As I confessed in my last post, I’m not above arranging elements to create a good image even though that particular subject was totally as found and not manipulated at all. Yesterday morning I went on a scouting trip around the house and didn’t find anything interesting so I put on the headphones and headed to the patio to water the potted plants. As I was walking up to the spigot I felt something land on my head. I brushed it off and to my horror discovered it was this newly hatched lady monarch who was apparently just out of the chrysalis and trying to take flight. I was relieved to find that I had not damaged her and was able to carefully let her crawl up onto my finger and then on to this hibiscus. Watering put on hold, quickly back into the house for the macro rig. I was later able to pose her on one of our butterfly bushes which I’ll probably post later but this frame was the best for showing the texture in the wings and clean details in the eye. The happy ending was that after about 20 minutes of posing she flew happily away, apparently none the worse for wear. >=))>
PS: Decided to post a second version
Feedback Requested
Clearly not a perch that she would have chosen on her own (I’ve never seen a monarch nectaring on a hibiscus) but I thought it a nice complement. Your thoughts?
Technical Details
Image 1
Sony A7rIII
Sony FE 100mm f2.8 GM Macro, 2xTC
ISO 400, 1/200 @ f11
Global adjustments in LRC, focused sharpening and shadow boost in PS ACR filter
I have to go out looking for butterflies, but they come looking for you. What’s your secret, Bill?
Of the 2 shots of this beauty, I prefer the second, on the butterfly bush. The lighting is uniform and the curve of the pose is continued by the flower.. In both shots you could give a wee bit more space, at least along the left and top sides, as the bottom might be difficult to add canvas to. But I’m extraordinarily jealous of you getting this in your garden, and you made the most of the chance, so hats off (but mind the butterfly!).
Bill, she looks great in both views. I prefer #1 because the colors in her perch coordinate well with her colors. I do like the fact that there are hints of detail in the background in #2 and you can see both of her antenna.
A very nice look at this monarch. I like the overall comp in both images, but the warmer BG color in the first puts it over the other image. There’s also better subject separation from the BG in the first image. A very nice photo…Jim
Both are excellent, Bill. I find myself leaning a bit more toward the second image for the composition and a little more separation from the background, but both are excellent.
Hi Bill
Two lovely images - the Monarch is wonderfully sharp in both, and you have cropped very close on both . It doesn’t need to be wider, but I wouldn’t want it to be tighter.
Of the two images, the first has gorgous shape and form and colour - the second is less complex. I prefer the first.
