Fritillary in September

« Re-blog: My Friend Mike Powell and 1669

Fritillary in September

September 10, 2020 by Mike Powell

I was absolutely thrilled when I spotted this Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly (Speyeria cybele) on Tuesday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, because it was the first one that I managed to photograph this year. Great Spangled Fritillaries are generally quite common where I live, but somehow I missed them, probably because my photography forays have been sharply limited by the corona virus restrictions.

The butterfly was gathering nectar from a flowering thistle, whose specific species I cannot identify. I initially thought that the orange of the butterfly and the pink of the flower would not work together, but the more that I look at the image, the more I like the color combination. What do you think?

Posted in Butterflies, Insects, Nature, Photography, Summer, wildlife | Tagged Canon 50D, Great Spangled Fritillary, Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Speyeria cybele, Tamron 180mm, Woodbridge VA | 31 Comments

31 Responses

on September 10, 2020 at 9:37 am | Reply Dan Antion

I like the image a lot, Mike. Do you know what kind of flower that is? It’s very interesting.
- on September 10, 2020 at 10:47 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan. It is some kind of thistle, I think, Dan, though I do not know exactly what type it is.
on September 10, 2020 at 9:38 am | Reply Dan Antion

Of course, after I posted, I realized you answered my question in the post.
- on September 10, 2020 at 10:48 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  And I responded to your first comment before I realized you had made this second comment. 🙂
  - on September 10, 2020 at 11:21 am Dan Antion
    
    🙂
on September 10, 2020 at 10:09 am | Reply Peakspeak

Beautiful image
- on September 10, 2020 at 10:48 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks.
on September 10, 2020 at 10:24 am | Reply picpholio

Perfect shot and nice colors !
- on September 10, 2020 at 10:49 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I think that almost all of my readers enjoying seeing photos of colorful butterflies. A few don’t like seeing so many dragonflies and damselflies and more than a few don’t want me to post images of spiders.
on September 10, 2020 at 11:57 am | Reply bmoan1

Love this one Mike. Do you ever grant permission for a watercolor isn’t to paint any of your photos?
- on September 10, 2020 at 12:05 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I am totally ok with letting a painter use my photos for inspiration or as source material. I dabble in watercolors myself, though I am not very skilled at it. The only request that I’d have is that you let me have a look at what you paint.
  - on September 10, 2020 at 3:06 pm bmoan1
    
    Thanks, Mike. I will honor your request…
on September 10, 2020 at 12:24 pm | Reply mvschulze

Stunning, Mike M 🙂
- on September 10, 2020 at 4:28 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Martin.
on September 10, 2020 at 12:44 pm | Reply blhphotoblog

Cracking shot!
- on September 10, 2020 at 4:22 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I worked a little to get the angle and the butterfly was cooperative. It’s nice when things come together like that.
on September 10, 2020 at 1:43 pm | Reply Jet Eliot

I sure enjoyed this magnificent photo, Mike. The particular position of this stunning butterfly is special, as you were able to capture both the underside and the back side. I love all the geometric designs, and the colors are wonderful.
- on September 10, 2020 at 4:23 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Jet. As you know it is usually an either/or proposition with the wings and I was quite fortunate to see the outside and inside surfaces of the wings.
on September 10, 2020 at 5:28 pm | Reply mitzybricker

Gorgeous! Do you have zinnias in your flower garden? Don’t tell them pink, red, orange,yellow and white blossoms don’t go together! 🤣🤣😂

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- on September 10, 2020 at 5:36 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Alas I have no flower garden on my own and have to rely on those I find in the gardens of my friends and the ones I find in the gardens and parks that I visit. When I raised the question of what colors go together well, I was thinking in a more abstract, technical sense–in color theory, complementary colors are those that are opposites on the color wheel, like, for example, blue and orange; red and green; and yellow and violet.
on September 10, 2020 at 6:01 pm | Reply Rebecca Wallick

Who cares if the color combo works or not (although I think it does), I’m so struck by the butterfly’s eyes (spotted!) and antennae (red-tipped!) I hardly noticed anything else! Amazing photo.
- on September 10, 2020 at 6:11 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Rebecca. Nature provides its own beauty and color combinations don’t really matter. I am glad you were able to pick up on some of the wonderful details of the butterfly. 🙂
on September 10, 2020 at 9:17 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Lovely capture, Mike. One of these landed next to me yesterday and I was able to get a good close look at it. Love those silvery spangles. 🙂
- on September 11, 2020 at 6:41 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Eliza. Those spangles really make this one shine in the sunlight.
on September 11, 2020 at 5:07 am | Reply Steve Gingold

The frit and thistle are a great combination, Mike. I sometimes see these in the yard but it has been a while. Nice shot.
- on September 11, 2020 at 6:43 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Steve. I was so happy to see this one. I had been keeping an eye out for one all summer.
on September 12, 2020 at 9:16 pm | Reply Michael Scandling

The contrast of colors and forms works beautifully.
- on September 12, 2020 at 9:26 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Michael. I usually think in terms of “complementary” rather than “contrast,” so I worried that the rough texture of the ground would not work as well as the green of vegetation. I guess I need to expand the range of options that I consider when shooting a subject.
  - on September 12, 2020 at 9:33 pm Michael Scandling
    
    Complementary and contrast can work for or against each other. There’s the fun.
on September 14, 2020 at 4:45 am | Reply sv-anui.com

The butterfly is nearly three dimensional with those colours. It jumps out of the screen! I really like the mix of pale blue, black and shades of brown… and the thistle!
- on September 14, 2020 at 5:06 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. It is a simply composed photo, but I really liked how it turned out. When it has its wings fully closed or fully open, a butterfly looks kind of flat. I think the fact that the wings are partially open helps to give the image the three dimensional feel that you noted.