breeding with ghosts

<< Previous Next >>
breeding with ghosts
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Ellstrom (ellis49) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3659 W: 349 N: 8856] (28567)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-05
Categories: Insects
Camera: Sony Alfa dSLR A100, Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Macro, Digital RAW 200
Exposure: f/8, 1/40 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-03-25 10:06
Viewed: 714
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 31
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
First I will thank all for the nice comments and words of my previous posts.

This is a picture of female Silver-washed Fritillary fritillary and two male who are eager to breed with this female. You can see how she has taken the position with the wings down.
I was going to delete this picture when I was digging in my archives; the males are looking like two ghosts. But anyway I like it and I think it’s a nice shot to celebrate my 59th birthday.
I hope you liked too.

PLS
No points for this, I have given them up like some others. I have turn of the points, so don’t waste your green ones.

And the ID?
I will update the note later.
I hope Ivan will see this.

Thanks to Ivan and Peter for the right ID.

This is a Silver-washed Fritillary.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Silver-washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia) is a European species of butterfly, which was in decline for much of the 1970s and 1980s but seems to be coming back to many of its old territories.
The Silver-washed fritillary is deep orange with black spots on the upper side of its wings and has a wingspan of 54-70 mm, with the male being smaller and paler than the female. The underside is green and unlike other fritillaries has silver streaks instead of silver spots, hence the name silver-washed. The caterpillar is black-brown with two yellow lines along its back and long reddish-brown spines.
Adults feed on the nectar of bramble, thistles and knapweeds and also on aphid honeydew. the silver-washed is a strong flier and more mobile than other fritillaries and as such can be seen gliding above the tree canopy at high speed. It preferred habitat is thin, sunny deciduous woodland especially oaks but has been known to live in coniferous woodland.
The male possesses scent scales on the upper side of the forewing that run along veins one to four. The scent produced from these scales attracts females and helps to distinguish it from other species. Unusually for a butterfly, the female does not lay her eggs on the leaves or stem of the caterpillar's food source (in this case violets) but instead one or two meters above the woodland floor in the crevices of tree bark close to clumps of violets.
When the egg hatches in August, the caterpillar immediately goes into hibernation until spring. Upon awakening it will drop to the ground and feeds on violets close to the base of the tree. The caterpillar usually feeds at night and usually conceals itself during the day away from its food source but during cool weather will bask in the sunny spots on the forest floor on dry, dead leaves . It will make its chrysalis amongst the ground vegetation and the adults will emerge in June.

Source and more info in different language here

Tamron 90mm macro, tripod.
ISO 200, Raw-format. multi metering, av-mode
Converted, Levels, Contrast, Crop, re-sized to 800 pixels, Smart sharpen
I used Adobe Photoshop CS3 for PP
Argus, goldyrs, Alex99, gerbilratz, uleko, nglen, Luis52, Ena, marhowie, jaycee, kmr13777, loot, mogens-j has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ralfsworld: Tack Ralf.ellis49 1 03-28 10:36
To batu: Thanks Peterellis49 1 03-25 10:43
To Alex99: Thanks Alexeiellis49 1 03-25 10:40
To Argus: Tack Ivanellis49 1 03-25 10:26
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • marcin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 148 W: 0 N: 153] (1357)
  • [2008-03-25 10:10]

hello Gerd
Wonderful capture
lovely color, TFS and regards,

marcin

  • Good 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 139 W: 0 N: 441] (1852)
  • [2008-03-25 10:17]

Hola Gert, excelente toma, destaca el dinamismo y el color. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • batu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 974 W: 281 N: 3043] (10072)
  • [2008-03-25 10:18]
  • [+]

Hello Gert,
congratulations first for your birthday and second for this unusual picture of Argynnis paphia
showing two dynamic males and one 'static' female.
The species and the gender of each specimen can be clearly identified.
Best wishes, Peter

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2356 W: 134 N: 6487] (20173)
  • [2008-03-25 10:21]
  • [+]

Hej Gert,
Grattis på födelsedagen!
I just happened to see this before going to my choir practice (Åhus manskör).
This is a capture full of movement of two males interested in a female Silver-washed Fritillary, Silverstreckad pärlemorfjäril. The POV of the female is unusual but shows her clearly and the males can be easily recognised despite the movement of the wings.
This a nice symmetrical composition and great to see.
Thanks for sharing it,
Hälsningar,
Ivan

Hi Gert!
Awesome shot!And great you didn't delete it!
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2900 W: 145 N: 4201] (13581)
  • [2008-03-25 10:30]
  • [+]

Hi Gert.
I have one shot of nicely blurred butterfly but I do not dare to share it yet. I welcome your amazing post, its fantastic colours, pleasant combination of crisp sharpness of the main character and flowers and blurriness of the so charming assistants and terrific BG. Great dancing composition. Bravo.
Alexei.

