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.

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.

More flowers in Yoyogi Park's gardens

The flower gardens in Yoyogi Park are truely beautiful in Autumn.  In addition, to the rose gardens there are areas with fabuous roses in many varieties, Cosmos of may colors, purple Bachelor Buttons, and speckled Toad Lillies.  On this day, I seemed to be focused on the purple varieties....

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f6.3, ISO 200, 1/400 sec

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 200, 1/250 sec

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens f5.6, ISO 200, 1/200 sec

Early Autumn at Showa Kinen Park

The kids were out for fall break this past week.  Since their school holiday schedule does not follow the Japanese school holidays, we headed out to Showa Kinen Park (国営昭和記念公園 and in wikipedia) in the west Tokyo suburbs about an hour west of central Tokyo.  It used to be part of the nearby Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) at Tachikawa Air Base and was established in 1983 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Emperor Showa's reign. It's a very large park for Tokyo at 163.0 hectare.

This park is full of interesting natural wonders and features a variety of large flower beds.  This month, cosmos are featured.

Here are some more cosmos taken in camera with an impressionistic style in mind. The post processing was limited to adjust levels, balancing colors and contrast. The blur is from fill flash freezing the image and my hand swinging the camera towards the flowers.

Some of the more interesting play structures include bouncing domes or sea of clouds (雲の海）, rainbow hammocks, and a playground full of sea monsters.