small-skipper-male Photo

Photographer’s Note

Large Skipper (Ochlodes venata)
This is one of the earliest of the skipper butterfly, doing a fair impression of an X-wing fighter, instead holding their wings flat they hold the front set above the bottm set. We can tell its male because of the dark front edge to the bottom wing and the hook on the end of the antennae, seen here sunning its self on the edge of a dock leaf (Rumex).
This is a faily common butterfly in England the caterpillars feed on a couple of different common grasses. they live as caterpillars for 11months hibernating then doing the chrysallis bit for 3 weeks before emerging, they set a favoured sunning spot from which to chase the rival males away and to catch females, forthe 3 weeks they will survive.
adjustments
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saturation +8
Shapen edges - fade back to 75%
crop to size

kikvel, milloup, mogens-j has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

kikvel (4772) 2004-06-19 18:51

Excellent macro! Neat details of the butterfly! DOF is great, very well done!

milloup (1829) 2004-06-20 16:35

Nice capture, only the left antenna somewhat outside the DOF range. These chaps look so furry and soft ;-). It must be the season for these, I also just caught one - not as nice as this, as the light was low. Mine's a male too, judging by the signs listed in your note.

mogens-j (56) 2004-06-20 18:21

Excellent capture Robert. i am not sure, but I think we have one in Denmark too - could you send me the zoo-name??

The brown colours of the butterfly makes a great contrast to the background and as usual a clever handling of dof. Well done.

cdewet (0) 2004-06-21 14:34

Robert, this one has a velvetty texture like an expensive tux suit. The wings resemble dried tobacco leaves. Like it a lot, woulf loke to see a shot from the mug-side too. Glad your joybox is up and running.