Broken Wing and Orange Cosmos

I spotted this butterfly (perhaps a Painted Lady (or Vanessa Cardui)) fluttering through a favorite flower garden at Yoyogikoen. This butterfly seems to have seen better days and but was still making it's way through the world without part of a wing.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f1.4, ISO 500, 1/8 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f1.4, ISO 500, 1/8 sec.

Papillon at Kodomonokuni

Several years ago (2013) in September, I caught a snap of a Common Leopard (or Phalanta phalantha) butterfly resting on an orange cosmo with my Nikkor 85mm AI-S. Definitely not the ideal lens to catch this quick flying insect. Several days ago, the opportunity repeated itself at Kodomonokuni. This time, I had my 105mm Micro-Nikkor mounted and enough patience to capture this!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 100, 1/500 sec.

Common Mormon

With a little luck, quick reflexes and quick focus I was ample to capture this common mormon butterfly as "she" was fluttering though one of Tokyo's backstreets near Togo Shrine and Harajukugaien Junior High School in Harajuku. Out of 30-shots this was the best one. I was shooting with my classic 85-mm AI-S f1.4 @ f2.0. The depth of field was probably less than an inch considering how close I was to the subject. So perhaps I wasn't as quick focusing as I was lucky.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.0, ISO 100, 1/100 sec.

The Great Eggfly (or Hypolimnas Bolina)

On a previous trip with the family to Saipan in 2011, I spotted the Great Eggfly (or hypolimnas bolina) and captured some images of several with my trusty but now retired D700.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f3.2, ISO 800, 1/320 sec.

Nikon D700 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f3.2, ISO 800, 1/200 sec.

Papilio Polytes in Saipan

There are many varieties of tropical butterflies in Saipan. They are always flitting about the resort from flower to flower at all times of the day. I've spotted several varieties of the Common Mormon (or Papilio Polytes). This is a common species of swallowtail butterfly found in Asia.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 100, 1/80 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f4.0, ISO 100, 1/200 sec.

Papillon in Yoyogi

There a quite a few varieties of butterflies in Japan. I've seen many of them fluttering through the parks and neighborhoods to Tokyo. This one paused for a moment on a cosmo for a closeup but I wasn't able to recognize the type.

Hmm... Black spots on orange wings. It appears that this butterfly is a Common Leopard (or Phalanta phalantha).

Too bad I did not have my 105mm Micro-Nikkormounted. I had to settle for a cropped shot from my trusty 85 instead.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/30 sec.