Guy Padfield's
European Butterfly Page

Iolas blue, May 2006, Switzerland

All photographs were taken in Europe, by me. The older photographs were taken using a very old Practika Nova I SLR. Many of the more recent pictures are frames from video footage. This method is very convenient but results in phtographs of a lower optical quality. More recently still I have begun using a cheap digital camera and nearly all the pictures from 2005/2006 are taken with this. The insects shown are free and wild (except a very few found dead or dying), and all photographed on the principle that their life and environment are the chief concern.

I am still unsure about the identity of some of the insects and would very much welcome comment or correction. The best book by far for identifying European butterflies is the Collins Field Guide by Tom Tolman, illustrated by Richard Lewington. Older editions of the book (by Higgins and Riley, illustrated by Brian Hargreaves) are also worth having as they contain fuller descriptions of the species and a few extra, interesting points. The Mitchell Beazley guide has excellent illustrations and fits in a back pocket, so I always carry one. It is, however, slightly less comprehensive in its coverage of forms and occasionally species. You can buy these books by clicking HERE.

The list of butterflies of which I now have photographs (some very old, especially in the case of common species), and which will be uploaded as soon as possible, is below. Where I haven't had time to do text and several pictures I have begun simply uploading a single picture, so there is a little more of interest on the site.

All photographs copyright of Guy Padfield, 1999 +.

• A FEW PICTURES OF ABERRATIONS
  

You are visitor number: