New Lens, New Model, Pt. 7 - _TNY_2020
In the spring of 2023, I bought myself a new (used) lens - A Sigma 180mm f/3.5 APO Macro DG HSM with the intent to provide better reach for butterflies and dragonflies and it has been a great addition!
Here is the first "real" subject I ever shot with it - and fittingly also the first time this particular butterfly had a photo taken of it.
It is a citrus swallowtail (Papilio demoleus), sometimes known as the Christmas butterfly and I watched it make its first flight after having climbed out of the chrysalis and its wings had dried. I initially thought this was the very similar Papilio demodocus, but there is a white spot missing on the dorsal forewing which should be there if it was a demodocus and with it missing, it must be a demoleus if I understand correctly.
It was a very short flight, just a meter or two and ended in the middle of the walking path at the Haga Ocean Butterfly house in Solna, Sweden. To prevent it being trampled by a visitor, I gently moved it to a rock and got a nice modelling session out of it. I am happy this was "the first" as I happen to think this is a particularily pretty species - and I even got shots of both the dorsal and ventral side of the wings.
The lens has added a great reach which has meant I've being able to get some shots which would have been impossible with the 100mm lens I used before in this setting - never a bad thing to scare the subject less.
Part 1 also shows the underside of this one here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52777306298/
Part 2 is a different angle on the dorsal side here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52781936848/
Part 3 is a much closer version of Pt. 1 with some nice eye detail here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52800160143/ (extra cropped version here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52846008835/)
Part 4 is the dorsal side again here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52891636052/
Part 5 is ventral: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53311540600/
Part 6 is dorsal again: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53757980965/
New Lens, New Model, Pt. 7 - _TNY_2020
In the spring of 2023, I bought myself a new (used) lens - A Sigma 180mm f/3.5 APO Macro DG HSM with the intent to provide better reach for butterflies and dragonflies and it has been a great addition!
Here is the first "real" subject I ever shot with it - and fittingly also the first time this particular butterfly had a photo taken of it.
It is a citrus swallowtail (Papilio demoleus), sometimes known as the Christmas butterfly and I watched it make its first flight after having climbed out of the chrysalis and its wings had dried. I initially thought this was the very similar Papilio demodocus, but there is a white spot missing on the dorsal forewing which should be there if it was a demodocus and with it missing, it must be a demoleus if I understand correctly.
It was a very short flight, just a meter or two and ended in the middle of the walking path at the Haga Ocean Butterfly house in Solna, Sweden. To prevent it being trampled by a visitor, I gently moved it to a rock and got a nice modelling session out of it. I am happy this was "the first" as I happen to think this is a particularily pretty species - and I even got shots of both the dorsal and ventral side of the wings.
The lens has added a great reach which has meant I've being able to get some shots which would have been impossible with the 100mm lens I used before in this setting - never a bad thing to scare the subject less.
Part 1 also shows the underside of this one here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52777306298/
Part 2 is a different angle on the dorsal side here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52781936848/
Part 3 is a much closer version of Pt. 1 with some nice eye detail here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52800160143/ (extra cropped version here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52846008835/)
Part 4 is the dorsal side again here: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/52891636052/
Part 5 is ventral: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53311540600/
Part 6 is dorsal again: www.flickr.com/photos/tinyturtle/53757980965/