Ringlets Are Romantic

e6filmusere6filmuser Registered Users Posts: 3,379 Major grins
edited July 4, 2015 in Holy Macro
Not the hairstyle, these two.

I have just visited a butterfly web site which states “butterflies do not fly when mating”. Yes they do. These did, twice, and I have seen it in other species.

These Ringlet butterflies, Aphantopus hyperantus, were in my garden today.

I don’t understand why, to the naked eye, and in the first image, the smaller individual is darker but they are the same colour in the second image.

They started on tall grass and moved to a Vasculum leaf. When they separated, one individual returned to the a plant amongst the grass. It is very difficult to recognise the sexes in this species, although the male is almost black when it emerges.

EM-1, Kiron 105mm for the pair, Printing Nikkor 105mm for the portrait) twin diffused TTL RC flash, hand-held. Both lenses at f11.

Harold


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Comments

  • Lord VetinariLord Vetinari Registered Users Posts: 15,901 Major grins
    edited July 4, 2015
    Lovely captures Harold - esp like #1
    Brian V.
  • e6filmusere6filmuser Registered Users Posts: 3,379 Major grins
    edited July 4, 2015
    Lovely captures Harold - esp like #1
    Brian V.

    Thanks, Brian.

    Me too. In fact I had to check the EXIF to see if flash was used. It was but, as ISO 400 and f11 at 1/200 sec, I seem to have, by chance, balanced daylight and flash. It had to happen one day! clap.gif

    This was only the first or second day of the species being around. They are easier to photograph than most butterflies.

    Harold
  • StumblebumStumblebum Registered Users Posts: 8,480 Major grins
    edited July 4, 2015
    Nice stuff!
  • e6filmusere6filmuser Registered Users Posts: 3,379 Major grins
    edited July 4, 2015
    Stumblebum wrote: »
    Nice stuff!

    Thanks, SB.

    Harold
  • kdotaylorkdotaylor Registered Users Posts: 1,280 Major grins
    edited July 4, 2015
    Wow, incredible detail! Nicely done
    Kate
    www.katetaylor.smugmug.com
    "You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." Mark Twain
  • e6filmusere6filmuser Registered Users Posts: 3,379 Major grins
    edited July 4, 2015
    kdotaylor wrote: »
    Wow, incredible detail! Nicely done

    Thanks. It pays to use lenses within their optimum magnification range. I hope to find a subject where I can use the wider apertures of the Printing Nikkor, where the detail will be mind-blowing.

    Harold
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