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Original
Critique Style Requested: Standard
The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
While looking for early spring wildflowers in the mountains of Montana, some fast motion off to the side caught my eye. It took some searching, waiting and watching to finally see the small butterflies that were the source. When I got close, the green of it’s wings stood out, identifying it as one of the Green Hairstreaks. I’ve done some searching and can’t decide if it’s the Sheridan’s Hairstreak or the Western Green Hairstreak. Thanks to @Mike_Friel for suggesting that I look deeper.
After Jim Z’s comment I went looking for eye detail. V2 is the result.
Specific Feedback
It would be nice to have slightly less contrast, but getting close was a real challenge. It also liked to sit near the ground.
Technical Details
R5, 180 mm macro, 1/250 s, f/8, iso 200, tripod. A 30 shot stack to get the entire bf sharp, cropped to 4x5 from both sides.
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2 Likes
Nice, Mark. I’m not familiar with the Juniper Hairstreak, but surprised that you could do a 30 stack shot with one. The Hairstreaks here on the east coast don’t sit still long enough for that. Very nice shot though, and that BG makes him stand out nicely.
Mark - really exceptional detail, and I’m amazed the thing sat still long enough for a stack! Have never seen this iteration of hairstreaks - or maybe they are just too fast out here!
Maybe a little more room at the bottom, if possible?
Very cool image!
Amazing level of detail, Mark. I could see dropping the contrast a bit as it feels a bit harsh, but part of that is the magnification of the small butterfly to the point where the individual scales in the wings show. With that name, I’m guessing it’s endemic to the juniper areas?
Mark: I’m really envying your ability to auto-stack with your camera. I could never pull this off with my A7rIII as I have to shoot every shot manually. Being able to get this level of detail and BG control of what is normally a fairly skittish species is impressive. All of our hairstreaks are silver so this is a real treat to view. Great find and a superbly crafted image.>=))>
Hi Mark. You’ve inspired me. The juniper forest starts just a few miles from my house. I need to hoof it up there and capture a few of these handsome animals.
This is a wonderful of this rather uncommon butterfly. One problem that I see in every lycaenid butterfly photograph is that the eye ends up absorbing all the light. You may want to dopdge the eye slightly to see whether you captured the eye facets. Details are exceptional and this is a wall-worthy shot…Jim
Jim, your comment about the eye facets sent me back to the raw file. By pushing the black slided to 100, I could see a little detail in the eye and by pushing the white slider to -100, I could see a bit of detail in the whites around the eye. That did reduce the contrast notably. These are bigger changes than I “normally” do in processing, but the result is nicely improved (due mostly the reduced contrast in the repost) with better detail in all of the “fir”. Still just a tiny bit of eye details. I can’t see any facets…something for a cloudy day, maybe…
Interesting repost, Mark. I didn’t really look at the empty eye until Jim pointed it out. It is a real light sucker. I like the little bit you managed to bring out.
