Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Black Swallowtail
‹ PreviousMacro & Close-up GalleryNext ›

Black Swallowtail

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted July 17, 2014254 views17 comments
The (Eastern) Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), also called the American Swallowtail or Parsnip Swallowtail.
I've also seen the Pipevine & Spicebush Swallowtails in past seasons, all three look very similar. Perched on a stray wild milk thistle, garden zinnias for BG.
F/14, 1/1250th, ISO 1250, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8 + 1.4x, 580EX flash with a soft top. Monopod for support.

Comments

17 comments
Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on July 17, 2014 at 2:37 PM
Excellent sharpness in the butterfly and flower. Beautiful bg. Very nicely done, Howard!
Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on July 17, 2014 at 9:19 PM
I love it, Howard. I went back and looked at your recent BF images. What an amazing variety of beautiful BFs! This one ranks with the best, but they are all so good, it's hard to say. I've only seen black swallowtails a couple times. This one is magnificent. No nits. :toast:
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by gary phillips on July 17, 2014 at 10:42 PM
Boy, this is as good as it gets, Howard. Love the detail in the BF and thistle, and what a nice background. I continue to be amazed by your consistent skill in putting these images together. Really well done. :toast: :toast:
Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on July 17, 2014 at 11:06 PM
Excellent catch, Howard. Most of the Black Swallowtails that I see are constantly flapping their wings as they feed, which makes getting a clean image like this one tough. The oof flowers (more of your zinnias?) make a great background.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on July 18, 2014 at 2:30 AM
Just divine :toast: :toast: :toast: The main subject is wonderful, but the BG is out of this world! I'd take a lot of OOF shots of the BG just for fun
:wavey:
Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 18, 2014 at 4:18 PM
Well done, Howard! Perfect profile pose of a BF. I do like the zinnias in the background.

We get the same varieties here, as well as the Tiger Swallowtail. :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on July 18, 2014 at 8:21 PM
Gorgeous macro / closeup scene here, Howard. The detail in the swallowtail and the thistle are excellent as seen in the alrger version too. Another fine take with the monopod usage here. :toast:
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on July 19, 2014 at 7:05 AM
Most excellent, Howard ! Truly lovely bg with the areas of colour complementing the black and white of the butterfly so well. Expertly done !!
Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments
Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on July 20, 2014 at 10:19 PM
Wow..Getting one of these this sharp is an achievement in itself. I find them very skittish !!. Perch also looks great.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on July 23, 2014 at 8:22 PM
:toast: Congrats on this WP here, Howard. This is very nice and an excellent partner to the latest one you've posted.... :cool:
Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Ramy on July 23, 2014 at 9:29 PM
Howard,
This is sweet with great separation in that lovely BG. The detail and lighting in the BF and perch are excellent as is your use of flash in this image.
Congratulations on the WP . . . :toast:
Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments
Comment posted by Yun Gao on July 23, 2014 at 10:31 PM
Howard, The details and color are superb. These are beautiful but hyperactive butterflies. Congratulations on an excellent capture and WP!
Registered on September 11, 2012, 267 Posts, 1621 Comments
Comment posted by Balan Vinod on July 24, 2014 at 2:45 AM
A painterly BG ...and fantastic detail on the dark bf. well done

Balan Vinod
Registered on March 20, 2006, 889 Posts, 2312 Comments
Comment posted by Ray Whitt on July 24, 2014 at 8:26 AM
Love the colorful background, excellent image Howard. Congratulations on the well deserved Weekly Pick!

Ray
Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on July 25, 2014 at 11:01 AM
Hi howard :wavey: i guess when i made my comment , i did not push hard on the add comment :eek: :confused: This can not get any better. Awesome :eek: :jump: :eek: :wavey: :wavey: :wavey: congrats on the WP :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:


Albert Darmo
Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 25, 2014 at 8:08 PM
Just excellent -
Congrats on the WP!
Sandy
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on July 26, 2014 at 2:34 PM
Howard: What a great combination of subject, perch and BG. Superb capture. >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments