Courting

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Courting
Photo Information
Copyright: Ulla Kruys (uleko) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2073 W: 168 N: 5707] (18098)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-05
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon PowerShot G7
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/1600 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Great Workshops [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-06 7:54
Viewed: 201
Points: 46
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Orange Tip - Anthocharis cardamine

As the weather has now turned lovely warm and sunny the butterflies are beginning to appear. There seem to be plenty of little Orange Tips this year but it’s hard to catch them as they never settle for long. This one found a lady that he fancied and was very obliging although the two decided to stay near the ground among the grasses and it was hard to catch them together. The quality is therefore pretty poor but I’m still quite pleased to be able to show the two together here, both with open wings.

“The male Orange Tips are a common sight in spring flying along hedgerows and damp meadows in search of the more reclusive female which lacks the orange and is often mistaken for one of the other 'White' butterflies. The undersides are mottled green and white camouflage If you look closely at the mottling you will see that the green colour is in fact made up of a mixture of black and yellow scales.

The female lays eggs singly on the flowerheads of Cuckooflower Cardimine pratensis and Garlic Mustard and many other species of wild Crucifers. The eggs are white to begin with but change to a bright orange after a few days before darkening off just before hatching. Because the larvae feed almost exclusively on the flowers and developing seedpods there is rarely enough food to support more than one larva per plant. If two larvae meet one will often be eaten by the other to eliminate its competitor. Newly hatched larvae will also eat unhatched eggs for the same reason. To stop eggs from being laid on plants already laid on the female leaves a pheromone to deter future females from laying. Pupation occurs in early summer in scrubby vegetation near the foodplant, where they stay to emerge the following spring. Recent research suggests that the emergence of the butterfly may be delayed for as much as two years, thus ensuring the species against unfavourable conditions in a given season.

The Orange Tip is found across Europe, and eastwards into temperate Asia as far as Japan." (Extract from Wikipedia)

This was captured from a distance of 1 metre. It has been cropped and sharpened.
matatur, pekkavalo1, gerbilratz, Amadeo, jaycee, eqshannon, anel, bahadir, oscarromulus, boreocypriensis, maurydv, rousettus, CeltickRanger, haraprasan, japiey, ramthakur, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

A beautiful capture of a cute pair Ulla, you must have waited a long time to catch both of them in a single frame. I tried a WS to raise the level of contrast a little to render the butterflies more prominent, hope you like it.
Mehmet

Hi Ulla,

Very nice that you have captured a pair of the beautiful butterflies. Good composition, bright colours, good lighting and sharp details.

TFS

Pekka

Hi Ulla, great capture, fine focus to ensure details and colouration remain natural. great composition. TFS regards h

Hola Ulla, una bonita fotografia 2 X 1. la veo un poco oscura. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1470 W: 7 N: 3433] (11174)
  • [2008-05-06 9:23]

Hi Ulla,

These beautiful Orange Tips are a new species for me. How wonderful to capture the pair in one frame! The colors and markings are gorgeous and you show them in fine detail. They have a very Oriental look with their patterns and shapes.

Jane

Bonsoir Ulla
Bravo pour ce couple splendide. Les couleurs sont belles et la netteté est de bonne qualité.
C'est toutjours difficile
Merci à bientôt
Laurent

Well it was such a rare catch, and we like you so much Ulla...as I saw after that others had done some things...only because we care:-) Very nicely done with the "Two"!
Bob

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 989 W: 0 N: 1351] (6149)
  • [2008-05-06 10:09]

Hello Ulla,
Today I made just about the same picture. And as yours, my couple was also in the shadow. I don't mind the little darkness, because it makes the white coming out well. Very shy approach of the male here.
Bonne soirée
Anne

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1094 W: 255 N: 2194] (10047)
  • [2008-05-06 11:26]

Hi Ulla,

Thanks for this sunny picture,I guess it will be time soon to hunt some butterflies overhere,although I have seen some flying by in the garden,havent been out photographing them this season,nice composed and both male and female in one capture which is a bonus,tfs

Paul

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1660 W: 2 N: 4048] (15513)
  • [2008-05-06 12:18]

Hi Ulla .I tried to get a picture of one at the weekend but gave up . You have done well to get the pair at the same time. The light was not with you on this one but you still have good detail. and colours. as you say great to get the two. well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick..

Hello Ulla, splendid macro capture of these beautiful butterflies. Regards, Bahadır

Now, that's LOVELY, Ulla.
A very diffcult register to obtain.
GREAT PIECE OF WORK.
Loved your notes too.
Mario with greetings from Calgary, Alberta.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1347 W: 239 N: 4229] (14906)
  • [2008-05-06 13:51]

Wow! What luck to have got the female and male in the same shot! :-D
We have many Orange Tips around but they never seem to land! It's the same with the Little Blues and Brimstones! :-) I suppose I should try and get up early one morning to capture them when they're all cold and sluggish :-)

Great composition here and a brilliant POV.
Excellent DOF too.
Slightly UE but that is the only nit.
Well done Ulla!

Joe

Splendida cattura di questa coppia di "Aurora", molto bella la composizione con il verde cupo dell'erba e i colori vivaci delle farfalle, molto buona la nitidezza, ottima esposizione tarata sulle farfalle. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hello Ulla
excellent couple of Orange Tip and their great shot. The species is very beautiful and one od my favourite butterflies, with organge tips. Your captured successfully and presented nicely. Thanks for sharing, best wishes
Ahmet

hello Ulla

excellent shot of thse butterflys with both on focus,
fine POV from above, alose fine DOF,
excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hi Ulla,
What a lovely couple of Orange Tip Ulla, You can sure that the quality of your capture is perfect my friend. TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

Hello Ulla,
very beautiful colour and pattern on these Orange Tip!
good clarity and details in the shot even in this sort of condition!
well done
best regards
tony

Hi Ulla,
A lovely capture of these beautiful orange tips in courting scene. Excellent composition and sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Ulla,

Good image, fine concept.
Well handled.
All the best.

jp

I am thrilled to know butterflies have started appearing around you, Ulla.
This couple of Orange Tips heralds the beginning of a good season.
This is a wonderful shot and you are being modest in assuming that it is not. Both the butterflies are in sharp focus and the colours on them are beautiful.
Thanks for sharing the image and have a great summer season!
Ram

Hi Ulla, great capture of splendid couple, perfect focus on both butterflies, good colors, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Ulla. Beautiful image shot from the top of this courting orange tips. Stunning butterfly that you and Ivan posted here in TN in natural habitat. The color of the male is so pleasant and contrasting against the green background and thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful weekend and best regards. Jusni

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