Happy spring, y’all!
March 21, 2014
The first day of spring yesterday saw me prowling through various nurseries in town, enjoying a beautiful day surrounded by plants. I spotted this white-lined sphinx moth doing the same thing at The Natural Gardener.
I usually see these in the twilight hours of dusk or dawn. It surprised me to see one nectaring in the bright afternoon sunlight, but there it was.
I yanked out my cell phone and snapped away, doubtful of catching a non-blurry image since sphinx moths move so quickly. The iPhone camera surprised me with what it could do. Hmm, maybe I don’t need to tote my big SLR around so much.
All material © 2006-2014 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
Wow, those are very good! Are you using a phone app to enhance the photo ability or were these taken with the native capabilities?
No special app or filter, Ally, just the regular camera on the phone. I was quite pleased with the detail it was able to capture, and I wasn’t right on top of the moth either but a couple feet away. —Pam
You got some great shots of the sphinx moth. They are such fascinating hummingbird mimics, and beautiful as well.
They really are. It was a treat to see one in broad daylight. —Pam
Great capture! Perhaps that particular moth realized those gorgeous blooming plants won’t be sitting around the nursery for very long this time of year? Gotta get that nectar while the getting is good.
Exactly, TexasDeb. Also, the moth was doing an excellent sales job with those plants. I mean, who wouldn’t want to attract such a beautiful creature into one’s own garden, and those flowers were just the ticket. —Pam
Wonderful photos!
Thanks, Laurin. —Pam
Great pics, though I am glad they aren’t quite that huge! Even so, I had best move along…
That’s how I feel about close-ups of praying mantises or spiders. I think I could live with bird-sized sphinx moths though. —Pam
Great capture. I’m beginning to think that my iphone takes better pictures too. I tried to capture a similar photograph on my citrus, to no avail. Or is it an unsteady hand!
My hand was wobbling around as I snapped the moth, Jenny, but that iPhone must have a fast shutter speed. I didn’t get a blurry shot out of the bunch. —Pam
Happy spring right back at you, Pam! What a beautiful moth and great pictures!
Thanks, Peter. —Pam
Maybe the moth couldn’t wait any longer to enjoy the blessings of spring either. In any case, great photo catch and happy spring to you!
And to you, Kris. —Pam
As surprised as the rest to hear the pictures are made with a phone camera… Mine is never so good,and especially if the object of the photo is moving!!
Happy spring to you too! 🙂
I had an iPhone 3 until recently. The camera on my new iPhone 5s takes significantly better photos. It’s pretty amazing to me what phone cameras are capable of these days. —Pam
Fabulous photos. Amazing what those phones can do. I can’t wait to see such blooms and bugs in our garden. It won’t be long now.
No, it won’t be long, Lisa. Hang in there. —Pam
I was out prowling too — coleus, and basil and such. I must say your last Wildflower Center post was cool news! Also, gladiolus tristes, blooming now,(and easy to grow) attracts the sphinx moth after dark, and we try not to bump in to each other as we take in the glorius perfume that extends an unbelievably long distance from the plant on the spring breeze.
Enjoy your flowers and moth sightings, Tom! —Pam
Incredible capture! I’ve seen this moth visiting our Lavender before. They are so amazing to watch.
Yes, they are huge (for moths) and so very like hummingbirds — fun to watch. —Pam
So pretty – and so cool you took those with your phone! Crae-Crae!