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Grass Skipper


Grass Skipper
Photo Information
Copyright: Jesus Linares (jlinaresp) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 464 W: 17 N: 959] (3568)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-09
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon SX 110 IS
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): South American Butterflies 2, Fotos de Skippers [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-08-11 17:50
Viewed: 368
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Spanish]
During this past weekend, I had the opportunity to learn a little about how to take photographs of very dark subject, posing in shiny surfaces with light colors. A good example is this brown skipper, who was kind enough to pose in a sheet of color almost yellow. The light conditions were relatively good, with bright sun and little wind. That allowed me to stay at ISO 100 and high speed of exposure. Avoid over-exposure cost me a lot, but I believe that the result was fair, show some details of the insect and the structure of the leaf at the same time.

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Scientific classification:
--------------------------
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Hesperioidea
Family: Hesperiidae
Subfamily: Hesperiinae


Hesperiidae: The Skippers

Family Facts:

The family is known as the Skippers because the butterflies exhibit a rapid, erratic ("skipping") flight pattern. The Skippers are not considered to be "true" butterflies, but are more closely related to the true butterflies than are the moths.
There are at least 250 species of Skippers in North America, with 34 of them occurring in Idaho. The Skippers of Idaho represent three subfamilies, the Pyrginae (Spread-Winged Skippers), the Hesperiinae (Grass Skippers), and the Heteropterinae (Skipperlings).
These butterflies are generally characterized by the following: 1) a large, hairy body; 2) a large head, at least as wide or wider than the thorax; 3) fully developed and functioning forelegs in both sexes; 4) small, pointed wings; 5) unique pattern of vennation on the forewing; and 6) curved or hooked antennae tips. Males of many species possess a patch of scent scales on the forewing, called a stigma, useful in attracting females. Males may also have a folded portion of the forewing on the leading edge, called a costal fold, which encloses scent scales.
Many species of Skippers bask in the sun with a unique posture, the forewings being open only half way and the hindwings open fully.
Eggs are tiny (less than the width of the head of a pin!) and vary in appearance, but often are dome-shaped. Caterpillars generally are green with tapered bodies, often live in shelters constructed with leaves and silk, and frequently are the stage which overwinters. Pupae hang in loose cocoons and may have a silk girdle.
Subfamily: Pyrginae
Epargyreus clarus- Silver-Spotted Skipper
Erynnis afranius- Afranius Duskywing
Erynnis icelus- Dreamy Duskywing
Erynnis pacuvius- Pacuvius Duskywing
Erynnis persius- Persius Duskywing
Heliopetes ericetorum- Northern White-Skipper
Hesperopsis libya- Mohave Sootywing
Pholisora catullus- Common Sootywing
Pyrgus centaureae- Grizzled Skipper
Pyrgus communis- Common Checkered-Skipper
Pyrgus ruralis- Two-Banded Checkered-Skipper
Thorybes mexicana- Mexican Cloudywing
Thorybes pylades- Northern Cloudywing

Subfamily: Hesperiinae
Amblyscirtes vialis -Common Roadside-Skipper
Atalopedes campestris-Sachem
Euphyes vestris -Dun Skipper
Hesperia colorado-Western Branded Skipper
Hesperia comma COMPLEX -Common Branded Skipper
Hesperia juba -Juba Skipper
Hesperia nevada -Nevada Skipper
Hesperia uncas-Uncas Skipper
Oarisma garita -Garita Skipperling
Ochlodes sylvanoides -Woodland Skipper
Ochlodes yuma -Yuma Skipper
Poanes taxiles -Taxiles Skipper
Polites draco -Draco Skipper
Polites mystic -Long Dash
Polites peckius -Peck's Skipper
Polites sabuleti -Sandhill Skipper
Polites sonora -Sonoran Skipper
Polites themistocles -Tawny-Edged Skipper
Thymelicus lineola -European Skipper

Subfamily: Heteropterinae
Carterocephalus palaemon- Arctic Skipper
Piruna pirus- Russet Skipperling

http://imnh.isu.edu/digitalatlas/bio/insects/butrfly/famhesp/famhes.htm
boreocypriensis, Argus, siggi, horias, parasbhalla, goldyrs, thor68, Noisette, Hormon_Manyer, peter_stoeckl has marked this note useful
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To Chiza: RE: Skipperjlinaresp 1 08-11 18:52
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Chiza Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 34 W: 0 N: 197] (964)
  • [2009-08-11 18:42]
  • [+]

Hola Jesús: Pues le has sacado provecho a las nuevas enseñanzas; muy buena la foto y la verdad cuesta obtener tanta calidad con esas condiciones que se presentaron...excelente toma de verdad y lo más dificil es lograr que una Skipper se quede quieta...saludos.

