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Lantana genus


Lantana genus
Photo Information
Copyright: Eduard Baak (snowfalken) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 419 W: 27 N: 497] (1788)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-19
Categories: Insects, Flowers
Camera: Canon EOS 30 D, Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Butterflies on Lantana Flowers, Beautiful Butterflies Part Two [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-17 6:50
Viewed: 5133
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello my friends,

Since this isn't my first post of a Scarce Swallowtail, I won't provide informations about this species again but will write some words about the flowers this beauty was nectaring on (lantana camara). This is a wild plant but is also cultivated as an ornamental plant in countries with temperate climate. I hope I will not be "convicted" for posting a picture of a cultivated plant since this one was growing on the side of the road between Liapades and Paleokastritsa in Greece. Besides, obviously, the subject was the butterfly not the plant. I just provide these informations for the sake of not being redundant on the Iphiclides podalirius species which I also posted here.

Lantana (Lantana camara)

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Lantana

Species: About 150 species, including:

Lantana camara
Lantana montevidensis
Lantana rugulosa
Lantana tiliifolia
Lantana trifolia

Lantana is a genus of about 150 species of perennial flowering plants, native to tropical regions of the Americas, Africa and existing as an imported weed in numerous regions including Australia, New Guinea and Hawaii. The genus includes both herbaceous plants and shrubs growing to 0.5-2 m tall.

Lantana's aromatic flower clusters (called umbels) are a mix of red and orange florets. Other colors exist as new varieties are being selected.

Lantana berries are edible when ripe though like most fruit may be mildly poisonous if eaten while still green. Lantana flowers and berries are attractive to insects and birds.

Cultivation and uses

Lantana species are widely cultivated for their flowers in tropical and subtropical environments and (as an annual plant) in temperate climates.

Some species are invasive, and are considered to be noxious weeds in southern Asia, southern Africa, and Australia. In the United States, some Lantana species are now naturalized in the southeast, especially coastal regions of the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and the Gulf Coast where it is often known as "ham and eggs".

Lantana species are used as food plants by the larvae of hepialid moths of the genera Aenetus, including A. ligniveren and A. scotti, and Endoclita, including E. malabaricus. Other Lepidoptera whose larvae feed on Lantana include Hypercompe orsa and Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Most of the plants sold as lantana are either Lantana camara, Lantana montevidensis, or hybrids between the two. L. camara (syn. L. aculeata or L. armata) is the most common species in cultivation. Numerous cultivars of this species exist, including 'Irene', 'Christine' and 'Dallas Red' (all tall-growing cultivars) and several recently introduced shorter ones. The shorter cultivars may flower more prolifically than the taller ones. Lantana montevidensis is known as Trailing Lantana. The species gives blue (or white) flowers all year round. Its foliage is dark green and has a distinct odor.

Source: WIKIPEDIA

Photo info

The weather was fine, clear sky, almost no wind and the atmosphere was kind of hazy, sometimes with invisible horizon line. The temperature was about 42 degr. Celsius.

EXIF

ISOSpeedRatings - 100
ShutterSpeedValue - 1/400 seconds
ApertureValue - F 5.60
ExposureBiasValue - 0.00
MeteringMode - Multi-segment
Flash - Not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 200 mm
ExposureMode - Manual
White Balance - Auto

PP in CS2:

- RAW to TIF to JPG;
- selective sharpened with high pass filter;
- selective saturated;
- cropped, resized, added frame and signature;
lovenature, peter_stoeckl, angybone, petrudamsa, earthtraveler, mirceax, Proframe, JoseMiguel, Luis52, Juyona, Ken52, anel, uleko, Christopher_PL, cicindela has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cicindela: Thank you my friend!snowfalken 1 09-14 13:30
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Eduard
The composition of your butterfly and flower is awesome. You captured a nice view of the butterfly that shows off his bright wing pattern and colour. Excellent POV and DOF. Great note.
TFS Janice

Hello Eddie,
an image of iconic beauty, with a marvellous spectre of juicy subtropical colours, and a very skillfully placed falloff in sharpness that creates a wonderful depth. I love the idea to use the perfectly pictured swallowtail just as an eyecatcher to draw us into the story of Lantana that is shown in generous flowers - and fruits.
Thank you! My best regards,
Peter

WOW!!!!!!
This is awesome...what perfect lighting. The bg is perfect.
The focus is 'spot on.'
WONDERFUL!

Hi Eduard,

Although the info about the plant is very good and comprehansive, I still like more the butterfly. Composition and colours are awesome.

Cheers, Petru

  • Great 
  • jesst Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 0 N: 172] (2441)
  • [2007-08-17 10:51]

Very bright picture. Great POV and DOF

Hello Eduard
Very colorful composition. Good detailed focus and POV.
TFS
Richard

Hi Eduard,
fantastic motive, wonderful shot, I like the colours and the soft BG so much.
And that butterfly is so marvelous, thanks for this beauty
Sabine - wishnugaruda

hi eduard,
a stunning capture !
very impressive this compostion with the plant and the butterfly and the fantastic 2 coloured BG.
excellent pose of the swallowtail,great DOF and framing.
bright vivid colours.
great !
TFS - carole

Hi Eduard,
Una verdadera maravilla de foto, parece una pintura, me encanta la delicada composición y los colores pastel del fondo, así como los detalles de la mariposa. excelente trabajo
Saludos
Hernán

Buna Edi,
Superba imaginea:pozitia fluturelui, compozitia si culorile sunt de nota 10.La astea se mai adauga un Bg de vis.
Felicitati!
Merci pt imagine si pt. comentariile tale.

