I seem to be on a temporary mission to highlight the elegance of some of the less well regarded creatures which inhabit our yards and gardens. Yesterday it was the slugs. Today, it's the turn of the snails, taken yesterday after rain (tonight, after a day of glorious sunshine there are precious few to be seen).
It's about three years since I've posted sequences like these. The previous sets are here and here.
The small white butterflies were back in the garden today, enjoying the sunshine. Once again there were courtship games, and once again the female was displaying rejection postures (see the comments in this post). Still it was nice to get another sequence, including this shot of three small whites together.
If you want some truly beautiful pictures of butterflies, and to understand some of the camouflage techniques they use and the reasons why abstract patterns have such effect, then do take a look at Butterflies: Messages from Psyche by Philip Howse. You'll even find a moth imitating a fox (really!). Oh, and one of my foxes 😉
Camera note: all the shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens. The butterflies were photographed with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS.
20 Comments
Caitlin writes:
Great action shots, and I love the close-ups of the snails. Their "antennae" make them so cute 🙂
I'm not sure about the slugs, but I think snail have got character. Having their eyes way out there is quite interesting.
My 3 year old grandson loves to pick up snails, throw them on the ground and stomp on them! Didn't learn it from me!
Leaves an awful mess.
Great shots!
Crafty Green Poet writes:
what lovely photos of the snails, they really do look very elegant!
Philip Howse writes:
"Butterflies: Messages from Psyche" was described by Simon Barnes in the Times last Saturday as "the most visually exciting book of the year" Many thanks for your contribution to that – your image of the fox alongside an eyed hawk-moth is one of the most striking features in the book.
Those snails are surprisingly elegant – you don't usually see them portrayed that way!
Caitlin, thanks! And especially for finding a reason for saying that snails are cute 😀
Philip, thanks for popping in here. The book is beautiful!
Robin, the poor downtrodden (too often, literally) snail 🙁 I can quite understand the bad press they get for chomping their way through prize blooms in the garden, and if you look closely you'll see that there's not a bit of green left on the plants these guys are on… but stomping :yikes:
Thanks CGP!
Adele, only the most sophisticated snails in this part of town :right:
Lovelly photos. :yes:
Erwin, thanks! A much maligned little creature.
Mark, thanks!
Excellent macros
Thanks Neil!
Philip Howse writes:
Your fox is becoming famous. Maybe you saw the article on the science page of the Sunday Telegraph yesterday (Oct 24th) where it starred again, although I'm afraid my moth took pride of place.
Philip
Philip, I didn't see the print copy but have found the link. Thanks for the heads up!
Anonymous writes:
FOX INVADES BRAZIL – Latest
Your fox has been spotted (with my moths) on numerous web-sites in Brazil. It was smuggled into the country by BBC Brasil and its progress can be followed in most of the states there. It is not yet seen as a threat to the indigenous fauna.
Philip
Thanks for that! Your moths are certainly getting around the world. (And for anyone interested, the fox moth is image number 8) 😉 )
Well to see a snail like this…… Beautiful