Short-tailed Blue - Favourite Photo of 2011

[The Annoying Czech]

Mr. Cupido argiades is one of my favourites, so I'll start the thread. I actually have at least three reasons to love him:
• He compelled me to work with aperture, sharpening, and later better postprocessing
• Availability 2-3 times per season with increasing abundances
• He's subjectively one of the prettiest Blues when fresh



I arguably didn't achieve more detailed shot with my 14-42 mm (not exactly butterfly-friendly) kit since this photo. It must have been a purely lucky shot of possibly new-born, passive male - but I was really hard-working this August!

Days after, I was making worst and worst photos of more and more badly worn imagos, less willing to let me to come closer...

By the way, it's only a matter of seconds with them in the grass. Males are relatively still only in muddy warm places, that are pretty atrocious backgrounds. Enjoyably problematic!

[Reverdin]

I also think this is a beauty... but I've never yet had much luck with them... this year bought my best shot... so you will gather my others have been pretty poor

battered argiades

[Padfield]

I agree. This is a lovely butterfly. I didn't get any really good shots this year and this was probably my best:



That's a female, taking a breather between egg-laying sprees.

Guy

[David M]

That opening photo is excellent, showing superb detail.

[John W]

Short-tailed Blue would definitely be my favourite photo if I had taken it here

[Rosalyn]

That is a lovely pic 'Annoying Czech'

[David M]

That is a lovely pic 'Annoying Czech'

I was going to add his name but we don't appear to know.

Calling 'Annoying Czech', can we know your real name, please?

[The Annoying Czech]

Thanks, I guess I hit the "sharpening point" very very acurately when sharpening (manually). Which never turned out well again (42 mm limit).

Anyway, I'm Marek (Mark).

[David M]

Thanks for that, Marek.

We couldn't keep referring to you as 'annoying czech'.

[Maximus]

Bit of a cheat I know, again, but I saw a Short-tailed Blue in 2012 in the Dordogne, this was the best photo I could get.

I also saw this Provencal Short-tailed Blue.

[Padfield]

I wonder when this species will next have a UK year ...

My favourite picture was taken in August 2013, not far from where I live. It hangs on here in small numbers, probably augmented by individuals dispersing from larger populations.



Guy