last lovers

Photo Information

(5270)

Genre: Animals

Medium: Color

Date Taken: 2008-10-08

Categories: Insects

Camera: Canon 350D, Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6 DG Macro, @ ISO 200, Hoya UV Filter

Photo Version: Original Version

Date Submitted: 2008-10-26 14:49

Viewed: 4900

Points: 24

[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note

Dear Friends,
The butterflies I present you today are really nothing extraordinary. Indeed, Polyommatus icarus is one of the most common blue species in Europe. There are two reasons I post it:

First, it was probably the latest pairing of this butterflies I've ever seen. Of course, the reason for it was that I photographed the couple in Serbia. In October, Poland has already very cold nights and rarely you can see butterflies flying around, not even mentioning pairing activities. There, in Serbia everything was green, many flowers were still blooming and I could see at least 6 species of butterflies around within half an hour.

The other reason for posting this shot is a very peculiar situation in which it was made. Basically, with Krzys (cataclysta) we were stuck on a grass lane in the town Cacak, in Northern Serbia. Radek's (cicindela) car, with which we were travelling to Montenegro, broke down - he (with another friend) went to Belgrade to buy needed parts. Krzys and I took the car to the car service and were waiting for the news from Belgrade, whether they were able to buy the parts or not. Virtually, for several hours we had nothing to do. Thus, we were sitting on the grass lane by the service and photographing butterflies circling around us. That is why you already had an occasion to see some pictures from this place by Krzys (here, and here). Fortunately, the story ended well - Radek got the parts, the mechanic fixed the car and we were able to continue our trip to Montenegro.

By the way, the title of this post refers to the novel "Last Lovers" by William Wharton, an author I used to like in my younger years. Then, I got a bit tired by his way of looking at the world, yet I don't think he is a bad writer :-)

Technical notes:
upper picture
shutter 1/200, aperture 16, fill in flash used

lower picture
shutter 1/250, aperture 22, natural light

The same pair is seen on both pictures. I was observing the two for some 15 minutes while they were flying slowly from one place to another, not caring that much about me.

To get more info about the species I pictured, please go there.

ramthakur, crs, meyerd, horia, cataclysta, Alex99, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Thread	Thread Starter	Messages	Updated
To cicindela: Dzieki!	cedryk	1	10-31 06:55
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Critiques [Translate]

lousat (65489)
[2008-10-26 14:59]

Hi Michal,2 fantastics pics! You was lucky to found a situation like that and a great photographer to take that so perfectly! The colors,the details and the differents points f view are impressives! My best compliments,have a nice week,Luciano

ramthakur (56953)
[2008-10-26 18:13]

Hi Michal! How are you?
You made the best use of idle moments by the roadside -- chasing butterflies.
These are the most wonderful mating images of these beautiful butterflies.
The images are well composed and colourful.
Your story makes an interesting reading.
Wharton has apparently done well thus far; you write English with a flair!
Regards.
Ram

meyerd (7531)
[2008-10-27 0:16]

Hi Michal,
this was indeed a high-class photographer that got stranded in the grass! It's true that we all saw pictures of this species before, but you add incredible depth and composition to create the great images. I hope you will entertain us with much more from your trip. I travelled in Montenegro by bicycle two times, visiting 3 National parks and doing the bicyclists dream, the Lovcen pass, I like the country a lot. So I expect a lot from you guys!

With my best wishes from Switzerland
Dieterich

alliturnam (116)
[2008-10-27 4:02]

Merhaba Michal,her iki karede �ok g�zel.G�zel bir sunum ve anlatım olmuş.Hikayeyi ne g�zel g�rselleştirmişsin,ellerine sağlık :)

horia (16656)
[2008-10-27 8:33]

Hi Michal

Indeed a very late pair mating here. The climate has it's way of "playing" with us everywhere. Considering where i live, i wasn't able to find any dragonflies for about a month now, but i've seen some friends from Holland or Belgium that still get some shots...weird.
Anyway, your words here make sense - it's normal to have species flying longer in the south than in Poland.

