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Giant Swallowtailess


Giant Swallowtailess
Photo Information
Copyright: Jim White (jmirah) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 5 N: 901] (3574)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-29
Categories: Insects
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Butterflies of Nort-America, BUTTERFLIES OF AMERICA, Butterflies III, Butterflies, Butterflys of the world, Butterfly & Dragonfly [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-29 18:59
Viewed: 434
Points: 16
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly sans swallowtail
Papilio cresphontes

Giant Swallowtail Butterfly

I felt so very sorry for this butterfly. The rear portions of both wings were gone. But I assume the two appendages are supposed to resemble the front of the butterfly as to fool an attacker and are expendable. The loss of the rear sections probably saved it from becoming a meal for a hungry bird or other critter. Or maybe it had become trapped in a spiders web and escaped sans swallowtails. Or perhaps it was attacked by another butterfly. It will remain one of lifes many mysteries. The loss didn't seem to bother it at all, it was happily flitting around from flower to flower enjoying the rain cooled summer nectar.

Exposure Setting: Manual
f/stop: 4.8
Shutter Speed: 1/800
ISO: 100
Focal Length: 420mm[35mm]-equivilent
Auto Focus: Normal/Center-Zone/Continuous
Compression: Standard
White Balance: Daylight
Color: Natural
Sharpness: Normal
Tripod: No
Flash: Off
Megapixels: 6.0
Dimensions: 800 x 665
File Size: 151 KB
Date: August 29, 2007

Cropped, brightness adjusted, color enhanced, Neat Image noise reduction and resized.

A better view of the wings in workshop

Rx I sent the butterfly to see Angelina(angybone), she knows how to repair damaged wings.
lovenature, angybone, pierrefonds, Silke, Evelynn has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Jim
Love all the colours here. The dark green background is a very nice contrast to the warm orange and brown colours of the butterfly. The flowers are an added bonus with the small insects crawling around them. I do like the angle you captured here, it's a bit different than most. ....it's okay to be different :D
TFS Janice

Its a very well composed picture. You wonder how they can fly with wings like that. Do you suppose they just get really tattered as they age from wear and tear?

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1824 W: 243 N: 6007] (21398)
  • [2007-08-30 3:14]

Hi Jim,
a nice shot of this impressive butterfly.
I love the beetles on the flower.
Sharp with good colours.
Well done,
Joe

OK...should I be jealous or happy for you?
This is a great butterfly shot. Your work has just progressively gotten better and better. I'm impressed. :D

I also like the unusual angle and until I read Joey's comments, I didn't even realize that there were beetles on the flowers. This is a good one!

Hi Jim,

A nice close-up image of the butterfly, the photo has a good composition, sharpness and nice colors. thanks for sharing.

Pierre

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1729] (5398)
  • [2007-08-30 9:03]

Wow! I wonder how it manoeuvres without that tail?
Great colours and details, superb notes
TFS
silke

You sneaked this one in when I wasn't looking! : )
The colors and composition are very nice. There is a dynamic feel to the shot.
I've seen some pretty tattered butterflies able to get around. We do what we have to do; handle what we are dealt or die, I suppose. It's a nice shot.

TFS
Evelynn ; )

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1761 W: 29 N: 5136] (16820)
  • [2007-08-31 21:37]

Hi Jim,
Wonderful shot of this Giant Swallowtail with lovely soft colours and sharo details. Though the wings are worn and torn it still retains its beauty and seems a huge one. The darkish BG highlights the subjects well. The lantana-like flowers must be very sweet for so many inseects to be enjoying its nectar. Excellent POV to portray this scene and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

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