Cassius Blue

[K9Kirk]

I finally spotted some cassius blue butterflies, I've been told about them being in this area. They don't go much further north from what I've read because north Florida is too cold for them in the winter, they're usually found from central to lower Florida. It was hard to get a good focus on them with the big Tamron, they're very tiny at 16 to 25 mm and they move quickly and constantly, you have to be very focused and quick to get a decent shot when they do land.

This pic is heavily cropped.

Also, a beautiful little buckeye butterfly.

 

[jeffashman]

Nice couple of shots! Not bad looking for being heavily cropped.

 

[K9Kirk]

Nice couple of shots! Not bad looking for being heavily cropped.

Thank you Jeff. That was taken with the big Tamron.

 

[Jeff15]

Some very nice shots.....

 

[K9Kirk]

Some very nice shots.....

Thanks, Jeff.

 

[Lez325]

Loving the Buckeye image- you need a Macro lens Kirk a great investment

Les

 

[K9Kirk]

Loving the Buckeye image- you need a Macro lens Kirk a great investment

Les

Thanks, Lez. I have one, it's a Sigma 105 mm 1:2.8 DG Macro HSM. I shot these at appx 9 ft. away, the closest my 600 mm Tamron will allow and to be honest, those little guys wouldn't let me get any closer without flying away so the macro wouldn't have worked in this setting. At the flower garden it's a whole other story, they don't spook nearly as easily so you can get up close where the Sigma shines. It's a nice lens, a great investment, as you said.

 

[Lez325]

Thanks, Lez. I have one, it's a Sigma 105 mm 1:2.8 DG Macro HSM. I shot these at appx 9 ft. away, the closest my 600 mm Tamron will allow and to be honest, those little guys wouldn't let me get any closer without flying away so the macro wouldn't have worked in this setting. At the flower garden it's a whole other story, they don't spook nearly as easily so you can get up close where the Sigma shines. It's a nice lens, a great investment, as you said.

I have 2 macro lenses at present- Sigma 70mm f1.4 ART kens and the Sony 90mm f2.8 macro lens

I find if you find a plant they seem to like - sit close till they fly away, mostly they will return to the same plant- grab your chance- pre focused on a single flower using a tripod will give a greater chance of success as will a small fill flash set on HSS to give flexibility on a high shutter speed

I shot this at f10 1/640th sec ISO 200 - using the above formula

Les

 

[K9Kirk]

I have 2 macro lenses at present- Sigma 70mm f1.4 ART kens and the Sony 90mm f2.8 macro lens

I find if you find a plant they seem to like - sit close till they fly away, mostly they will return to the same plant- grab your chance- pre focused on a single flower using a tripod will give a greater chance of success as will a small fill flash set on HSS to give flexibility on a high shutter speed

I shot this at f10 1/640th sec ISO 200 - using the above formula

Les

That's very nice. Here's one of my older ones with no flash or tripod. Agree on waiting at one flower, they almost always come back to it.
This is @ f/14, 1/200 sec, ISO 320, +1 step

 

[Lez325]

That's very nice. Here's one of my older ones with no flash or tripod. Agree on waiting at one flower, they almost always come back to it.
This is @ f/14, 1/200 sec, ISO 320, +1 step
View attachment 251716

Lovely shot- Is that a type of Moth?

Les

 

[K9Kirk]

Lovely shot- Is that a type of Moth?

Les

I know, the fuzzy wings make it appear to be a moth but according to this site, it's a butterfly. They say that a couple ways to tell are it has clubbed antennae and it's wings are folded vertical. I tried to ID it and it appears to be a Horace's Duskywing.

How can you tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth?

One of the easiest ways to tell the difference between a butterfly and a moth is to look at the antennae. A butterfly’s antennae are club-shaped with a long shaft and a bulb at the end. A moth’s antennae are feathery or saw-edged. Hummingbird moth (Hyles lineata) on showy milkweed at Seedskadee...

www.loc.gov

 

[Lez325]

Thanks buddy