Benz World Blog » Insect

Caper White

Jason Benz — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 09:28:58 +0000

This is a caper white butterfly. They are currently undergoing a mass migration in Queensland, Australia which only happens every 6-10 years.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Orchard Swallowtail

Jason Benz — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 00:43:25 +0000

This Orchard Swallowtail Butterfly has been visiting us each morning at our campsite on Great Keppel Island. Thanks to Karen at GKI pizza for the identification. It has a wingspan of about 5inchs making it the largest butterfly you will find in many parts of Queensland. Although it is part of the swallowtail group it has no swallowtail, adding to the list of Australias wonderful and eccentrically named creatures.

This image has been accepted by Shutterstock for Stock Photography and is available for download here.

Blue Triangle

Jason Benz — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 03:15:49 +0000

This butterfly visited our garden in Southport. It is a Common Bluebottle, Graphium sarpedon, or Blue Triangle in Australia. They are typically found in low-level rain forests flying just above the tree canopy. Somehow this insect has adapted to drier subtropical environments and are often seen in suburban gardens in Queensland and New South Wales.

Monarch Butterfly

Jason Benz — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 11:34:22 +0000

This is a Monarch Butterfly also known as a Wanderer Butterfly in Australia. This insect was in the ancient rainforests of Queensland. Unlike its American cousin which undertakes an epic multi-generational migration from Canada to Mexico the Wanderer opts for a less ambitious migration to and from the coast.

I have been relying on old photos for the last couple of weeks as My Camera is in Melbourne being repaired. I am hoping to get it back in time for the Jacaranda Tree festival in Grafton this month.

Oleander Butterfly

Jason Benz — Mon, 20 Jan 2014 14:01:04 +0000

I think this is an Oleander Butterfly also known as an Australian/Common Crow, as with much of the wildlife in Australia you can never be quite sure. The Oleander is inedible so many fatter, juicier and generally tastier butterflies have evolved to look like it.

I am fairly certain this is the real thing as I often see them fluttering around the Oleander hedges outside our flat in Queensland. However this one was shot in New South Wales and looks a little plumper than your average Oleander. What do you think ?

Ladybird Spot

Jason Benz — Sun, 22 May 2011 10:02:53 +0000

This simple use of spot colour is achieved by painting black on the layer mask of a Black & White layer. The Hue/Saturation layer above was used to make the ladybird nice and red. It was a little orange in the original capture. Vignette was achieved using a gradient layer and lens correction.

Peacock Butterfly

Jason Benz — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:41:49 +0000

This Peacock Butterfly was sunbathing outside our house. To process the image I developed it using photoshops RAW developer. Once in photoshop I blended in layers to desaturate the background and keep the focus on this beautiful creature.