Mircea

Hi Eddie,
First of all, thank you very much for the great comments wich only you can write that way. Much appreciated!!!!
As it comes to this image: You are the only one overhere on TN who does think and excecute a butterfly composition like this. Superb!!!!
I'm sure that 999 out of a 1000, including me, of us would have made a side or frontal shot of this lovely butterfly.
You do have such a great eye for compositions/situations like this.
Awsomly beautiful with perfect DOF, great colors and most wonderful soft background color tones.
Thanks for sharing and the great note.
Best wishes and have a nice weekend,
Harry

Hi Eduard,
An artistic presentation!
I like so much the effect got in this image, with that smooth gradation at the background, that spans both ground and sky, and makes the perfect support for the main subject (I mean the 2 main subjects).
The DOF used worked great and is the base on this picture.
Details caught on the butterfly are so clear and sharp, as good as in the lantana.
Congratulations and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2007-08-17 19:08]

Hola Eduard.- Bella la Mariposa y las flores de Lantana. Exelente Nota. Luis52.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2007-08-17 19:40]

Hola amigo Eduard,
sobresaliente trabajo amigo,
nitidez y pov, sensacional trabajo.
bella escena.
iluminación y nitidez perfecta.
saludos

hello eduard,
fine capture, this shot has been composed very well, nice point of view, lovely colours, the tones of the bg looks very beautiful, sharp image with good details,nice framing too,
very well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • dip (59)
  • [2007-08-17 20:33]

Wonderful picture,amazing colors!

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 636 W: 93 N: 1243] (4195)
  • [2007-08-17 20:50]

Hello Eddie,

A stunning photo. One of the most beautiful butterfly photos I have seen!

Composition:

I should not be surprised because I know you have an artistic eye, but this composition is beautiful. The huge butterfly occupies a prominent off centered position. The flowers and berries balance the composition and there is plenty of space around each to make them stand out. As always, the light frame is perfect.

Colors:

I love the background colors in this photo! I think the tan/blue combination is under-rated. It is always so pleasing together. The butterfly colors are saturated well, yet, very natural. You captured the magic in the blue on the butterfly tail.

Contrast:

Sigh. I don't know how to comment on contrast except to say that the butterfly stands out well against the blue sky and the black and yellow colors of the wing create a contrast that accuntates the beauty of the butterfly.

Exposure:

You were working with a wide variety of colors and managed to bring out the best in each color. The exposure is excellent. A bright and cheerful image.

Focus:

The focus is sharp on the butterfly with good edges. The excellent DOF created a nice soft blur on background flowers and berries.

It was the composition and colors that REALLY caught my attention in this photo. BRAVO.

Ken

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2007-08-18 2:55]

hello Eduard,
Superb picture! I love this butterfly because it is gliding so elegantely through the air.
You made a very artistic composition. Nice pose, interesting light and a very beautiful bi-coloured background. Intertesting note.
Thanks and best regards
Anne

Hello Edouard,
Very colourful image...
Nice work and good presentation...
TFS
Annick

This is a real work-of-art! I love those pastel colors a lot, great details, exposure, composition with those superb flowers and this so nice specie. This is beautiful! Thanks,
Claudine

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2007-08-18 6:55]

Hello Eduard,
Really splendid capture of this Swallowtail in a nice pose on the Lantana flower. Sharp details and lovely colours. The soft background is wonderful and the composition excellent.
Many thanks, Ulla

Bonjour Eduard
Trčs belle prise, cadrage original avec un excellent resultat, couleurs, netteté tout y est!
Amicalement Robi

Hello Eduard
Excellent composition! Especially big thanks for the beautifull background - it's perfect!
The butterfly is also very good, nice POV and DOF, thanks

Chris

Hello Eddie,
I have to say that this picture paid my attention thanks to the title. Isaw a well known for me species of butterfly and the title totaly different! It was a good idea to do such compilation :)
And also it was a good idea to write about something new :)
Now something about the picture...

First of all I have to say that I like it. All composition, colouration, sharpness and POV - especially if I am looking at the insect.
TN is the place for some contructive critique too, so this time not only compliments :)
The title suggests that it will be possible to see much more details of the plant and unfortunatelly the plant species in not the main object of this photo (of course I understand that the reason for the title was different - you wanted to write about something new that Swallowtail :>). This is only small thing of course and only my POV :)
TFS and have a nice weekend!
Radomir

hi eduard,

looking forward to new pictures of you,but until that i ll travel though your older pictures.this one is particularly beautiful!i would immediately put it on my wall to look at it every day!the colors are so beautiful!it is so clean,and so artistically composed.
simply great to my eyes!
tfs
caroline

  • Great 
  • reina Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 257 W: 1 N: 330] (2032)
  • [2007-10-19 14:17]

Very artistic, original POV, great outstanding coloiurs, taste like something else. TFS Reina

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