Well, it has to be a home or garden photo today. Stuck home with a horrible cold, I haven’t been farther from the house than the garden. At least this Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus) gave me a couple good looks at its upper wings, which have beautiful shades of blue as you can see. There have been a fair number of Gray Hairstreaks in recent weeks, but I hadn’t glimpsed any with wings down until today. The wings are this dark on top, but below they are very light — http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-07-24
It’s almost hard-to-believe it’s the same species!
» Click the “strymon melinus” tag at right to see the two views!
Retired economics professor (“dismal scientist”). Married 40+ years to the love of my life; we have two grown daughters, both married, two granddaughters and a...
This is THE BEST hairstreak photo I have ever seen! He is gorgeous with his wings down! There is orange in there too! Love the dof and wow! Just perfect composition too! Fav!
@shuterfly Thank you so much, Sondra. I was able to get just two shots but I was fortunate they both captured this classic pose.
@sparkleplenty1 Thank you, Joyce! I was quite pleased to get this somewhat early in the day and not have to worry about my post for the day! I still feel lousy today and will, no doubt, venture no farther than the garden today, but I'm hoping to be well enough to fake-it at work tomorrow...
@espyetta Aww, thanks for a FAV, MaryBeth! I was very pleased with the shot and marvel at the perfect wing-shape outline. Interestingly, it's very, very difficult to spot the hindwing "tails" when the wings are down like this!
@michelleyoung Thank you, Michelle! I made it a mission to learn what's in our garden this summer and from that perspective, 365 has been a great platform and motivation for doing it and it's been a productive summer. :)
@myautofocuslife Thanks, Livia, but the composition is often achieved in Photoshop. Outside I am primarily focused on — well — good focus, and, if time allows, background. Recomposing often happens later, especially with the smaller butterflies; I cannot get close enough to the little guys to fill the frame. Large swallowtails, on the other hand, will often fill the frame at 250mm and 2–3 feet away!
@xtech Thanks, Elaine! This is the third Hairstreak I've photographed this season (Juniper, Gray and Red-banded). They are fascinating to watch: they slide their forewings and hindwings against each other when at rest with wings-up.
[It's astonishing how debilitating microorganisms can be to us, no?]
I have a shot of a Gray Hairstreak earlier this month too, but I didn't get a shot with his wings down, he really never opened them at all. Did you get to see those false antennae in the back move? Great shot - fav. I love the composition.
@tara11 This was the first time I saw one with wings down! I didn't get many chances, so I was happy this turned out well. As for the false antennae, don't tell anyone, but my current quest is to use my camera's HD video capability to video those tails in action. Since I decided on that? Haven't seen a single specimen!
Ha! Of course not. We were actually visiting my husband's parents in NC and I had never seen these butterflies before. I love their little faces. Please post if you get it on video!
![‘Gray Half-Spot’ [Filler]](https://media.365project.org/1/9510135_chjkuwyz79_sq.jpg "‘Gray Half-Spot’ [Filler]")
@sparkleplenty1 Thank you, Joyce! I was quite pleased to get this somewhat early in the day and not have to worry about my post for the day! I still feel lousy today and will, no doubt, venture no farther than the garden today, but I'm hoping to be well enough to fake-it at work tomorrow...
@espyetta Aww, thanks for a FAV, MaryBeth! I was very pleased with the shot and marvel at the perfect wing-shape outline. Interestingly, it's very, very difficult to spot the hindwing "tails" when the wings are down like this!
@michelleyoung Thank you, Michelle! I made it a mission to learn what's in our garden this summer and from that perspective, 365 has been a great platform and motivation for doing it and it's been a productive summer. :)
@myautofocuslife Thanks, Livia, but the composition is often achieved in Photoshop. Outside I am primarily focused on — well — good focus, and, if time allows, background. Recomposing often happens later, especially with the smaller butterflies; I cannot get close enough to the little guys to fill the frame. Large swallowtails, on the other hand, will often fill the frame at 250mm and 2–3 feet away!
[It's astonishing how debilitating microorganisms can be to us, no?]
Hope you feel better soon.
I need to keep my tripod handier...