Zabulon Skipper on Butterfly Bush

Critique Style Requested: Standard

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

Description

While waiting for the hummingbird moth, which failed to return, I found these very fast, yellow skippers flitting around the butterfly bush flowers. Sure enough, one landed and began to feed. I believe that this is a Zabulon skipper which has a brightly patterned yellow hindwing. I upgraded my versions of Lightroom Classic and Photoshop and the edits were completed in minutes rather than hours.

Specific Feedback

How do you like this comp? This is a fairly diagnostic view of the skipper, but I like the interaction between the golden yellows of the skipper against the light lavender of the flowers.

Technical Details

Z9 105mm Micro +2.0 Diopter (1/4000 sec at f14, ISO 3200) DeNoise, Levels, Micro-contrast enhancement, Crop for Comp.


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This composition works for me, Jim. I enjoy the nicely detailed view of the skipper and it’s perch on a sea of flowers works well. I do see one out of focus something poking up from the flowers toward the right side that you might consider removing.

Beautiful image.

Jim: Great detail on the skipper and a wonderful perch. I’m impressed that you were able to get this close using the +2d. Exceptionally good result. >=))>

Jim, “Zabs” were a common August visitor to flowers in my previous yard and the males (like this one) are very striking. This is a great look, with the bf and the flower nicely sharp. Getting this close with a 100mm takes putting in significant time waiting. I went looking for Clearwing moths last week and the flower patch they liked was gone, so no Clearwings…

I love the colors too, Jim, with the green adding an extra touch. Both skipper and flower are in excellent condition, and the feeding position is very good too. No complaints!