Orange Sulphur 2008

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Orange Sulphur 2008
Photo Information
Copyright: Ken Slade (Ken52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 661 W: 98 N: 1202] (4017)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-28
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT), Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, 58mm circular polarizer
Exposure: f/8, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Butterflies III [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-12 19:10
Viewed: 428
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I have seen more Orange Sulphur butterflies so far this spring than all other butterflies combined. This one I photographed nectering on Oueen Anne's Lace near a local lake. I believe it is a male.

When perching, this butterfly almost always keeps it’s wings closed. I did manage to briefly catch a dorsal view. I added that, not-so-sharp photo to workshop. From that photo, you can see why they are called Orange Sulphurs.


Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

Identification: Quite variable. Upperside of male yellow with orange overlay, yellow veins, wide black border, and dark black cell spot. Female yellow or white with irregular black border surrounding light spots. Underside hindwing spot silver with 2 concentric dark rings, and a spot above it.

Life history: Males patrol for receptive females, who lay eggs singly on top of host plant leaves. Most feeding takes place at night. Young caterpillars chew holes in the tops of leaves, then later feed from the leaf tip. Older caterpillars eat half of the leaf before moving to the other half. Chrysalids overwinter.

Flight: Two-three flights in the north from June-October, 4-5 in the south from March-November.

Wing span: 1 3/8 - 2 3/4 inches (3.5 - 7 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: Plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), white clover (Trifolium repens), and white sweet clover (Melilotus alba).

Adult food: Nectar from many kinds of flowers including dandelion, milkweeds, goldenrods, and asters.

Habitat: A wide variety of open sites, especially clover and alfalfa fields, mowed fields, vacant lots, meadows, road edges.

Range: Southern Canada to central Mexico, coast to coast in the United States except for the Florida peninsula. Comments: One of the most widespread and common butterflies in North America.

Source: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1419

Aperture = f8.0
Shutter = 1/800s
ISO = 400
Focal Length = 300mm
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens
waylim, iris, maurydv, JPlumb, eng55, Alex99, Pentaxfriend, MMM, phlr has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Ken,
Excellent close-up image of this Orange Sulphur butterfly. Perfect sharpness and clarity. Great POV, colors and light well balanced. Thank you.
Way

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2726 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-05-12 20:25]

Hello Ken

What a wonderful POV ,you have captured this beautiful sulphur well.
The focus is sharp with lovely detail.The textures are superb.
Excellent POV and DOF.
Well composed in the frame.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-05-12 21:32]

Hi Ken,
Wonderful shot of this beautiful Orange Sulphur with such lovely colours and markings on its wings. Superb light and exposure levels and you have captured it in a classic pose. Excellent DOF isolates it from the BG nicely and a well chosen parallel POV to portray it. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 159 N: 889] (2827)
  • [2008-05-12 23:58]

Hi Ken, very good capture and positioning of this feeding Orange Sulphur. Your detail is very good with good depth of field giving excellent sharp clarity on the butterfly. I like how you can see all the hairs and veins on it so easily.

Thanks, John

Splendida immagine, eccellente POV, molto bella la composizione, straordinaria nitidezza e superba "texture", meravigliosi i colori e BG. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 335 W: 3 N: 370] (1093)
  • [2008-05-13 1:02]

Hi Ken,
Beautiful close up of this butterfy.Details are tack sharp and crisp clear.I liked warm lighting and simple BG also very much.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 367 W: 39 N: 651] (2047)
  • [2008-05-13 1:22]

Hello Ken
A wonderful shot of the Orange sulphur. Lovely lighting, colours and contrasts.
THe workshop was a good idea and clearly shows the rich orange colour in the open wings.
TFA and cheers:)

Hello Ken,

Very nice picture of this butterfly. Good composition and sharpness. Great colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2935 W: 142 N: 4217] (13775)
  • [2008-05-13 9:09]

Hi Ken.
How well you have reflected amazing butterfly. We can see all charming details and features of the beauty. POV, framing and composition are wonderful. For my taste I prefer a bit wider DOF and sharp image of the fine flowers too. However, it is matter of taste. Especially for this stunning picture. My best wishes and compliments.
Alexei.

Hi Ken,

Beautifull shot
Excellent lighting, colors, BG and POV
Perfect DOF, sharpness and details

TFS Thijs

Hola Ken.
Todas tus imágenes son dignas de elogio, como ésta.
Preciosos tonos y un estupendo bg.
Buen comentario.
Un cordial saludo, JL.

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 752 W: 0 N: 1456] (6590)
  • [2008-05-15 15:17]

Hi Ken
Beautiful closed up image.Great POV and excellent sharpness for that nice composition.
TFS Michel

Great sharpness and wonderfully composed. You captured the markings perfectly. I always love it when we catch them drinking. :)

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