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The great monarch


The great monarch
Photo Information
Copyright: Livio Soares de Medeiros (livios) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-02-07
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon Powershot Pro1
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/250 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Butterflies in Brazil, Insects in Brazil, Nature in Patos de Minas (fauna and flora) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-02-08 14:10
Viewed: 7240
Points: 21
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I keep on publishing this macro series; specially, the butterfly series. This time, a monarch butterfly.

Shooting this was not easy. I had to be patient, for the insect didn't want to be photographed. Despite that, after several attempts, I got some shots. Right after shooting, I realized I had used f/4,5. In my camera, I can use up to f/8, and this is what I should have used. I guess I have another shot on which I used f/8. If so, I intend to post it.

Below, some informations about the species.

*****

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Suborder: Macrolepidoptera
Family: Danaidae
Genus: Danaus
Species: Danaus plexippus

Wingspan
8.60 to 12.40 cm
(3.39 to 4.88 in)

Geographic Range
Danaus plexippus ranges from North and South America and the Caribbean to Australia, New Zealand, the oceanic islands of the Pacific, Mauritius, the Canary Islands of the Atlantic, and, most recently, Western Europe.

Habitat
D. plexippus is a predominantly open country, frost intolerant species whose range of breeding habitats is greatly dependent upon the presence of asclepiad flora (milkweeds). The monarch requires dense tree cover for overwintering, and the majority of the present sites in California are associated with Eucalyptus trees, specifically the blue gum, Eucalyptus globulus. These trees were introduced from Australia and have filled the role of native species that have been been reduced by logging.

Physical Description
Both male and female monarchs are bright orange with black borders and black veins. The veins on the female are thicker than those of the male. Male monarchs also have a swollen pouch on both of their hind wings.

Monarchs are poisonous to vertebrates. Their poison comes from milkweed, which they feed on.

Monarchs also use their appearance to ward off predators. Orange is considered a warning color, which will warn predators that monarchs are poisonous, and not to attack them. From a distance, monarchs can blend into their surroundings. Sometimes, theier spots will appear to be the eyes of a larger animal, and will ward off predators.

(Source: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Danaus_plexippus.html)
pompey, liquidsunshine, azulu, extramundi, Luc, Fisher, marhowie, PDP has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • pompey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 144 W: 4 N: 746] (2774)
  • [2005-02-08 14:14]

Great shot Livio, fantastic colour saturation and lovely clear image.
Good background and excellent note.
Thanks for sharing.

Great shot Livio,
Another superb butterfly shot.
Excellent detail and nice and clean.
Thanks for posting

Fine shot Livio
This one have a lot of problems: the left flower is burn, the DOF is'nt blur enough and the butterfly is'nt sharp!

Your previous photos were much better than this one
This photo is good, but I'm sure you can do better.

  • Great 
  • azulu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 111 W: 0 N: 75] (374)
  • [2005-02-08 15:19]

Bela foto Livio. Bela composição com boas cores e nitidez. Belo note como sempre.

Parabéns

Alexandre

Outra bonita fot de volvoreta! As cores son unha ledicia e o enfoque e tamben bon. As luces semellan demasiado postprocesadas, ao millor estou errado, mais e a impresion que tenho. Ainda asi, e unha moi bonita foto. Obrigado.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-02-08 17:56]

Well done Livios. Another beautiful compostion. One more month and it will be on it's way up here. :) :)

Mike

Wonderful colours and summer! I miss it so much!
Great photo.

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2005-02-09 5:55]

Great shot Livio, the colours are excellent. The DOF is pretty good considering the wings are opened. There is a little burnout bottom left but it's not distracting. Good work.

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1455 W: 74 N: 1426] (4750)
  • [2005-02-09 6:07]

Beautiful colors and good details! The left flower seems to be a bit overexposed though.

Livio, Overall it's a good shot..As you say at F4/5 there's usually insufficient DOF unless your parallel to the butterflies wings...A small amount of over-exposure bottom left & the saturation is a tiny bit over IMO. Very good note. TFS!

Fenomenal!! Livios vc tem uma baita floresta à disposição? Lindas fotos tuas, não há o que falar...só apreciar e babar!!!
Parabéns mesmo!!
Excelentes!!!

  • Great 
  • nofer Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1190 W: 366 N: 811] (2307)
  • [2005-02-10 23:00]

Linda - a foto e a borboleta!

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