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Pair of Common Blue(Puktörneblåvinge)


Pair of Common Blue(Puktörneblåvinge)
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Ellstrom (ellis49) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3645 W: 349 N: 8888] (28669)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Alfa dSLR A100, Minolta AF 70-210/F4.0 "Beercan", Digital RAW 200, 1.4 X converter
Exposure: f/11, 1/160 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): 'Blues' of the Butterfly World [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-06-07 14:40
Viewed: 564
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Today’s post is a very common butterfly up here even very common in Europe, the Common Blue. I took this picture in the morning of this breeding pair.
They are so small and hiding in the bushes and grass it’s sometimes difficult to get a clean shot of them but if you are patient you will get a nice shot.
I hope you like the live-pair.


The Common Blue Polyommatus icarus is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.
Male uppersides are an iridescent lilac blue with a thin black border. Females are brown with a row of red spots along the edges. They usually have some blue at the base of the wings and quite often, especially in Ireland and Scotland, are mostly blue but always have the red spots. Undersides have a greyish ground colour in the males and more brownish in the females. Both sexes have a row of red spots along the edge of the hindwings (extending onto the forewings though generally fainter, particularly in the males where they are sometimes missing altogether). There are about a dozen black centered white spots on the hind wings, nine on the forwings. The white fringe on the outer edge of the wings is not crossed with black lines as it is in the Chalkhill and Adonis Blues, an important difference when separating these species, particularly the females.
It is Britain's (and probably Europe's) most common and most widespread blue, found as far north as Orkney and on most of the Outer Hebrides. Males are often very obvious as they defend territories against rivals and search out the more reclusive females. A range of grassland habitats are used: meadows, coastal dunes, woodland clearings and also many man made habitats, anywhere where their foodplants are found.
It is Widespread in Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia.

The Main foodplant on most sites is Birds-foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus. Others used include Black Medick Medicago lupulina, Common Restharrow Ononis repens, White Clover Trifolium repens and Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium. Eggs are laid singly on young shoots of their foodplants.

The caterpillar is small, pale green with yellow stripes and as usual with lycid larvae rather sluglike. Hibernation occurs as a half grown larvae. They are attractive to ants but not as much as some other species of blues. The chrysalis is olive green/brown and formed on the ground where it is attended by ants which will often take it into their nests. The larvae creates a substance called honey dew, which the ants eat while the butterfly lives in the ant hill. In the south of Britain there are two broods a year flying in May and June and again in August and September. Northern England has one brood flying between June and September. In a long warm year there is sometimes a partial third brood in the south flying into October.

Source and more info in different language here from Wikipedia.


Minolta 70-210/4.0 called ”Beercan” 1,4X converter
ISO 200, RAW-format, AV-mode. Tripod.
Levels, Contrast, Crop, resized to 800 pixels, Smart Sharpen PP in PS CS3
koruklu, jaycee, Argus, phlr, Kaszek, mogens-j, Tamrock, fartash, sandpiper2, Pentaxfriend, Jamesp, Proframe, timonejoon, Debz, JORAPAVI, dew77, marmottelolo, loot, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Argus: Varmtellis49 1 06-07 15:04
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Critiques [Translate]

Nice shot, very good work, TFS.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1681 W: 8 N: 4318] (14043)
  • [2007-06-07 14:49]

Hi Gert,

This pair is absolutely marvelous! I love the position you captured them in. Wonderful colors, details and a beautiful composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2487 W: 132 N: 7075] (22101)
  • [2007-06-07 14:50]
  • [+]

Hej Gert,
Very fine capture of a mating pair of Common Blues. This is a sharp and well balanced shot with appropriate bokeh BG. They seem to be more common than usual in Scania this year.
TFS,
Hälsningar,
Ivan

Nu är det 26 grader varmt här nere med.

  • Great 
  • Kaszek Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 260 W: 57 N: 388] (1441)
  • [2007-06-07 15:22]

Hi Gert,
Good shot with very good composition.
Lovely colours and brilliant sharpness ;)
I like it!
TFS

p.s. Why are you change your stuff, from Canon to Sony? Stabilisation in body?

Hello Gert

This is an excellent capture of these mating Common Blue. Very nice details in both butterflies which means very clever control on the pov to get both sharp. The well blurred background sets them off nicely. Colours look very natural.

