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What's in a Name?


What's in a Name?
Photo Information
Copyright: Ivan Kruys (Argus) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2613 W: 133 N: 7504] (23403)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-29
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 400D, Canon EF 300 f4L + Canon 1.4 converter
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-06-13 0:28
Viewed: 507
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
‘What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
W. Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet.

We sometimes wonder: what is the point of putting a name to something when there are other aspects to consider, like beauty and that it is still there whatever we call it?
But many of us have a deep desire to put a name to things, especially those species that are similar, in order to tell them apart. In nature these countless names have been classified, the basic system being put down by Linnaeus in 1758.

It isn’t enough to say ‘a ginger-brown butterfly’. However, knowing the name also opens up a whole range of aspects, the behaviour, the time of year it emerges, the larval host plants, the distribution, etc.

There are several species of fritillary that are hard to tell apart. The best way is to look at the patterns of the underside of the hindwings, but sometimes that opportunity does not present itself, as here.

So how do I know that this is the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)? It looks very similar to the Pearl-bordered (B. euphrosyne, Linnaeus 1758) when seen with the wings open. Two Austrians, Denis and Schiffermüller had the answer in 1775. They noticed that the row of markings inside to the outer edge markings were v- or crescent-shaped in the Small, and triangular in the Pearl-bordered – see WORKSHOP showing detail of the wing in this species. As they considered these markings were crescent-shaped they opted for the name 'selene', the Greek for moon.

In this way we don’t have to look at the underside of the hindwing to tell them apart and we can use a camera to record it!

This fresh specimen was taken after it hadn’t rained for over a month and there were few flowers for it to feed on. The drought situation is even worse now and we have seen very few butterflies these last weeks.

The Small Bordered, like its slightly earlier relative, the Pearl-bordered occurs in flowery meadows in most of Europe. The larval host plants are species of Viola.

The camera was hand-held at a distance of about 1.8 meters. After slight cropping and size reduction the image was slightly sharpened.
pvs, Amadeo, boreocypriensis, maurydv, eng55, SelenE, gannu, ralfsworld, subhrojyoti, eqshannon, anel, jaycee, mayuresh, Juyona, Jamesp, gracious, haraprasan, Miss_Piggy, juanit, ramthakur, iris has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To iris: ThanksArgus 1 06-19 07:05
To PeterZ: ThanksArgus 2 06-14 11:32
To Juyona: ThanksArgus 1 06-13 22:26
To pvs: ThanksArgus 2 06-13 01:17
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1148 W: 254 N: 2555] (11565)
  • [2008-06-13 0:36]
  • [+]

Hi Ivanm

A nice capture of this fritillary with it wings wide open enjoying the sun in the grass,it is well diagonally composed and thanks for the interesting note,tfs and have a nice weekend,

Paul

ps I hope that the color orange is succesfull as well in tonights match

Hola Ivan, la toma la veo magnifica, nitida, con buen color, perfectamente aislada con el fondo y sobretodo muy buena luz. En cuanto al nombre de la mariposa, hay algunas Argynnis muy parecidas. Un saludo

Hi My friend Ivan, Superb capture of this beautifully coloured and paterned butterfly with excellent details-as usual. TFS my friend!
Cheers,

Bayram

Splendida macro, eccellenti POV e composizione, perfetta nitidezza e fantastica luminosità dei colori. Grazie delle note sulla difficile identificazione, a me sembra una Boloria selene (apertura alare 4 cm. circa), poichè il genere Argynnis ha apertura alare maggiore (non sono esperto). Credo che per l'idenficazione siano più rispondenti le caratteristiche rilevate al momento della ripresa (areale, comportamento, ecc.). Grazie ancora per le argute note. Complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-06-13 1:51]

Hi Ivan,
Perfect capture.POV,clear details,vivid colors,sharpness,lighting,cross framing and composition are excellent.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2351 W: 61 N: 3811] (12226)
  • [2008-06-13 1:56]

Hi Ivan,
Focus, sharpness, POV, lighting, colors and composition are very nice. TFS
Have a nice weekend,
Selen

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 927 W: 4 N: 2317] (10792)
  • [2008-06-13 2:11]

Hello Ivan,just beautiful with superb yellow color and designful dress. Composition supported by sharp picture and good focus. Well done. Ganesh

Hej Ivan
Sharp and well composed shot of this beautiful butterfly.
Well done TFS
Hälsningar
Ralf

...det regnar hus oss :)

Good piece of information.

