Butterfly

[Dave Leroy]

I will go out on a limb and call this a type of Copper Butterfly. It was taken in a park alongside the Frser River near Vancouver a few days ago. There were tons of them flitting around feeding on wild roses and sweet peas. 50D, 100/2.8 macro at f/8, 1/750, ISO400. It is cropped, has a bit of work to remove some bg dark spots and then usual pp,n. It was hard to get all the pertinent bits and pieces in focus at same time.
Dave

[Steve Maxson]

Hi Dave. I like how you've captured a side view showing the feeding tube inserted into the flower. This is a skipper, rather than a copper. :) There are many species of skipper and they can be hard to tell apart (and I can't help you with that), but they all have short wings and heavy bodies. I would wish for a little more DOF on the wings and I would suggest cloning out the dark spot in the URC.

[Dave Leroy]

Thanks Steve. My quick search would indicate a Dun Skipper. I did wonder about that dark spot in urc, as well as the focus on wings. Dave

[Fabs Forns]

Steve nailed the suggestions, great behavior captured, Dave, keep them coming.

[Alfred Forns]

Agree with suggestions .... also getting more parallel to the Skipper would have help dof !! Love it !!!!!

[Julie Kenward]

Dave, one of the ways you can tell this is a skipper is the little clubbed antenna. Butterflies have longer antenna for the most part. Also, if you look at the eyes, they are always the same on skippers - big, round, flat on top and that dark chocolate brown color.

Agree with the other suggestions but would have liked to have had you back up just a little bit more so the entire center of the flower was included in the image. I feel like the right edge of the frame got cut off a bit prematurely. Nice details on the skipper and good angle!

[Gordon Craig]

I can't stop looking at the eyes and feeding tube in this picture! I agree it would have been nice to get the whole flower in but I realize that insects can move around a lot.

[Dave Leroy]

Thanks everyone for the comments, tips, and suggestions. It is much appreciated. Dave