Sunkissed (Argynnis paphia)

Sunkissed (Argynnis paphia)
 
We were up very early that morning; we joined the Kateleios group and took photos of them while they were checking nests of Kareta kareta. As we were leaving the beach I noticed this butterfly feeding on the flowers of the very few wild thorns. I have never seen a butterfly so close to the sea before (it was literally on the beach). Its deep golden colour was blending in perfectly with the bare land; the only contrast was the velvety smoothness of its wings against the dry soil as it was flying from flower to flower in the morning sun.

I had the Tamron mounted on D70 so I was quick at shooting it while feeding; I kept the aperture at f/9 to maintain some depth of field.

Photos by Marina Parha
 
Shooting Data:

Camera: Nikon D70

1. Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/400 at f/9, aperture priority
Flash: SB-600 iTTL
Image: cropped, sharpened and saved

2 and 3. Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/250 at f/9, aperture priority
Flash: SB-600 iTTL
Image: cropped, sharpened and saved 

4. Lens: Tamron SP AF 180mm f/3.5 Di Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO200
Shutter speed: 1/320 at f/9, aperture priority
Flash: SB-600 iTTL
Image: cropped, sharpened and saved 

Thanks to Matt Rowlings for identifying this butterfly. You can read more about it at his site www.eurobutterflies.com.