Butterflies & Bug at Bentley Wood.

Visited Bentley Wood again on the 14th May, to try to see some Small Pearl Bordered Butterflies.  Well they were out in force along with some fading Pearl Bordered Fritillarys.

The first one I shot was at rest on some vegetation with its wings open.

Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/5.6, 1/100 sec, ISO400)

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Boloria selene.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F5.6 1/100 Natural Light.

Walking around the area I came across this ladybird which I shot on the leaf.  I like the simplicity of this image.

Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/4, 1/400 sec, ISO400)

Ladybird on Leaf.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO400 F4 1/400 Natural Light.

I was then pointed out a Duke of Burgundy by a couple of other visitors – thanks again.  Managed a shot with some fill flash before mounting the camera on a tripod for a natural light shot.

Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/8, 1/250 sec, ISO400)

Duke of Burgundy – Hamearis lucina.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F8 1/250 Fill Flash from Canon MT-24ex

Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/11, 1/160 sec, ISO400)

Duke of Burgundy – Hamearis lucina.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F11 1/160 Natural Light.

Later in the day I found another small pearl bordered fritillary – and shot it back to front with a burst mode on the camera – then stacked 3 shots later in photoshop to give a full focus view that is not possible at this angle on the butterfly with the lens this close.

Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/8, 1/125 sec, ISO400)

3 Shot Stack of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Boloria selene.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F8 1/125. Natural Light.

The last on I came on late in the day perched on flower, and fairly docile.  So with the use of a tripod I got the following 100mm Lens shots, before moving on to the MPE-65mm for some close ups.

Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/5.6, 1/200 sec, ISO400)

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Boloria selene.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F5.6 1/200, Tripod. Natural Light.

Canon EOS 50D (100mm, f/5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO400)

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary – Boloria selene.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F5.6 1/320, Tripod. Natural Light.

This next shot from the MPE-65mm (at around 1.5 x magnification) is a rare shot for me as it was taken in natural light.  The vast majority of shots with this lens are taken with flash.

Canon EOS 50D (65mm, f/2.8, 1/160 sec, ISO400)

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary – Close Up at 2x Mag.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm Macro Lens.  ISO400 1/160 F2.8.  Natural Light.

Lastly some more closeups from the same butterfly on the lens using the MPE-65mm with flash.

Canon EOS 50D (65mm, f/11, 1/250 sec, ISO400)

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary – Close Up at 2x Mag.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm Macro Lens.  ISO400 1/250 F11.  Flash.

Canon EOS 50D (65mm, f/11, 1/250 sec, ISO400)

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary – Final Image – Background replaced in Photoshop CS5 – using Select Colour Tool.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon MPE-65mm Macro Lens.  ISO 400 F11 1/250 Flash.

See my tutorial on the Select Colour with this image on this page.

https://www.macro-photo.co.uk/2011/replacing-a-background-with-select-colour-in-photoshop-cs5/