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Engaged Ringlets


Engaged Ringlets
Photo Information
Copyright: Nigel Deacon (Merlin) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 393 W: 230 N: 340] (1094)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 4500
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/160 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Satyrinae - Worldwide [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-10-10 12:13
Viewed: 1671
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A pair of Ringlet Butterflies (Aphantopus hyperantus). This year I left a section of my garden unmanaged, with tall grasses and a nettle patch becoming established. At least seven new species of breeding butterfly have moved in, including this one - photographed on the garden hedge.

When newly emerged, the Ringlet has a velvety appearance and is almost black, with a white fringe to the wings. The small circles on the underwings, which give the butterfly its name, vary in number and size and may be enlarged and elongated or reduced to small white spots; occasionally they lack the black ring.

Bramble and Wild Privet flowers are favourite nectar sources, and adults continue to fly with a characteristic bobbing flight in dull, cloudy conditions when most other butterflies are inactive.

This widespread butterfly has extended it range in England and Scotland in recent years.

European/world range:
Across Europe except in central and southern Spain, Portugal, peninsular Italy, and northern Scandinavia, and extends eastwards across Asia to Japan. It is stable in most European countries, but its overall range appears to be shifting northwards.

Foodplants:
Coarser grasses are used, including Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata), False Brome (Brachypodium sylvaticum), Tufted Hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa), Common Couch (Elytrigia repens), and meadow-grasses (Poa spp.). Other species of grass may also be used.

Habitat:
Tall grassland, mainly in damp situations in partial shade on heavy soils where grasses are lush, especially in woodland rides and glades. The butterfly also occurs on commons, verges, and riverbanks, especially on clay soils. In northern areas, it is found in more open, less shady, situations.

Footnote: Many thanks to everyone who has viewed, enjoyed and/or taken the time to leave a note.
TAZ, phlr, cosci, manyee, scottevers7, carper, lglandon, extramundi, DLM, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To peter_stoeckl: Technology or Mark 1 Eyeball?Merlin 1 01-25 16:13
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Nigel,
this is marvelous, I hope you haven't disturbed our two butterflies in love.
Wonderful sharpness and colours, an excellent shot which I like very much, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 987 W: 5 N: 2762] (10618)
  • [2005-10-10 12:19]

Hello Nigel,
Wonderful macro, Amazing shot and wonderful colours! Very good lighting, sharp and detailed image.
Congratulations Nigel and thanks for sharing

Very nice shot Nigel! Great exposure. Paul :)

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2241 W: 47 N: 3167] (10926)
  • [2005-10-10 13:04]

What a superb and interesting couple in love that you have well captured ! Composition, colors, DOF, details and sharpness are very good ! Thanks for sharing Nigel.

  • Great 
  • VeTTe Gold Star Critiquer [C: 162 W: 0 N: 0] (684)
  • [2005-10-10 13:39]

good composition
colors
sharpness

TFS!

  • Great 
  • IdoTT Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 210 W: 19 N: 86] (482)
  • [2005-10-10 14:19]

Outstanding macro shot Nigel!!!
The picture is very sharp and the subject is well placed in the picture!
The colros and the light are great!
The BG is very good the DOF and the POV are great!

WellDone!

  • Great 
  • Lia Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 58 W: 17 N: 135] (952)
  • [2005-10-10 17:20]

Thus is a beautiful photograph says that to!!! two of those sharp butterflies is neat work there can you proud on its also terrible nicely of colour
groetjes Lia

  • Great 
  • cosci Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 14 W: 15 N: 3] (110)
  • [2005-10-10 17:53]

Great picture Nigel !
Very clear details and nice point of view !
Thanks for sharing !

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6166] (21070)
  • [2005-10-11 3:15]

Wow, very sharp, Nigel. Fantastic macro and great composition.
Well done and TFS. : )

Nice close up, good details and framing.
Well done.
TFS.

Hi Nigel,
I think the composition and framing on this shot is excellent. The colors and detail look perfect to me. Superb OOF backround to show off these beauties. Excellent Work!
Scott

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2009 W: 122 N: 2581] (8424)
  • [2005-10-14 11:10]

lovely love shot Nigel.
The composition is well taken, the pov is great but also the dof is very well, I like the details and the good light in this good photo, well done,
gr. jaap

  • Great 
  • phlr Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1241 W: 129 N: 881] (2814)
  • [2005-10-16 4:37]

Very good photo of the mating of this specie!
Very gopod notes too!
Perfect sharpness and great details!
This specie doesn't exist in Potrugal.

  • Great 
  • Avare Silver Note Writer [C: 8 W: 4 N: 75] (514)
  • [2005-10-17 19:59]

Hello Nigel,

Excellent capture! Congratulations!

Best regards.

Nigel,
You did a very sharp and wonderful shot here!
TFS, Laurent

I like the fact that there are two of the same butterflies in this shot, and I like the composition you chose. Also, great colors and details. This is very well done!

Nice shot for an always beautiful scene. It looks very natural, and the specimens look imaculate. I like the darker BG which describes the contour perfectly. Maybe a bit tight at the bottom for my personal taste, but a good work. Thanks Nigel.
PD: I did not want to spoil your dinner, sorry for that! :D

The sharpness of detail stands out and renders perfectly the texture of the butterflies and the texture of the leaf. The colours seem very natural and blend well. The contrast between the two butterflies gives strength to the simple composition, which along with the blurred background, shows off the subject. Perhaps a bit tight at the bottom but that's no big deal.

  • Great 
  • Toni Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 403 W: 2 N: 316] (2034)
  • [2005-11-06 16:50]

Hi Nigel
Excellent macro. Interesting composition with the butterflies in opposite directions. Very sharp and good DOV.
Regards Toni

  • Great 
  • DLM Silver Star Critiquer [C: 19 W: 0 N: 2] (124)
  • [2005-11-08 18:44]

Hi Nigel,
This is a very pleasing image with wonderful colours and detail,
Very well done.
Dave.

  • Great 
  • Active Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 113 W: 6 N: 19] (1231)
  • [2005-11-13 12:18]

Hi!
It`s a fantastic shot. Very nice sharpness which show us every important detail. Nature is the most beautiful thing in the Earth, and you catch this beauty here.
My congratulations :)
TFS and rgds
Barbara

  • Great 
  • cedryk Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 966 W: 52 N: 1694] (5184)
  • [2005-11-21 21:11]

Hello, very nice shot - no doubts, that's really A. hyperantus :-)
Greetings from Poland

Hello,

This is an out standing picture!!!
Thanks for sharing

Wish I had taken this shot - superb!!!

Hi Merlin,
browsing through the TN website I just got your "engaged ringlets" from 2005-10-10 onto my screen. What I well taken picture of that unspectacular species showing fine details and subtle colours, provided with excellent notes and a title that doesnot take documentary nature photography too serious. I always thought being engaged in Britain doesnot include to get as close together as your ringlets do ;).
Next: I just realised that you have been taking excellent pictures with a quite simple inexpensive compact pocket camera. To me, that doubles the impressive number of smileys you have got. And it also serves to me as a proof of my conviction that good pictures come from a photographer's mind and his skills, and not so much from his equipment. Thank you for that picture. Regards,
Peter

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