Motion Colourful Butterfly

South African Colourful Butterfly

Citrus swallowtail Christmas butterfly (Princeps papilio demodocus), after loads of research the closest I am able to identify, as always if not labelled I could be wrong in idenfication.

For this contest I don't have the equipment to obtain the fluid look some achieve, perhaps one day so the topic on hand is motion, the subject is a Butterfly. To obtain the motion feel I started with the top of the butterfly with wings fully extended.

First thing your eye is drawn to is the eyes on the wings for all the world to see, this will warn birds to leave alone. Very distinct markings in eyes one is brown, blue, black, yellow, cream. The second eye is black, red, blue, cream, wonders of nature everything has meaning.

Closing the wings about halfway through, photo captured motion of the rippling effect of spotted design collapsing onto each other after full extension.

Image sideways view revealing slightly different eyes, protection protection from above and below. Have as much fun enjoying these "Motion" images as I have, first photography in my garden, research and now sharing with you.

Papilio demodocus, the citrus swallowtail or Christmas butterfly, is a large swallowtail butterfly common to Sub-Saharan Africa. After hatching from their egg, the caterpillar feeds on a few leaves on citrus trees before pupation.

Thought for Today: A butterfly thinks itself a bird because it can fly. - African Proverbs

3 Photo's for motion all taken with a Canon PowerShot SX160 IS as shown details:- (Photography is all my own, should you wish to use them please ask)
f/4 1/60 sec ISO-200
f/4 1/40 sec ISO-160
f/4 1/50 sec ISO-200