Hi Ivan,
great shot, sharp details, good colours. Nice work
cheers
Adrian

Gee whiz Ivan...philosophy in your notes...it is early AM and I find myself thinking...ouch....well as to the image of course it is fine and all that sort of technical talk, but combined with the notes..you really take on the teacher role.
Bob

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1174 W: 0 N: 1980] (8393)
  • [2008-06-13 9:15]

hello Ivan,
Very pleasant shot and what an interesting note! It gives me the opportunity to identify some butterflies which I couldn't exactely determine if it was Boloria selene or euphrosyne. Just perfect to receive such informations.
Un grand merci
Anne

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1788 W: 8 N: 4639] (15001)
  • [2008-06-13 9:25]

Hi Iven,

Your notes were fascinating!! And of course this Small Pearl Bordered is just beautiful. The border, the orange and black wings, the body and the antennae are all perfect with outstanding details. Beautiful diagonal composition with the green leafy background.

Jane

Hello Ivan,

beautiful macro shot with intresting note,nice composition and perfect sharpness with good lighting.
well done.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1696 W: 242 N: 5596] (19883)
  • [2008-06-13 11:26]

Excellent macro of this Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary!
The colours are beautiful!
Pin-sharp, excellent DOF and a great BG.
Very well composed.

Well done, Ivan!

Joe

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2042 W: 6 N: 2025] (13277)
  • [2008-06-13 13:39]
  • [+]

Hola amigo,
really excellent,
a fine work, with color,
pov and wonderful lighting.
cheers.

I practice my little English :))

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2008-06-13 13:43]

Hi Ivan

Lovely, crisp shot. Great framing plus excellent detail and good note.

James

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-06-13 21:08]

Hello Ivan

A lovely capture of this beautiful little butterfly.
I really like the diagonal look of the composition.
Excellent focus and sharpness.
The pov is great.
TFS

Rob

Hello Ivan,
Many thanks for this beautiful fritillary with a open wings with the nice pattern and colour!
very sharp with rich colour and details
well done and have a great weekend
cheers
Tony

Very well said, you, Ivan for having used that lovely line by Shakepeare..You are an institution in yourself, in terms of knowledge and finesse, my friend...and you use it very well...I did wonder what Selen meant (I heard that name for the first time here, that of our friend SelenE)!
you've chosen a lovely POV, slighly reducing the tilt in the stance.
Very well done, Sir!
Respect!
Goldy

Hi Ivan,
A nice capture of this beautiful butterfly. Excellent composition and sharp details. I liked the title too. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-06-14 3:24]

Hi Ivan,
Outstanding shot of this very beautiful butterfly with such lovely colours, markings and details on its spread-out wings. Immaculate sharpness and it stands out so well from the BG. Great pose and beautiful lighting. Excellent POV to portray it and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Ivan, elegant butterfly with splendid colors, great details and excellent sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio
PS I cannoy help you for id:)

Hallo Ivan
One need not to worry about a name when one sees a beauty like this butterfly of yours.
Absolutely gorgeous and a real pleasure to the eye. Patterns and markings on this autumn coloured butterfly are just great. I fancy the bit of shine that it has on its wings. The clarity of the stripes on the antennas, the furry body and the big eyes makes this a great image. Focus, sharpness and framing done expertly. A warm sight on this slightly cold day in South Africa. Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards
Anna

Hello Ivan,
Superb photo in perfect clear colours and with a fantastic sharpness. The patterns on the wings are pin-sharp. The contrast against the OOF BG is beautiful. Excellent composition.
And, of course, I like the orange colours these days.
Have a nice weekend,
Peter

Preciosa toma Ivan, yo diría que se trata de Clossiana selene, aunque evidentemente tiene también muchos parecidos a Clossiana euphrosyne.
Un abrazo: J. Ignasi

Heelo Ivan

This is a beautiful capture of the fritiilary.Wonderful colours,detail and amazing sharpness.Well composed and great use of light.

Best wishes

Anita & Mike

Ivan, I adore this picture for its sharpness, colours and composition.
Looks like you had all the time to frame this shot to your utter satisfaction; in my case, I am always nervous when there is a good opportunity but little certainty of the subject giving you enough time.
Thanks for sharing this marvellous image.
Ram

Bonjour Ivan
Très belle capture, excellentes couleurs, lumière et détails, très beau sujet.
Amicalement Robi

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 392 W: 41 N: 735] (2314)
  • [2008-06-19 5:37]
  • [+]

Hi Ivan
When it comes to identifying these beauties of nature, i think there are very few in TN who can join your ranks.Your meticulous observations and studies of the numerous species of birds and insects have been quite interesting, exciting and at the same time quite a learning experience for many of us.
Combine this with your skills of photography, you have a magical combination in you, Ivan:)

This Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary presents itself in a beautiful composition enriched with the vivid patterns on its delicate open wings. The image has a super finesse and with this Pov you managed excellent clarity and sharpness.
The warm sunlight on the fritillary enhances its brown and orange colours and almost shines its little body tucked in between the two wings.Its colours offer a beautiful contrast to the environment in which it has been captured.

Thank you for sharing this beauty...
Cheers

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