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Purple Emperor Butterfly · **1 Like**

I went out this morning to a local wood that has a colony of Purple Emperor Butterflies in it [One of the UK's largest butterflies].
I have never seen one close up before.
I had a fleeting glimpse last year but no pictures. They are very hard to get close to and spend much of there time high in the tree canopy.
These were taken using my K-5 /Sigma 300mm f2.8 EX DG.

**loco** · 07-26-2012, 07:15 AM

Very pretty! It's odd how the purple color appears to be on only one side. Great shots!!!

Ducatigaz · 07-26-2012, 07:29 AM

Originally posted by loco

Very pretty! It's odd how the purple color appears to be on only one side. Great shots!!!

Here is a bit more imformation.
The male butterfly is one of the most beautiful of all of the butterflies found in the British Isles. From certain angles it appears to have black wings intersected with white bands. However, when the wings are at a certain angle to the sun, the most beautiful purple sheen is displayed, a result of light being refracted from the structures of the wing scales.

**daacon** · 07-26-2012, 07:36 AM

You have captured the beauty of this species.

**loco** · 07-26-2012, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by Ducatigaz

Here is a bit more imformation.
The male butterfly is one of the most beautiful of all of the butterflies found in the British Isles. From certain angles it appears to have black wings intersected with white bands. However, when the wings are at a certain angle to the sun, the most beautiful purple sheen is displayed, a result of light being refracted from the structures of the wing scales.

Cool! Thanks for the info!

**dcmsox2004** · 07-26-2012, 08:16 AM

absolutely stunning captures.. those colors and detail are beautiful... dave m

bluestringer · 07-26-2012, 08:39 AM

Beautiful butterfly, and well captured. Thanks for sharing.

**charliezap** · 07-26-2012, 10:30 AM

What can I say Gary.Perfectly shot and presented.--charliezap

**crewl1** · 07-26-2012, 02:46 PM

Beautiful!

Philoslothical · 07-26-2012, 04:57 PM

Love the way you showed off the natural iridescence of the wings. An angle that showed blue on both wings might be prettier, but the way you shot it tells us much more about the subject. Well done.

**slowpez** · 07-27-2012, 06:58 AM

What beautiful creatures. Lovely capture and thanks for showing them to us.

8540tomg · 07-27-2012, 09:48 AM

That 300/2.8 is very sharp indeed.

The images have a macro quality to them.

Tom G

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07-26-2012, 07:15 AM	#2
loco Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	Very pretty! It's odd how the purple color appears to be on only one side. Great shots!!!

07-26-2012, 07:29 AM	#3
Ducatigaz Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Blunsdon,Wiltshire, UK Posts: 1,254 Original Poster	Originally posted by loco Very pretty! It's odd how the purple color appears to be on only one side. Great shots!!! Here is a bit more imformation. The male butterfly is one of the most beautiful of all of the butterflies found in the British Isles. From certain angles it appears to have black wings intersected with white bands. However, when the wings are at a certain angle to the sun, the most beautiful purple sheen is displayed, a result of light being refracted from the structures of the wing scales.

07-26-2012, 07:36 AM	#4
daacon Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,915	You have captured the beauty of this species.

07-26-2012, 07:45 AM	#5
loco Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,846	Originally posted by Ducatigaz Here is a bit more imformation. The male butterfly is one of the most beautiful of all of the butterflies found in the British Isles. From certain angles it appears to have black wings intersected with white bands. However, when the wings are at a certain angle to the sun, the most beautiful purple sheen is displayed, a result of light being refracted from the structures of the wing scales. Cool! Thanks for the info!

07-26-2012, 08:16 AM	#6
dcmsox2004 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: rhode island Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,514	absolutely stunning captures.. those colors and detail are beautiful... dave m

07-26-2012, 08:39 AM	#7
bluestringer Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Cotton fields of South Georgia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,743	Beautiful butterfly, and well captured. Thanks for sharing.

07-26-2012, 10:30 AM	#8
charliezap Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: saugus ma Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,451	What can I say Gary.Perfectly shot and presented.--charliezap

07-26-2012, 02:46 PM	#9
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,804	Beautiful!

07-26-2012, 04:57 PM	#10
Philoslothical Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,797	Love the way you showed off the natural iridescence of the wings. An angle that showed blue on both wings might be prettier, but the way you shot it tells us much more about the subject. Well done.

07-27-2012, 06:58 AM	#11
slowpez Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,438	What beautiful creatures. Lovely capture and thanks for showing them to us.

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07-27-2012, 09:48 AM	#12
8540tomg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,461	That 300/2.8 is very sharp indeed. The images have a macro quality to them. Tom G

Nature Purple Emperor Butterfly

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