Thank you all so much for the warm welcome back on my last post! It made my heart swell with joy to know that so many of you still care. Group hug! I replied to everyone that had a return email address attached to their Google account, but several of you didn't. FYI
My fuzzy memory can't remember how long I've had the 100mm macro lens, but I can tell you that it has rarely left my camera body since I received it. Bertha and this lens make a good marriage, I think! The poor 100-400mm lens lies neglected in my camera bag, pining away for Bertha. But what can I do? This new lens has me smitten right now. Is it possible that a camera lens has the ability to stimulate serotonin levels? Maybe I can throw these happy pills in the trash soon.
Macro photography is CHALLENGING, y'all! Why is it, when I'm walking around in this Hades-like climate, there is no breeze to cool me off? Yet the minute I point my camera at something, Mr. Breeze makes an appearance, laughing maniacally at me, I'm certain. Despite my often loud protestations and proclamations of The wind is not my friend, while begging it to CALM DOWN FOR ONE BLASTED SECOND, it continues to annoy at the worst possible moments! And just when I think I've somehow convinced Mr. B to be still, my subject moves, or worse, flies off. Maybe that's why I never get bored with doing macro shots, because just the idea of getting that perfect image is such a thrill.
Now, on with the show! These were all taken the last week of August and first week of September at Independence Park in Baton Rouge.
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| Monarch |
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Thanks for the correction, Kim! |
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| Talk about flitting about! These guys are constantly fluttering their wings while they feed. Out of 200 shots I'll bet 5 had decent focus on the wing markings. |
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| Silver-spotted skipper - a first for me. I only had a handful of chances with this rare sighting. I'm still stalking his whereabouts to do better. |
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| Fiery skipper (pretty sure) Skippers are some of my favorites with those soulful brown eyes. |
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| Eastern tiger swallowtail |
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| A beautiful specimen with no tears on the wings. |
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| Long-tailed skipper |
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| Anybody know what type of butterfly this will turn into? I have nearly Googled myself to death. Help! Update: Thanks, Tammy & Hilary for helping me identify this is a clouded sulphur! |
33 comments:
i did my best to i.d. that caterpillar - to no avail. did read one site that said most yellow caterpillars 'grow up' to be moths. but couldn't find a match. :)
love your butterfly macros! sweet little skippers. :)
You're awesome, Gail. Your knowledge of birds and butterflies blows me away. We were gone most of the summer so I'm just getting back into the routine. Plus, my foot's in a soft boot from my foot slipping into the side of one of those cobblestones in Paris. But it was worth it! Hey, have a great weekend! (The Tigers looked like a professional team first quarter last week. If they don't lose that groove, I'm thinking we'll be National Champions.)
Oh Gail you have to be one of the best photographers and you know everything about what you photograph making you priceless. They are so beautiful I wish the whole world can see them but the rate you are going I am pretty sure they will. Welcome back my friend. Hugs B
I'm just in awe of your macros, Gail. I thought you were a master of macros with your old lens, but you've stepped up your game with this new macro lens. The detail in these shots is amazing.
So amazing....that one of the spicebush with his legs grasping the center of the daisy is breathtaking. WEll they all are really. Thank you.
How come I smell you at other blog?
You should have magnified yourself and made your presence known through macro photography.
These are gorgeous! That lens is a keeper. Equipment is part of the equation, but knowing how to use it and having vision is more important. Nice work!
Gail, these are amazing butterfly images! Well done! Have a happy weekend!
That 2nd image from the top is outstanding. I love 'em all of course.
Sorry, I just don't make time for emails, so my email is not visible on my blog nor do I use email in my comment posts [some as in Wordpress]...I always use a bogus email then. LOL But, you can stop by my blog anytime to say 'howdy'.
More importantly, I am just glad you're doing well Gail.
Yes, macro photography will build endurance, character and patience too. You hit on the head when you talked about the wind; all is still until you pick the camera up; SO TRUE!
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/bfly2/cloudless_sulphur.htm
Its a Clouded Sulphur Butterfly Caterpillar.
Great captures like only you can do, You have a new friend in that lens!
I guess I missed your previous post,but am also glad to see you back and posting again. Pictures like these need to be shared.I trust that the road ahead will be brighter for you.I have walked the road of depression myself and it is not a fun one to be on. Keep that camera clicking and marvel at the beauty you find.
It's so good to have you back. I have a great big smile on my face as I am looking at your photos. They are beautiful. That sure is a strange looking Caterpillar.
Hugs~
And you are back with a bang. Wow. Simply gorgeous. Keep 'em coming!
LOVE your macro photography
and that you concentrate on the flutterbys and caterpillars and, of course, birds.
So glad you are posting again.
Ohh Gail!! I'm so glad that you're back!! I've missed your lovely photography!! My hands are shaking more and more and so many of my shots have to be deleted. You are the butterfly queen!! Lovely shots.
Lovely Gail!!
Mornin’ Gail. No help here with caterpillar ID. Let’s just call her Gorgeous. Forgot to send congrats on your photo’s being picked up for a possible canvas printing. Consider good luck wishes sent.
All is well now that you're back! I must have missed your premier as I've not been on the PC much lately!
Your macro images are awesome. Flash supposedly freezes action, but I haven't mastered it!
Wow, these are grand!
Gail, you rock the macro lens as you did the tele! These photos are stunning!
Beautiful shots, I just adore butterflies. And yes that caterpillar is a cloudless sulpher and the spicebush is actually a pipevine swallowtail. The spicebush mimics the pipevine, and is distinguishable with the iridescence on the wings and there is also some blue on the abdomen. I'm working on my Monarch series as I've been raising the caterpillars since March and have released over two hundred butterflies so far, and a handful of pipevine and black swallowtails. They are so fascinating! I have to say I was shaking my head when you were talking about that darn wind...it does just all of a sudden start blowing away right when I'm about to take a shot. Haven't seen any tiger swallowtails, so this was a real treat.
These are gorgeous. How close do you have to get with that lens? Lisa Gordon wrote a post about a windbox she made for her macros. You should ask her about it!
Beautiful shots!
Beautiful Gail. Welcome back. You've been missed. Our last year has been filled with many heartaches and I'm hopeful the next year will be better. I lost a job, had a wayward son, and an aging parent. Thankfully we're good right now, bur I was in the same space as you for a while--numb and unable to move. Glad you're coming out on the other side.
i am just speechless...with delight and awe!!
I think your photos are awesome! I might have to say that each and every post.
Ok....so when you were taking these shots, how far away were you with Miss Bertha? I feel like a such a failure when using my camera. I just can't seem to get everything right. Great photos...
shug
the coloring of the last photo won me over...it's by far my most favorite :)
Beautiful photos! I'm so glad you are back as your photos are an inspiration to me. I emnvy you your macro lens. :))
Gail, each of these is spectacular. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, fully spread is my favourite.
I think lens love is possible!
Great pictures - my macro lens does not get enough use!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Wow, just wow! Gorgeous shots! Butterflies are so difficult to capture because of their constant movement and here you captured them with a macro to boot.... Great job!
I lost my Internet a couple of weeks ago but now that I'm back online I am so happy to see that you're blogging again... Yay! You're such an inspiration to me to want to take better photos. Welcome back!
Oh these are just stunning shots, Gail. I Googled "caterpillar identification Louisiana" and think your yellow guy might be an Orange-barred Sulphur.
http://susanleachsnyder.com/Conservancy%20Butterfly%20Garden/OrangeBarredSulphur.html
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