Not the usual butterfly image/shot from me here, but something a little different (for me). Whilst tracking a very nice "blue type" fresh female Common Blue recently, i took this shot of her. I could see other Common Blues(4 of them) starting to settle down to roost behind her, so in order...

With the month of May soon ending(the wettest May ive know!!)...it was great to finally see some warm sunny weather. Yesterday afternoon, i took a trip out to Darland Banks, Gillingham, Kent. I had "dropped in" at this location on Friday after work, just to see what had emerged, so it was ...

Great to see you back, TM. Those Grizzled Skipper images are first class. Thanks for that David, good to start taking pics again. Apart from 1 session with "Adders" back in late February, it was the 1st time i'd had a camera in hand(out in the field) since back in October 2020!! So, yeste...

My 1st post this season...its been a long Winter/hibernation for me! This last Sunday(2/5/21) was the 1st time i had gone "butterflying" too!...Ive just struggled to find the motivation this season...but it was good to get out there, an capture some nice images. Target species were Skipper...

All butterfly images shot/taken in Kent(England). First 2 images are not cropped, the 3rd image down is cropped some.
Mating pair of Clouded Yellows.


Female Adonis Blue.


Female Silver Spotted Skipper.

Well this wasn't so much as a can of worms I opened as lorry load. An interesting discussion nonetheless and goes to show just how personal and subjective photography can be. I'm glad we all like different styles though, this site wouldn't be half as interesting if we all posted the same style of i...

I tried to read that link, but didnt find it that interesting, so i gave up. :roll: Im not into landscape photography, or pets or people. I wondering if the author has ever tried close up/macro photography of small skittish creatures(that are alive)? or insects with wings? that are also very much al...

Interestingly, true 'Padfield shots' are taken from within 5cm of the butterfly. You have to be very close for the butterfly to represent a significant angular width (and therefore appear large against a mountain backdrop). I used to take all my photographs from within 5cm. When I'm lazy (and now p...

Just going through some of my recent Clouded Yellow images, an i came across this photo. Having never seen the Pupa of a Clouded Yellow, im not sure what im looking at?!...Is this a pupa, or is it wishful thinking, an just a leaf? Fresh emerged CY's were seen/photographed on this site. 1st pic is no...

An interesting thread and some good comments from various perspectives. As others have quite rightly said, there is no right or wrong here, we all have our own equally valid opinions. For myself, I like to see all kinds of images from distant shots of the subject in habitat to close up 'butterfly o...

No offence taken! :) I did say others could do better ... (But just to be clear, there's no actual fakery here - all are single shots, taken in nature, so that was what it was like to be there) Guy No problems Guy, i was just making light of the situation/thread :wink: Now, all i have to do is loca...

This healthy debate (and thanks for all the input - it's much appreciated!) is EXACTLY why we have a panel of judges, rather than one opinion! Without any parameters, all judges have always made their own individual assessment of what criteria they should apply. Some focus on technical execution. F...

I'll add my ha'pence, as the 'Padfield shot' has (kindly) been mentioned! First, any style of picture can be done well or badly. The competition winners are always outstanding photos by outstanding photographers, and better than anything I can take. There's no false humility there, it's just a fact...

Paradigms, we are all looking at this, as we do with all things, from different perspectives - there is no right or wrong. Personally, I look at butterfly photos from the point of view as an ecologist and conservationist, what can I learn from the photo about; the habitat, the age of the butterflie...

Some interesting posts on this thread so far :roll: If you look at the top 3 (possibly 4) contributors on the group know as TQBBI (the link provided in my 1st post) you will probably recognise their names! Mark, Nigel, Iain...These 3 photographers/enthusiasts produce quality Butterfly images year i...

Some interesting posts on this thread so far :roll: This is indeed an interesting discussion. I think that the main points have already been made - namely that: 1. How you perceive these images is very much a question of personal taste. 2. Clearly, a great deal of technical skill, time and effort g...

Some interesting posts on this thread so far :roll: If you look at the top 3 (possibly 4) contributors on the group know as TQBBI (the link provided in my 1st post) you will probably recognise their names! Mark, Nigel, Iain...These 3 photographers/enthusiasts produce quality Butterfly images year in...

David M wrote: ↑Sun Oct 04, 2020 9:26 am Thanks for the link, TM. There are plenty of splendid images on there.....did I notice your recent Common Blue female amongst them?

Yes David, i recently uploaded that female Common Blue.

Just an observation...but wow! :shock: ............11 of the entries so far, have just joined recently, with a single post :roll: I only just discovered the forum, I've been enjoying exploring it, and look forward to participating, sorry if posting here caused offence, I will delete my entry. Hi Be...

Whilst ive joined various butterfly groups on Flickr, i think one of the best groups to join, would be the group know as - Top Quality British Butterfly Images. Several reasons for this, but the main reason being, its a great source of inspiration, with a fair few members that post/display great but...