Hello Jesus,
Very good exposure indeed. I might have been tempted to stop down for slightly better DOF, but it is difficult to argue with the overall sharpness of this image.
Regards,
Greg

Hi and Good Morning MF Jesus,
A perfect macro capture of this pretty hesperid butterfly from top POV with excellent focusing, great DOF and fine composition.
TFS and have a nice day!
Bayram

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3813 W: 190 N: 11346] (34981)
  • [2009-08-11 22:27]

Hello Jesús,
Skippers like this one present their wings in such a way when resting that it is difficult to take a good overall sharp macro. Even more difficult in sharp light, but you have managed to overcome this in this fine capture and the leaf BG is perfect.
This looks like it belong to the Calpodini tribe of skippers, possibly Orphe species.
Thanks and all the best,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4716] (16222)
  • [2009-08-11 23:04]

Hello Jesus,
very nice capture of the skipper, this pov gives nice exposure of the open winged insects, excellent details on the wings,
Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2386 W: 94 N: 5517] (17564)
  • [2009-08-12 0:47]

Hello Jesus,
Beautiful photo in great overall sharp details. Very nice contrasting colours against the green leaf in the BG. Good composition.
Regards,
Peter

hello Jesus
this is also a very beautiful picture
good details and good sharpness
greeting lou

Jesus,
Wonderful...wonderful...wonderful!
All is great//!!!
Horia

Hi Jesús,

Wonderful macro capture of the skipper...Wow! I like the natural colors of the skipper, which give great contrast to the green leave on which it is taking a short break :) The sharpness and POV are perfectly fine to me and DOF is really amazing. Wonderful composition, overall!

Thanks for posting.

regards,
Paras Bhalla

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 645 W: 15 N: 1580] (6173)
  • [2009-08-12 8:16]

Hello Jesus
Excellent details and beautiful colors
Regards
Razvan

Another wonderful macro, my friend Jesus!
I love the warm colours and the sharp details!
Bravo!
G

  • Great 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 792 W: 138 N: 1312] (5642)
  • [2009-08-12 11:41]

is that a butterfly or a stealth fighter? *g* excellent capture of the wonderful skipper! :-) great pose and nice details,
love the (sun)light and the fresh green leaf as a background. well done & take care, thor.

Hello Jesus
a superb capture of this Grass Skipper taken from a great POV from the top, the details are crisp clear sharp, i like also the superb green color of th BG`
Have a good night
Jacqueline

Ciao di nuovo Jesus, bellissima questa tutta nera, anche questa mai vista prima, magnifici dettagli e splendida nitidezza, bravo, ciao Silvio

Hola amigo,
Good to see You again my Friend (after commenting another image of You early morning local time, before going to the office). Except for one little thing Your image is a stunner. Perfect sharpness, warm color tones, details, exposure management, lights, POV, pose - a pity You cropped a bit from the insect's shadow. By the way, with or without the full shadows, an image to be proud of. Congrats and tfs.
Un saludo, László

Hola Jesús

Una muy buena toma en tu practica para la perfección, para haberla hecho con sol, te ha salido una imagen con una oscuridad impactante, efectivamente si no se prueban las cosas, nunca salen. Realmente te ha ayudado mucho la planta en tonos claros, para poder realzar esta especie de polilla.

Un saludo Antonio

Hola Jesús,
very clear, powerfully frame filling capture of a dark skipper resting in strong sunlight. The juicy green leaf serves as an excellent platform. I also like the way you insert your name plus a few photographic details within the frame in minimum size but still well readible letters. Thank you!
With best regards,
Peter

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