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Moonlight and Blues...


Moonlight and Blues...
Photo Information
Copyright: Iris Hues (iris) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 479 W: 60 N: 970] (3088)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-10-11
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon SX100 IS
Exposure: f/2.8, 1/60 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-03-19 10:13
Viewed: 5009
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Dear friends,

Today I have a pair of blues for you and the title of course is inspired by the romantic poem by one of the more humanist writers of France- Jacques Tahureau(1527-1555) whose brief life of 27 years produced two very memorable poems – Moonlight and Shadows of His Lady.

The moment I saw the composition in my camera during review, I loved it for the lights and the colours.Out there in the field were numerous little blues skitting around in the afternoon sunlight. It was one of those October days with the sun still warm but light turning quite soft. As I looked around I was particularly attracted to this pair where I saw the one on the right alight on the dandelion and then soon the blue on the left came over. It was as if the two wanted to sit there and look at each other for a few seconds. Soon the one on the left moved taking a small flight around the dandelion and settling down again. I am not too sure it was a courtship ritual or not, but the scene was beautiful. The blue colour on the butterflies looked almost like silver powder and the dried flower also seemed dusted with blue.

The first time I looked at the image, I felt the pair looked truly lost in each other like a Pair out in there in the Moonlit Night. I do have a small note attached on the courtship dance of butterflies for those who would like to stick to the technical notes. But for these romantics here is the poem Moonlight by Jacques Tahureau

The high Midnight was garlanding her head
With many a shining star in shining skies,
And, of her grace, a slumber on mine eyes,
And, after sorrow, quietness was shed.
Far in dim fields cicadas jargoned
A thin shrill clamour of complaints and cries;
And all the woods were pallid, in strange wise,
With pallor of the sad moon overspread.

Then came my lady to that lonely place,
And, from her palfrey stooping, did embrace
And hang upon my neck, and kissed me over;
Wherefore the day is far less dear than night,
And sweeter is the shadow than the light,
Since night has made me such a happy lover.

-------------------------------------------------------
Courtship among Butterflies

Courtship of butterflies involves a variety of behavioral, physiological and biochemical mechanisms. A male butterfly actively searches for the female, using mainly visual stimuli. Such visual stimuli may be in the form of colour, ultra-violet light reflections, iridescence, size, shape or any moving object like falling leaves. The female’s colour is not very important. Visual stimuli will be followed by olfactory stimuli to excite the female by releasing pheromone produced from the androconia on forewings of the males. Next the male moves round in short stages to make contact with the female’s abdomen. If the female is receptive, she raises her wings slightly and uncovers the tip of her abdomen and matting takes place at the first attempt, while mating is in progress, one of the pair usually flies, clumsily dragging along the other, who hangs passively.
Most male pheromones are effective only over short distance and act by making the females receptive for mating or by inhibiting her from flying. In males, the glandular structures producing pheromones are located on the wings, the legs, the thorax or the abdomen in the form of androconia or brush like tufts or hairs. The tufts of hairs are usually protected inside abdominal pouches and emerge only during courtship.
Source: http://www.naturemagics.com/butterfly/butterfly-courtship.shtm.
-------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for looking
Cheers
Silpa
Heaven, haraprasan, maurydv, eng55, crs, red45, Argus, bahadir, oldferret, Noisette, Luis52, NinaM, boreocypriensis, Alex99, Miss_Piggy, anel, goutham_ramesh, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To anel: Helloiris 2 03-21 06:28
To Miss_Piggy: "Ladies" Photoiris 1 03-20 21:17
To goutham_ramesh: Tiltiris 1 03-20 21:15
To Argus: Doubtful femaleiris 1 03-20 21:09
To red45: Thank you Gregiris 1 03-20 21:04
To crs: Helloiris 1 03-20 20:59
To nasokoun: Hiiris 1 03-20 20:56
To PeterZ: Thank Youiris 1 03-20 20:54
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 123 N: 2341] (7912)
  • [2009-03-19 10:19]

Hi Iris!

I'm glad and proud to be your neighbour today. Your post simply is superb and so valuable. The picture is magnificent, the two butterflies and the flower, together with the dark background, create a fine painting. Moreover, the unity of the colour tones concerning the butterflies and the flower is so well seen. I'm also delighted by your deep and poetic notes that suit the picture very well.

Kind regards

Markus

Hi Silpa,
A nice capture of these beautiful blues. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Silpa,
what a wonderful picture, POV and composition are excellent, i like the opposed pose of the beautiful butterflies on the splendid flower against a dark BG, superb sharpness and very beautiful natural colours.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1256 W: 42 N: 1976] (5892)
  • [2009-03-19 10:56]

Hi Silpa,
Beautiful capture and composition.POV,moment you caught,details,simple BG,details framing and visual impact are excellent.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2009-03-19 10:58]
  • [+]

Hello Silpa,
A photo in very beautiful colours. The contrasts against the dark BG are great. Good sharpness and an excellent composition. Very pleasant title.
Regards,
Peter

hello Iris
excellent face to face,
the dark background it stresses intensely bright colors
very beautiful photo
best regards
Nasos

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 0 N: 922] (3551)
  • [2009-03-19 11:06]
  • [+]

Hello Slipa,

Very fine composition with excelent light and colors. Image has a very high quality being very sharp and showing insects and plants in great details. The note is withessing your sensitivity and the photo prouves your skill to express it in images.

