Pre-Olympic Portland Butterflies

I took a pre-Olympic visit to Broadcroft Quarry on the Isle of Portland, in the hope of finding some Chalkhill Blues to photograph.  I was not to be disappointed, with several fresh ones showing and posing well.  What did surprise me was the number of Marbled Whites about, I’d estimate a good 100+ were about, especially near the cliff edge   There were also several gatekeepers about and the first photograph is one of these which I caught in nice sunlight as it rested on some grass.  Also about were some Silver-studded Blues, also in good nick.

Gatekeeper.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 200 F5.6 1/250.  Natural Light.  Tripod.

This first shot of the target species that I went to visit the site, is a rare for me F16 shot of a butterfly.  I  needed this F stop to get most of the butterfly in focus as it is quite a large butterfly for a blue and I was in close to it as you can see.

Chalkhill Blue.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 400 1/160 F16.  Tripod in Natural Light.

This one I like due to the angle I photographed the butterfly at.

Chalkhill Blue.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 200 F7.1 1/400.  Natural Light.  Tripod.

The final Chalkhill Blue shot is this one, also taken on a Tripod ( in fact all these shots were).

Chalkhill Blue.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens.  ISO 200 1/400 F6.3.  Tripod in Natural Light.

The last two images are of a Silver-studded Blue.  The first is close up on it, and the studded marking is fairly plain to see on its outer wing.

Silver-studded Blue.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 200 F9 1/60.  Natural Light.  Tripod.

Finally this one shoes how small this Blue can be, as I took it from further back to put it in its habitat.

Silver-studded Blue.  Taken on Canon 50D with Canon 100mm F2.8 USM Macro Lens. ISO 200 F4.5 1/1000.  Natural Light.  Tripod.

Map of Location.

Butterfly Conservation Reserve.