You are absolutely right - it takes a lot of patience to get a nice and clear shot of these littel creatures. I can see that you have used a tripod for this shot - are you using tripod a lot for the insects. I have tried it once but found that every time when I had the tripod in place the creature was gone. So for me it is down on the belly and the crawl up to them - well I then get a little exerserci too as it cost a lot of ups and downs.

Hello Gert
Very intersting mating shot of these Common Blues,Perfect sharpness and composition,
Fantastic colors and DOF,Superb shot.

Regards
Fartash

hej gert!
two fine butterflies you captured
good in a nice situation,sharp
with nice pov and fine exposure
well composed to!
good work!

Belle photo de ce duo sur tige, ils sont superbes dans leurs douce couleurs. Amitiés Thomas

Quite a good shot of this common blue pair
Well composed and good sharpness
Good POV, DOF and background

Chris

Hi Gert,

I love these small and colourfull BF very much
Superb shot with excellent sharp details
good POV, pose and colours
nice DOF

TFS Thijs

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 741 W: 11 N: 1381] (4761)
  • [2007-06-07 18:09]

Hi Gert

What a great shot of the Breeding Common Blues, very well presented composition with a superb POV and a fine pose, excellent detail and superb colours too.

TFS Hilary :o)

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1205 W: 0 N: 4610] (13714)
  • [2007-06-07 18:56]

Hi Gert

A lovely capture - nice composition with great detail and colour.

James

Very nice pair of mating blue you've captured Gert.
Lovely light and details.
Sharpness and exposure are spot on.
Excellent work. Thanks for sharing.
Best regards and have a nice weekend, Harry

Hi Gret

As usuall=> great shot and perfect position. but what about a little bit more saturation to show the blue color around hed?
and another question: I remember someone took many amazing insect and buterfly shots with 100-400mm( if i'm not wrong) and i had a travel to vancouver and try to do the same thing but it is kind of imposibility to do it! I wonder to know wheather you remember that person and if yes, would u please kindly let me know, or if i'm wrong please tell me: dude u are wrong!
TFS

Regards
Timon
Regards
Timon

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3410 W: 144 N: 5796] (17179)
  • [2007-06-08 0:35]

A pair of very commom Common Blues. We have similar Blues here in NZ over summer, but they are too tiny and too fast for me!
Beautiful capture Gert - you did well.
TFS
Janice

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-06-08 5:13]

Very crisp and sharp shot of this pretty Butterfly. Great POV showing all the markings and the sharp antenni. Great light and colours and perfect DOF.
tfs
debz

Hola Gert,
Otra genial composición, de gran belleza y excelente nitidez, TFS. Saludos
José Ramón

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2369 W: 164 N: 7114] (22494)
  • [2007-06-08 13:27]

Hej Gert,
These common ones really help to brighten up our summer - I love them! You've succeeded very well in capturing this couple. Very sharp and good colours. Excellent composition too.
TFS och ha en skön och varm helg! Ulla

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5171 W: 297 N: 4050] (13069)
  • [2007-06-08 13:52]

Hello Gert,
Beautiful capture of this mating butterflies.Clear details,colors,framing and sharpness are excellent.Have a great weekend!
TFS..:-)

bonjour gert
toujours cette même qualité d'image avec en plus pour cette photo un accouplement,les deux papillon son bien dans le champ avec leurs couleurs naturelles et beaucoup de details;
laurent

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 24 N: 4870] (15888)
  • [2007-06-09 2:18]

Hi Gert,
Splendid moment captured of this common blue. Immaculate sharpness and fine focus. Nice colours and perfect lighting. Excellent POV and DOF. I like the horizontal composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5682 W: 598 N: 3355] (8931)
  • [2007-06-09 17:16]
  • [2]

Hi Gert

Although these gorgeous butterflies might be "common" in your region, there is nothing common about the shot. Through this excellent macro work you have captured their sheer beauty and prepared and presented it in a remarkable posting. Once again I love to see the matching details in their antennae and their socks. The blue tones on the male underside at the base of the wings are very clear and contrary to the description is seems like the female shows some greenish tones in the same region.

I like the activity, composition & POV. The natural colours are splendid, the details are very sharp, the BG is well removed and complimentary, and the exposure control was spot-on.

Well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 148 N: 4435] (14369)
  • [2007-06-14 13:31]

Hi Gert.
Excellent pair – "beercan" and 1.4x TC. 300 mm FL is great for butterfly shooting. I like perfect details of the butterflies and stem, excellent lighting and wonderful colours, superb POV and DOF and fine, well detailed but very nicely blurred at the same time. My compliments and TFS.
Alexei.

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