Little Prince

Image Critiques Macro/Close-up Critiques
1

Little-Prince-60446-DxO-A7r3-26.jpg
Little-Prince-60446-DxO-A7r3-26.jpg2000×1374 1.95 MB

Critique Style Requested: Standard

The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.

Description

I ventured out on the patio this morning to check on the succulents and discovered this newly hatched male monarch crawling around on the flagstone. These late season monarchs are rarely successful at forming properly but this little guy beat the odds. It was only about 45 degrees so I was really surprised he had emerged. I carefully coaxed him onto my finger and set him on one of our butterfly bushes. He was very still most of the time but would occasionally flex and spread his wings to pose. About an hour later the sun finally reached this part of the patio and he warmed up enough to happily fly away confidently and strongly. I directed him south toward warmer climes. >=))>

Specific Feedback

I was able to get the plane of focus lined up fairly well but the light was pretty weak and there was just enough wind to make getting both wingtips sharp tough. I opted for crisp focus on the head and antennae. Later in the morning with the sun hitting the wings I had a tougher time getting him lined up and the wind was worse. Thought this was an acceptable compromise. Your thoughts?

Technical Details

Sony A7rIII
Sony FE 70-200 f2.8 GM-II, 2xTC @ 232 mm
ISO 3200, 1/320 @ f11
Processed in LR, DxO Pure Raw, PS

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1 Like
2

Bill, his head, thorax and antennae are nicely sharp. That lets this view work well. The details are amazing for a 2x TC, with individual scales apparent in his right wing. Overall, my first impression was that he’s a bit dark, but their colors do vary between individuals. I’ve seen on the news recently that folks have developed microchips that can be attached to these butterflies so they can be continuously monitored as the migrate.

3

Oh Bill, what a treat! To have a fresh Monarch in late January is simply amazing. So glad you stepped out to check things out and found him. I think you did a fine job capturing this guy.

4

Beautifully done, Bill. Excellent pose and getting it all in one plane; outstanding detail. I like the contrast between the reddish-orange wings and the green foliage and the complementary background color somewhat framing the butterfly.

5

Very nice job getting the wings lined up with the plane of focus (and the rest of the stray parts), Bill. A fine image of this guy and I wish him success.

6

Wonderful – He looks brand-new! Excellent job of getting the picture!

7

Bill, a great capture of this new butterfly just starting out. The background does help bring out this butterfly. I bet you loved getting this photo with such a small window of time.

Ucp