I took this shot of a Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, VA on 17 August 2012. It was a little surprising to me that the butterfly chose such a shriveled up, dead leaf as the place to stop, rather than a flower or bush. In a lot of ways, though, I like the simpler setting. It allows me to focus on the beauty of the butterfly without any competing attention from a colorful flower.
The colors and patterns of the Red Admiral butterfly would look good on a necktie. The colors are bright, but not gaudy, and the abstract patterns convey a sense of sophistication.
Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta)
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
That is one beautiful butterfly, Mike; well done!
This is probably the best shot of this butterfly that I’ve seen this year.
Thanks. I appreciate the positive comments, but will strive to get a better shot. It’s tricky, though, with butterflies. You often have to shoot first and ask questions later, cause otherwise you may miss the shot entirely while trying to get the perfect angle or background.
It’s always amazing to see all the different color patterns on each one.