Love on the Fireweed, Pt. 3 - _TNY_4490

While on a walk along a rarely used logging road outside Härnösand, Sweden, my wife found me these two blues busy in the throes of love at the top of a short fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium).

 

Like most blues I find and shoot, this is one of two species: the idas blue (Plebejus idas) or the silver-studded blue (Plebejus argus) - but they look so similar that I can't tell which these are.

 

This was shot using the Sima 180 mm f/3.5 Macro lens. Normally, this has a max magnification of 1:1, but coupling it with a Sigma EX 2x teleconverter like I have done here not only doubles the focal length to 360 mm but it also double the magnification to 2:1 (at the same working distance).

 

Part 2 can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53236558191/

 

Two behind-the-scenes shots which my son took of me, showing how this isn't the most ergonomic setup, can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53236860333/

 

and here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53583339608/

 

Part 1 was taken after I switched to the MP-E65mm lens and can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53029723140/

Done