# Pipevine Swallowtail **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** macro-close-up\ **Created:** [July 8, 2023, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996 "2023-07-08T18:34:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **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:** [July 8, 2023, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/1 "2023-07-08T18:34:05Z")
![4U0A9449-1.jpg](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/d/0/d05f5974d0f0f87f6351275e26452077813842e7.jpeg) > **Critique Style Requested:** _Standard_ > > The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image. ### Description It’s butterfly season, and I can’t stop photographing them. However, I wanted to try the Canon RF-s 18-150mm kit lens that came with the R7. I am very pleased with the results. Obviously, at that focal range, this lens has limited applicability for wildlife, but at a cost of $300, I think it would be a great “walk around” lens. The lens and camera together weigh practically nothing. This is the first lens Canon has made specifically for the APS-C sensor cameras. Hopefully, more are in the pipeline. ### Specific Feedback Just your overall impressions, please. ### Technical Details ![Capture](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/3X/9/f/9fa9257a8909a55125652d4a116cfd8655e0827e.jpeg) Canon RF-S 18-150mm f3.5-6.3 IS STM, handheld, processed in ACR and PSE 2020 for exposure and cropping, utilizing a new technique employing subject select/Inverse introduced to me by @Diane Miller. A useful addition to my tool kit in processing. ---
**Author:** ![Ted\_Forman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ted_forman/32/23367_2.png) [@Ted\_Forman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ted_Forman)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2023, 6:42pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/2 "2023-07-08T18:42:02Z")
This is a very nice image Terry. The butterfly falls within the plane of focus , with the wings and body being very sharp throughout. And that soft, clean background is superb. I too use the R7, but with the RF 100-400 lens and a 1.4x extender for wildlife. I’ve seen that a lot of people are using that 18-135 mm lens with excellent results. How much post processing, if any, did you do for the background? ---
**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:** [July 8, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/3 "2023-07-08T18:54:21Z")
Thanks @Ted_Forman. I normally shoot with the RF 100-500mm (which I love), but I wanted to try the RF-S 18-150, since it’s specifically made for the crop sensor. I think it’s a really nice little lens for what it is, and the price. I did very little to the background in this photo. I applied a slight vignette because I thought the flower in the LRC was too bright, and then did a subject select and inverse (thanks @Diane_Miller) which selected just the background for me, and did just a very slight light levels adjustment on the midtones. That was it. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/4 "2023-07-08T19:01:10Z")
What a fine look at this beauty, Terry. Nice details in the BF. He stands out nice against that smooth BG. Well done. Glad you were able to inverse the selection. Such a nice feature. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2023, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/5 "2023-07-08T19:42:42Z")
A wonderful image! No nits!! The lens looks to be very good. Just always remember to check the subject selection, as it will rarely be perfect. (The Q key will show the selection as an overlay and the black or white brushes will let you patch it up, to add to or erase from it.) ---
**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:** [July 8, 2023, 8:38pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/6 "2023-07-08T20:38:08Z")
Thanks @Shirley_Freeman. I can see using select/inverse is going to be very useful going forward. Thanks @Diane_Miller. I don’t see that the Q key does anything for me in PhotoShop Elements, but it does have a refine edge function under the Select tab. In this case, I didn’t need it. Elements did a really good job of selecting just the butterfly. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2023, 9:02pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/7 "2023-07-08T21:02:08Z")
The Q key pulls up Quick Mask Mode, which shows a (any) selection as a translucent colored overlay, red by default. There must be some equivalent in PSE. You can then edit/refine that selection with the brush tools then back out of QM mode gives the marching ants representation of the selection. The select subject thing is amazing but never perfect! ---
**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:** [July 8, 2023, 9:45pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/8 "2023-07-08T21:45:14Z")
I’ll do some searching and see what I can find. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Friel](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/mike_friel/32/28003_2.png) [@Mike\_Friel](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Mike_Friel)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2023, 7:55am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/9 "2023-07-09T07:55:55Z")
Nice shot indeed, Terry. I like that you got in very close. It’s a fine shot of a butterfly in really good condition and posing beautifully. Maybe you’ll use that lens again for the butterflies! ---
**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:** [July 9, 2023, 12:26pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/10 "2023-07-09T12:26:45Z")
Thanks @Mike_Friel. You mentioned the downside of using this lens - I must get in quite close. But, yes, I’ll be trying it out in the future if I have some cooperative subjects. ---
**Author:** ![Jens\_Ober](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/jens_ober/32/52374_2.png) [@Jens\_Ober](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Jens_Ober)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2023, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/11 "2023-07-09T14:26:09Z")
Hi Terry, wow, that butterfly looks just fantastic. Congratulations on catching such a great specimen. I haven’t had any luck photographing butterflies yet. They are too fast for me. ---
**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:** [July 9, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/12 "2023-07-09T14:53:11Z")
Thanks @Jens_Ober. This guy (I’m sure it’s a male) was nicely cooperative, allowing me to get close and sitting for a few seconds while I got focused. But they rarely sit still and not for long! ---
**Author:** ![Ingemar\_Holmkvist](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/dc4da7/32.png) [@Ingemar\_Holmkvist](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ingemar_Holmkvist)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 1:30pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/13 "2023-07-10T13:30:15Z")
Really nice shot and glad the lens is up to snap. In my (admittedly little) experience Canon’s new RF “consumer” lenses perform pretty well but I really wish they were just a bit faster in terms of aperture. You have caught a really pretty butterfly doing what I assume it loves to do. Everything that needs to be is sharp and the pose is nice and open showing the full glory of its colors. Somehow I really like how it sort of bends the “knees” to get in there. Good choice with a square crop as well. It all feels very balanced. Have you tried reducing the saturation of the purple flowers a bit? It might just be my monitor, but it looks like they almost compete with the butterfly in colorfulness which sort of pulls my eye. ---
**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:** [July 10, 2023, 5:09pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/14 "2023-07-10T17:09:40Z")
Thanks @Ingemar_Holmkvist. I, in fact did reduce the saturation in the flowers quite a bit during processing. Ironweed sports very bright magenta flowers, and taming them is often a major challenge in bright sunlight. ---
**Author:** ![Ted\_Forman](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/ted_forman/32/23367_2.png) [@Ted\_Forman](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Ted_Forman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/pipevine-swallowtail/35996/15 "2023-07-10T18:35:04Z")
> [@terryb](#): > > Thanks ) which selected just the background for me, and did just a very slight light levels adjustment on the midtones. That was it. Thanks Terry. I use that subject select and inverse quite a bit with wildlife. Works great and easy to do.