Flying Insect Adventures

Image Critiques Macro/Close-up Critiques
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Red Admiral on tripod leg

Red Admiral_.jpg
Red Admiral_.jpg2000×1545 568 KB

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth egg

Clearwing Moth Egg.jpg
Clearwing Moth Egg.jpg2000×1334 297 KB

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Description

I went to a local open area, maintained as grassland to photograph butterflies. It was swarming with Sachem’s and Silver-spotted Checkers. The surprise was getting “harassed” by this fresh Red Admiral. As I walked past it flew up from the path and landed on my hand. After a couple of minutes, expecting it to fly away any moment, I shook my hand and it flew down to the locking knobs of my tripod. It was too close to tilt the camera and take a photo, so I lengthened the legs (hands an inch or two from the BF). It was so busy sampling the sweat and oil on the knob that I could wave my hand at it and it would only shift slightly to the side. I took the camera off the tripod and took multiple shots both in backlight and sun over my shoulder (this view). I finally put the camera back on the tripod, picked it up and started on down the mowed, grassy path. The BF, flew a bit and landed on my back (I think…). When I stopped a hundred yard down the trail and set up for the Moth Egg shot, the BF flew into the grass nearby! Finally!

The only Hummingbird Clearwing that I saw was flying low and repeatedly landing on young leaves. Since that looked like egg laying behavior, I turned one leaf up and sure enough there was a tiny green egg. The plants were the “invasive” honeysuckle vine that is taking over local open areas. The second photo is a life size look at this egg. It’s roughly one to two millimeters in diameter.

Specific Feedback

It was quite a fun adventure. I did get some decent butterfly shots that I’ll post later.

Technical Details

R5, 180mm macro

Red Admiral: 1/800 s, f/8, iso 640, cropped to 8.5 x 11

Clearwing Moth Egg: 1/640 s, f/8, iso 640, full frame

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Mark: I once had a Blue Morpho land on my face at the Cockrell Butterfly Center in Houston. Looked like an eye patch on me. I’ve tried to locate the slide but that’s a tough search. I can’t say that the perch is all that attractive but the Admiral is beautiful. Cool shot of the egg as well. :+1: :+1:>=))>

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Just to be clear @Bill_Fach, you were talking about the red admiral’s perch right? :wink:
Interesting perch Mark. Amazing you were able to "spot"the clearwing’s egg. Cool shots both.

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Amazing on all counts! I’ve never been able to get within 10 ft of a butterfly (or a frog).

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Oh my, Mark, that sounds like quite the experience all the way around. I’m not sure my old eyes could have spotted the egg though. It is good to know that is the behavior to watch for so maybe I can spot the egg or even the Hummingbird Moth laying the egg. I had a butterfly to land on my shoe and then on my pants leg once when I was out walking. It was cool so I am sure your experience was really neat.