Two Comma nectaring on bramble Sunlight and shadow on the woodland fringe. White flowers of meadowsweet, enchanters nightshade and bramble amongst the green of bracken. Puddles border the track after heavy overnight showers.
Rays of sunlight through the canopy create a butterfly hotspot, bramble a-flutter with comma and green veined whites. Chiaroscuro with bright butterflies against deep shadows. Today the quality of light shows butterflies in kaleidoscopic ways, revealing wing pattern and playing with depth of colour and shading.
Rays of sunlight through the canopy create a butterfly hotspot, bramble a-flutter with comma and green veined whites. Chiaroscuro with bright butterflies against deep shadows. Today the quality of light shows butterflies in kaleidoscopic ways, revealing wing pattern and playing with depth of colour and shading.
We chance upon this butterfly hotspot in a coincidence of sunlight, butterflies and bramble full of nectar. Two green veined whites target the same flower and a bee drives one off. I've rarely seen so many comma together - one image captures three. This interlude is the highlight of the morning and nowhere else in the wood is so lively. At mid-day the sun is higher and shadows fall differently through the wood. The brambles are in partial shade and butterflies are further off, on distant flowers.
Comma is distinctive in the jagged profile of its wings. Upper-wings are a rich orange with black patterning. When a comma settles with its wings closed the butterfly can look dark with a white 'eye' giving it a sinister appearance. Today, light is strong and my image sequence shows how dramatically a varying incidence of light can change the look. I've often photographed comma with wings closed and that white 'eye' showing against a dark background but now strong light reveals blue-green lozenges on the under-wings, against a lighter tan background.
Comma is distinctive in the jagged profile of its wings. Upper-wings are a rich orange with black patterning. When a comma settles with its wings closed the butterfly can look dark with a white 'eye' giving it a sinister appearance. Today, light is strong and my image sequence shows how dramatically a varying incidence of light can change the look. I've often photographed comma with wings closed and that white 'eye' showing against a dark background but now strong light reveals blue-green lozenges on the under-wings, against a lighter tan background.
I had a close-encounter with a Silver Washed Fritillary. The butterfly flew fast out of the shadows and over our heads, circled me, then dipped down to sip from the puddle by my feet. All over in seconds but I hold the image in my mind's eye.
The essence of the experience is transience and volatility, shimmering light and hints of bright colour, with the fragrance of water mint and marjoram.
The essence of the experience is transience and volatility, shimmering light and hints of bright colour, with the fragrance of water mint and marjoram.
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