# Monarch **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** macro-close-up\ **Created:** [September 15, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831 "2020-09-15T15:12:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![terryb](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/terryb/32/39625_2.png) [@terryb](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/terryb)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/1 "2020-09-15T15:12:12Z")
Caught this girl refueling on a coneflower. ![_MG_3238-1](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/c/4/c4cfb62b803611cf7391cc9cbab4bb5d7d51da75.jpeg) ### What technical feedback would you like if any? Any ### What artistic feedback would you like if any? Any ### Pertinent technical details or techniques: Canon 60D, Canon 70-300mm IS USM Zoom, f/8, 1/500 sec., ISO 2000, Hand held. Processed in Canon DPP and PSE 2020 for exposure and color. ###### If you would like your image to be eligible for a feature on the NPN Instagram (@NaturePhotoNet), add the tag ‘ig’ and leave your Instagram username below. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Seaver](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mark_seaver/32/231_2.png) [@Mark\_Seaver](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mark_Seaver)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/2 "2020-09-15T15:15:50Z")
Terry, the age difference between this Monarch and Allen’s is quite striking. The details here look very good both in the coneflower’s center and in the Monarch. ---
**Author:** ![terryb](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/terryb/32/39625_2.png) [@terryb](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/terryb)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/3 "2020-09-15T15:26:50Z")
Thanks, Mark. Yes, I wonder if this butterfly is from this years’ hatch? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Freeman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/shirley_freeman/32/11361_2.png) [@Shirley\_Freeman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Shirley_Freeman)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/4 "2020-09-15T17:23:15Z")
I’m so glad this girl had to refuel and posed for you, Terry. You did a fine job capturing the details in both the flower and the BF. ---
**Author:** ![terryb](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/terryb/32/39625_2.png) [@terryb](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/terryb)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/5 "2020-09-15T18:15:42Z")
Thank you, Shirley. She was a beauty. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/6 "2020-09-15T21:46:22Z")
Terry: Mark took the words right out of my mouth regarding this young monarch vs Allen’s old timer. Nice find and a fine capture. \>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![terryb](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/terryb/32/39625_2.png) [@terryb](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/terryb)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2020, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/7 "2020-09-15T22:20:27Z")
Thanks, Bill. She was a beauty, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Allen\_Sparks](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/allen_sparks/32/63507_2.png) [@Allen\_Sparks](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Allen_Sparks)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/8 "2020-09-16T00:21:52Z")
Hi Terry, very pristine monarch and well captured! The colors here work very well together. I’m wondering if the upper wing on the monarch was moving as it seems slightly blurred compared to the lower wing. A nice rendition of this beauty either way. Composition-wise, if mine I’d probably crop some off the left and include more on the right since that is the way the butterfly is facing. ---
**Author:** ![terryb](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/terryb/32/39625_2.png) [@terryb](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/terryb)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/9 "2020-09-18T13:23:43Z")
Hey, Allen. Thanks for your thoughts. The butterfly may have been moving a bit when I snapped the shot; she was seldom still! I cropped it close on the right to exclude some ragged stems I didn’t want in the frame. ---
**Author:** ![Diane\_Miller](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/diane_miller/32/27391_2.png) [@Diane\_Miller](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Diane_Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/10 "2020-09-18T20:10:32Z")
Beautiful and well captured! If you are not fixed on a certain aspect ratio, I would crop from the left just enough to eliminate the bright OOF leaf there, or else soften it (and perhaps some of the darker areas around it) with cloning with a lowered-opacity brush. Do that on a copy layer so you aren’t burning bridges. You can protect the butterfly while you clone by selecting it with the Quick Selection tool and then inverse the selection. I gave some information on refining selections (assuming that may be new to you) in a reply to your Eastern Giant Swallowtail. ---
**Author:** ![terryb](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/terryb/32/39625_2.png) [@terryb](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/terryb)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/monarch/16831/11 "2020-09-18T20:59:35Z")
Thanks, Diane. I’ll give this one a shot, too.