It is a gray and gloomy Friday morning and rain is forecast for most of the day. Somehow I feel the need for a boost of bright colors. So here is a shot of a Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly (Speyeria cybele) on a clump of what I believe is Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) from this past weekend at Huntley Meadows Park.
As I worked on this image, there was a real temptation to crank up the saturation level of the colors, which made the shot look unnatural. I tried to show a little restraint and render the colors as I remember them, bright, but not in neon-like tones.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Nice one Mike.
Thanks. I have noted from your photos that you have similar butterfly species there in the UK (or perhaps the same). Although I devote more attention to dragonflies, I am a big fan of butterflies too!
Same family Mike but different species, great to see the US frits.
That’s kind of what I figured. They’re cousins, kind of like we Americans consider our relationship with the Brits. 🙂
Over the Memorial Day weekend, I saw both this fritillary and this milkweed for the first time — near Kansas City. It’s fun to find them here on your blog, now.
The pattern on the wings is clearly discernible in your photo and its awesome!
Nice shot. I haven’t seen one of those yet this year.