensis, parasbhalla, horias, cirano, goatman04, Gert-Paassen, Heaven, marianas, ferranjlloret, nglen, chudy, tuslaw, Solrac, Noisette has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi and good morning MF Siggi,

What a beautifuly coloured butterfly shot!
Expertly taken by you with impeccable details and great DOF.
Perfect focus and delightful composition too.
TFS and have a nice day MF!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hallo Siegfried,

Great macro capture of the lovely butterfly with beautiful colors! The sharpness and POV are perfect and the DOF is kept very well. The rocky structure underneath gives great contrast to this bright colored subject.

Well done, my friend.

best regards,
Paras

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 414 W: 0 N: 1030] (5550)
  • [2009-10-22 0:46]

Very good photo, interesting species for us!

Hi,
Fine species, beautiful and colorful. Good capture. tfs.
nagraj.v

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2585] (9117)
  • [2009-10-22 2:45]

Hi Siegfried,
wow...wow...wow
This is a rel beauty. The flouresecnce blue wings are simplay fascinating.
Very beautiful and well captured by a professional.
Excellent composition of colours, balancing, and details.

regards,
Foozi

Siggi
Wonderful this morpho butterfly!
Great details and colors.
Congratulation!
Horia

Slav Sîggî,
Great macro shot of this very beautiful little butterfly on the wall with excellent sharpness and taken from great POV.Nice colors and perfect details.Thanks for sharing and best regards.
Dûrzan

hello Siegfried very nice compo with good details and beautiful colours
greeting lou

Ciao Siegfried. Today you're doing happy our friend Silvio. Inter is his football team. Not mine.... Anyway you've captured a magnificent butterfly with stunning details and great contrasted colours. Indeed a great work.

Roberto

This is endeed a great immage of this wonderfull butterfly.Congratulation.Alin.

Hello Siggi,

This a great and beautiful shot with lovely colors, sharpness & details. Great POV, pose & composition. Well done & TFS.

Regards

Umar

Hello Siegfried,

I need a visit to that butterfly house, what an nice picture are this.

Good pov and dof with fine colours.

Gert

Dear Sigfried!

I'm delighted by the beauty of this butterfly. The picture highlights the insect's details and characteristics at best. The colour management and the sharpness are superb and it's a pleasure to read your instructive notes. I also appreciate that you mention where you have taken the picture.

Kind regards

Markus

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-10-22 8:16]

Hi Siggi,this is truely one of the best living in this incredible garden.What a fantastic elegance,what a beautiful design and colors,impressive top quality pic,thanks for share,have a nice day,Luciano

Wonderful this black and blue capture!
Great light and colors!
Mariana

Hi Siegfried,
Blue Morpho its a very very very good butterflye, Perfect POV and sharpnees,
TFS. Ferran

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2921 W: 34 N: 8658] (32266)
  • [2009-10-22 11:19]

Hi Siegfried. This is what you call a large butterfly. This one you have here is in great condition. It was resting in a fine pose so you could get this top view. The blue stands out so well. TFS.
Nick..

Ciao again Siggi, wonderful butterfly with fantastic colors, great macro with fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • chudy Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 75 W: 0 N: 91] (499)
  • [2009-10-22 12:11]

Siemanko Siggi!
No , no napracowales sie z tymi motylami , ale efekty sa imponujace , taka kolekcja.
Na nasze trzeba bedzie poczekac do wiosny .
Pozdrawiam Slawek

Halo Siggi
Voici un spécimen haut en couleur.
Merci pour ces clichés très réussis
Amitiés
Laurent

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 511 W: 20 N: 1392] (4861)
  • [2009-10-22 17:57]

Incredibly beautiful butterfly Siggi!!
The iridescent blue colors are breathtaking, and the detail is super fine. Nicely composed with excellent exposure and great DOF.
I would love to actually see one in the wild someday.
Ron

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 15 N: 1629] (6333)
  • [2009-10-22 21:58]

Hello Siegfried
Maybe the most beautiful butterfly. Execellen work.
Regards
Razvan

Bella mariposa azulada coaptada con gran nitidez y colorido muy naturales
Buen trabajo
un saludo

Hello Siegfried
What a beautiful butterfly with fantastic colors, very good presentation with great pose and POV and against a superb contrasting BG
beautiful details
Have a good night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 94 N: 5564] (17694)
  • [2009-10-24 7:15]

Hello Siegfried,
On my short holiday, last week, I visited the butterfly house in Emmen. In the next weeks I place some photos of it here on TN. Great sharp detailed photo in very beautiful natural colours. Good composition. I've seen this butterfly in the wild in several South and Central American countries. They never sit still.
TFS and regards,
Peter

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