Congratulations,
Cristian

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2009-03-19 11:14]
  • [+]

Hi Iris!

Thank you very much for this beautifull post. This isn't ordinary picture and note, this is much, much more. This post cause avalanche of feelings in my heart. First of all picture is unique - scene, light, delicate colours and composition - all are superb. Poem by Jacques Tahureau is beautifull and it is perfect addendum to your picture. Both made one of most romantic post I've ever seen on TN. To my favs!

Namaste Silpa,
this shot is beautiful, I love that arrangement. They seem to have a nice discussion ;-) Thanks and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Ciao Silpa, wonderful couple of lovely butterflies, great contrast against warm BG, splendid colors and wonderful light, excellent sharpness and fine details, brava, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2009-03-19 12:11]
  • [+]

Hello Silpa,
A romatic scene with a romantic title! The female blue on the right is looking a bit doubtful though! Technically this is fine and the composition on the silvery seed head with the contrasting dark BG is great.
Nice quote in the note too.
Thanks, we in the north need shots like this to help tolerate the long cold winter.
All the best,
Ivan

Hello Iris, Great shot of these butterflies. Lighting and colors are excellent as well as the composition. Beautiful shot.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

Hi Silpa,
What a delightful combinations of colour and contrast, good clear image with a great coloured background. Thanks for showing. Regards Bill

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 957 W: 0 N: 1329] (6264)
  • [2009-03-19 12:28]

Hi Silpa!
A splendid catch.
Very beautiful colors and clear.
Have a nice evening,
Adrian

Hello Iris
Wow ! two beauties on one shot !
great composition of this two blues on his silvery plant
nice details on the butterflies and very good contrast with the dark BG
TFS Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1175 W: 8 N: 4240] (15809)
  • [2009-03-19 15:45]

Hola Silpa.
You have here an excellent super macro. The pose of the butterflys are amazing. The soft tones makes it even better.
Saludos
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer [C: 773 W: 3 N: 1157] (4077)
  • [2009-03-19 17:23]

This is superb, Silpa, what a great composition, the colours are fantastic. I really like the powder blue of the wings and that you meet again in the flower. The dark background enlighten the whole scene. Beautiful and very well seen as I can tell from your great notes. Thank you!

Francine

Namaste Silpa, an absolutely perfect macro capture of this beutiful pair in-love with excellent details and great composition. Well prepared notes on butterfly courtchip too.
TFS and cheers MF!
Bayram

Hello Silpa,
this is superb macro! There are beautiful butterflies which were arranged on the flower opposite each other. I like composirion, details and colors. And this picture is really musical and romantic.
Best regards, Leonid

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2009-03-19 22:54]

Hi Silpa.
What a nice symmetric composition with charming butterflies and so wonderful dry flower. I am amazed with beautifulness of lights and very pleasant colours. Deep brownish BG is great canvas for main bright subject. All details of the insect and plant are reflected with superb exactness and skill. Bravo. Perfect job.
Alexei.

Good picture with tons of details and that metallic sheen! Excellent capture. Did you try tilting your camera a bit to get a diagonal composition? I think you would have got a better POV ( Its just a personal taste )
BTW I sent an IM invite! in gtalk.

Hallo Silpa
What a most spectacular view. A very striking image clearly visible details. You managed to capture these beauties in the most lovely poses. I just love the shiny star shaped flower that separates the two butterflies. It stands out well and the the display of it is just great. A definite PPP – Pretty, perfect, picture. I am not sure if I land in hot water for saying this, but this is indeed a "ladies" photo. Very soft and delicate to the eye. Thanks for this contribution.
Best regards
Anna

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2009-03-20 3:34]
  • [+]

Hello Silpa,
A very romantic shot! How cute these two Lycaenidae butterflies on the soft shining plant.
The poem is a very pleasant complement to the picture.
I also like the natural colors of your shot.
Thanks and best regards
Anne

First of all, I must compliment you for writing a wonderful note, Silpa.
Secondly, your image has some kind of quality to it that defies the usual, cliche-ridden descriptions. Like the poem you have quoted in the note, it is just a thing of beauty that ought to be seen and enjoyed and not described.
Congratulations on creating this thing of beauty and warm regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2009-03-20 8:17]

Hello Silpa, The shot is marvellous on
a. The silver color on which the butterfly is standing
b. Both the butterflies on opposite direction
c. excellent frame
d. Lovely POV.
e. Great clarity
Well done Ganesh

hello Silpa

beautiful photography of this pair of butterflies,
with fine POV and appropriate vertical framing,
superb focus with great sharpness and details,
i love the contrast between the luminous foreground
and the shadowed background, TFS

Asbed

hello silpa,
very nice capture of the pair of blue butterflies, you have got a good pose here, i liked the way you have composed this shot, the dark bg compliments well, precise dof,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2009-04-15 1:24]

Hi Silpa,
the dance is really exciting. The two of them look exciting and lovely. the sharpness and clarity of the flower and butterfly is very pleasant against the brownish background.
the striped feelers stand out excellently giving this a shot a good feel of nature in its action.
Well composed that resembles element of symmetry.

regards,
Foozi

This is such a lovely shot, Silpa.And you quote Tahureau, great choice in poetry...There's something magical about this shot...I almost expected a gnome or a goblin using moonshine to create a spell potion! 
Regards,Goldy Rajiv Santhoji

Beautiful capture - perfect timing and opportunity. Wonderfully sharp. Hope to see you post more soon.

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