On August 29, 2015, while walking along a quiet forest road in the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas, I came across a lively thistle patch buzzing with pollinators. Among them, one Cloudless Sulphur butterfly lingered just long enough for me to capture its delicate pause on a vibrant purple bloom.
Wildlife Notes: Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly
The Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae) is one of the most widespread butterflies in the southern United States. Its lemon-yellow wings make it hard to miss, especially in contrast with wildflowers like thistles.
These butterflies are also long-distance travelers. Each year, they migrate northward in late summer and fall, sometimes in large numbers. Their strong, direct flight allows them to cover many miles while searching for nectar and breeding grounds.
Though common, they play an important role as pollinators, visiting a variety of flowers. Thistles are a frequent favorite, offering ample nectar and attracting a whole crowd of insects.
Photography Notes: Capturing a Butterfly in Motion
Photographing butterflies in the wild requires a balance of patience and quick reflexes. They rarely sit still for long, so settings matter as much as timing.
Photo Details:
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D Mark II
- Lens: Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
- Aperture: ƒ/6.3
- Exposure Compensation: 0
- Shutter Speed: 1/800
- ISO: 800
Tip: A shutter speed of 1/800 was enough here to freeze the butterfly’s subtle wing movement without introducing blur. The moderate aperture of ƒ/6.3 kept the butterfly sharp while softening the background thistle spines into a pleasing blur. If you’re shooting in busy habitats, try positioning yourself so the subject has a clean backdrop behind it. That separation can make even a common butterfly feel like the star of the frame.
Takeaway
The Cloudless Sulphur butterfly is easy to overlook because of its abundance, but when paired with the right light, angle, and patience, it becomes a beautiful subject. Field notes and camera notes work hand in hand, reminding us that watching wildlife and photographing it are two sides of the same experience.