Amazing image Gert, just a brilliant shot to get three butterflies as this, great POV and an excellent focus, sharp and clean. I will rrespect your wish for pints as well, regards h.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2235 W: 168 N: 6506] (20422)
  • [2008-03-25 10:50]

Hej Gert!
Ett stort GRATTIS på födelsedagen!! Hope you'll have a lovely evening - perhaps you'll be as euphoric tonight as these butterflies seem to be!? Lovely and very unusual capture of these Silver-washed Fritillaries gathering around the Thistle. Lovely colours too!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  •      
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1661 W: 20 N: 4671] (15162)
  • [2008-03-25 11:17]

Hi Gert,
Outstanding shot and you the freezed this superb moment very skilfully. The motion blur on both the male butterflies on either side is smartly handled as is the neatly focused female on the centre. Very impressive sharpness and colours with perfect lighting and exposure. I like the natural surrounding and the smooth BG. Excellent DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  •      
  • marcellr Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 208 W: 38 N: 1012] (3514)
  • [2008-03-25 11:48]

Ciao Gert,
rispetto la tua volontà di non dare punti a questa foto.
Posso almeno inserirla fra le mie favorite? :)
Il segreto di una grande foto è quello di "sapere cogliere l'attimo fuggente".
E tu ci sei riuscito in maniera eccellente.
Grazie,
Marcello

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1825 W: 2 N: 4688] (17692)
  • [2008-03-25 12:35]

Hi gert. This is somthing a bit different. A very nice close up ofthe Butterflies. I like the way only the one is in focus and the two others are Out of focus. very good detail and natural looking colours. a nice POV/DOF. well done TFS.
Nick..

Many happy returns on your birthday.I am not to far behind you.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1013 W: 5 N: 2673] (9690)
  • [2008-03-25 14:22]

Hola Gert.
Interesante Macro el presentado hoy. Me agrada la pose de la Mariposa central, sin embargo las otras dos lucen de maravilla dandole un toque especial a esta foto.
Saludos Gert
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2045 W: 6 N: 1780] (12430)
  • [2008-03-25 14:27]

Hola Gert,
animated image, ;)
good effects and beautiful colors of Sweden... soon come the good weather and thousands butterflies,
now in Tenerife, gray days and strong wind of the north and cold.
saludos amigo.

Hello Gert,
Wonderful shot. All are excellent. TFS. Regards,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 361 W: 60 N: 563] (2303)
  • [2008-03-26 3:58]

Hi Gert,
Lovely shot!
Interesting composition!
TFS
Ena

  •      
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1517 W: 242 N: 4942] (17343)
  • [2008-03-26 5:33]

Now this is just awesome!!!
What a brilliant effect you've got by using a slow shutter-speed!
Very original and very well taken.
Superb work Gert!

Joe

Hello Gert,
I see you're a showing us your creative side, the title is excellent for this. It's an interesting shot - One of those captures that come along only once in a great while.
And a very happy B-day my friend, I'm right behind you. I'll be 55 this May.
Howard

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 704 W: 4 N: 1729] (8204)
  • [2008-03-27 4:48]

Hello Gert, Belated birthday and nice shot. TFS Ganesh

FAVOLOSA!!!
BRAVISSIMO!!!!

Happy 59th birthday, Gert!!!

Hoppas allt väl med dig och att våren har kommit till dina trakter :)
Har varit på Öland under påsken och tagit några bilder.
Hälsa alla och grattis en gång till!
Hälsningar
Ralf

  •      
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1640 W: 8 N: 3989] (12780)
  • [2008-03-29 9:14]

Hi Gert,

I don't know how I missed this one. A belated happy birthday to you! A rare shot is this one - with the female on the flower and the two males hovering around. What timing to get this one! Superb as always.

Jane

Hi Gert,
Very beautiful shot with nice and bright colors. Great OOF BG and very nice depiction of the subtle female and the anxious males. Excellent lighting and composition.

Wish you a belated Happy Birthday...Have fun!!

TFS
Kirti

  •      
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5678 W: 602 N: 3185] (8523)
  • [2008-03-31 21:05]

So, who says there are no ghosts? Here's the photographic evidence and it is even better and more believable than those documentaries seen on Discovery channel (chukle).

But first, even though I am a couple of days late, HAPPY BIRTHDAY my friend. May there still be many joyful returns of this special day.

This is a great shot and it is amazing how you have captured those males swarming around the female while she remained perfectly still and in complete focus. It just once again shows the added advantage of using the tripod for these kinds of shots and the utmost patience and diligence you show in your professional workman like approach to your photography. A magnificent shot showing a moment of the mating process of the Silver-washed Fritillary.

Well done MF and TFS.
Regards
Loot

Hi
what a shot
great colours very good idea and focus is also amazing
thanks for sharing
Toba

Hello Gert - my friend

What an interesting picture - indeed. The blurred wings of the two males contribute in a very nice way. Perfect focus on the main subject and well blurred surroundings. The colours look great and very natural. Really a very nice and interesting picture.

I also want to congratulate you on your birthday - even it is a little late but I am very busy at the time so I do not contribute as much as I want for the time.

Yours
Mogens

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF