Macro and Flora Image of the Week for the week ending March 8th, 2013: Nick Clayton - Essex Skipper

Congratulations Nick!

Snakeholme, Lincolnshire, UK. 22/07/11

Canon 7D
Canon 100mm macro f2.8
1/4 @ f8
+1 EV
Aperture priority
ISO 400
Pattern

Levels
Curves
Saturation
Selective Color
Noise reduction - background only
Photoshop USM - subject only

In the UK there are two very similar looking butterflies, these are the Essex Skipper and Small Skipper, possibly the only reliable way of telling them apart is the underside of the tips of the antennae, in the Essex Skipper they are black whereas those of the Small Skipper are orange. The inspiration for this image was to show this feature of the Essex Skipper.

Wonderful image Nick it out a smile on my face when I open it, congrats on the win

Thanks Don. I think the butterfly looks like it's smiling due to the shape of the second leg from the top.