That aside, this is a very beautiful collage!
I really like the two POVs here that gives us an excellent image of the species.
The exposure parameters are great and the flash work is spot-on. Great sharpness and lovely colors, too.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

PS: nice to hear that Radek's car didn't die there :)

Alutka (1682)
[2008-10-27 8:52]

Hej Michał,
niezłe są te zdjęcia, szczeg�lnie podoba mi się ich kolorystyka i ostrość. Może na moim monitorze są ciut za ciemne, ale tak czasem wychodzą gdy słońce jest silne. Ciężko wtedy jest nie "przepalić" fotki więc lepiej gdy jest ciut ciemniejsza.
Lubię modraszki i cieszę się, że nie tylko ja...
Dzięki
Alina

crs (3551)
[2008-10-27 9:22]

Hello Michal,

Your colage is very well done both photos having excelent images. You have used very well the strong light showing fine, saturated colors both on the insects and flower beneath. DOF is big enough to keep insects and flower in focus showing sharp details. Wings pattern and colors are well rendered showing well even its texture.

Thank you for sharing,
Cristian

cataclysta (5666)
[2008-10-27 11:29]

Czesc Misiu
Obie fotki fajne. Bardziej podoba mi sie ta pierwsza ze wzgledu na fajne ustawienie skrzydel i mocny niebieski akcent w postaci cykorii. Tlo ladnie rozmyte, zieloniutkie. No i oczywiscie notka fajna ;-)
Pozdrawiam
Krzys

CatherineD (14097)
[2008-10-27 15:12]

Hello Michal,
Very interesting story! How nature photographers can enjoy any natural place... despite some mechanic problems!
The two shots are very good for their strong colours and sharpness. Very nice use of flash, which give natural colours.
Best regards,
Catherine

joey (24909)
[2008-10-27 16:39]

An outstanding pair of macro shots, Michal!
Both photos are technically brilliant!
Very nice colours.
Great sharpness.

Well done,
Joe

romuszka (2263)
[2008-10-28 4:00]

Witaj Michale,
bardzo zmyslnie pokazane, bo i barwy /wzory/ skrzydelek zlozonych jak rowniez rozlozonych.
To jest pomocne w rozpoznaniu gatunku /jak dla takich laikow jak ja :)/.
Zdjecie ostre, wyraziste kolory. Bardzo dobry opis zaopatrzony w odnosniki.

Gratuluje kadru, starannosci opisu i sztuki fotograficznej.
Pozdrawiam - Roma

Alex99 (23735)
[2008-10-28 5:12]

Hi Michal.
You have told a very attractive story as a note for these amazing shots. They are really brilliant. I am impressed with razor sharpness and terrific details of the flowers and insects. Lights and colours are superb as well as the DOF, fine deep BG and great composition. Blameless work. Bravo and TFS.
Alexei.

cicindela (9226)
[2008-10-30 13:36]
[+]

No wreszcie sie doczekalem! :P choc szczerze mowiac opowiesc o sprzegle jakas rozbudowana specjalnie nie jest ;) I pomija ciezka i mozolna prace przy zdobywaniu czesci zapasowych! hihihi!
Zdjatka sa calkiem niezle, podoba mi sie i kompozycja i detal. Sadzac po zmianie pozycji mozna by dac tytul takze "fast lovers" ;>

A powaznie, przy opisie gatunku nie wiem czy odniesienie do innych prezentacji jest najlepsze, osobiscie wole znalezc szczegoly o obiekcie przy fotce w prezentacji Autora :)
Pozdrowionka!
Radek

andrei99 (731)
[2008-12-22 1:55]

Beautiful collage.I like much the two flyers from the bottom.At the top sit on the chicory and clover on the bottom.I think the top is female.

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Photos: Earth >> Europe >> Serbia >> North >> Serbia >> cacak

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