Butterfly #2

[ScoutR]

OMG are you saying that you did that in PP - that's amazing

Wendy

[Fit]

I think Elise was saying that she got these other visitors whilst awaiting a butterfly. Love it!

[DippyRebel]

No.................these were all shot handheld---available light (no flash, and softer light of early morning or evening)---canon 300 f/4L lens. The 300 f/4 has a magnification ratio of 0.24, which is good for light macro work . If you find that your lens won't allow you to get close enough, you could put an extention tube on it. Very inexpensive and will allow you to boost the magnification ratio of your lens. Go to the website SLR Gear and look up your lens. Click on specifications and you will see the magnification ratio and closest focus distance.

Steve, I haven't used my Canon 300 f/4L for photographing butterflies but I think I should! My macro lens tends to live on my camera and I'm a little ashamed to say that I rarely use the 300 except in the winter for the odd bird

[ScoutR]

OOPs, she said the monarch that never came, so I thought she was telling us that her original was PP'd , but the monarch obviously got there eventually.
I'll quit posting till I get my second cup of coffee.

Sorry Elise

Wendy

[DippyRebel]

Wendy, thanks for the feedback on my butterfly shot.

Elise - that's quite a variety of creatures visiting during your wait!

[mythlady]

I took all the pictures in a grove that is part of the Monarchs' migration, so there are hundreds of them in the area at this particular time of year. I saw those two flowers and thought that they made a nice composition, so I fixed my tripod and focused my camera on it -- and everything came except the Monarch I was waiting for. I thought the pics told a little story if I put them together --

[ScoutR]

Here is my contribution. This is a Rice Paper butterfly. I took it at a local Butterfly conservatory. Cheating I know, but they still flutter around a lot, and you have to wait for people to get out of the way, so it's still a challenge.



Wendy

[Fit]

Very nice, Wendy.

[risingphoenix]

Gorgeous Wendy! Love the colors..great capture!

[mythlady]

Beautiful, Wendy -- I love the light coming through the wings. Other than the once-a-year monarchs, we seem to have very few butterflies around here (or they hide from me very effectively), so I would be happy to be in a butterfly conservatory --

[ScoutR]

Thanks Elise, Mike and Chris. This thread reminds me that I should try to get over there again. I purchased a seasons pass when I went last year and only used it once. Good project for the January Blues. My challenge will be to get a picture of the Blue Morph with his wings spread to show the blue. I waited and waited and waited last year, and the bloody thing would just open them enough to show the blue and then close his wings again. I gave up. Here he is at the feeder. The other side of the wings are brilliant tones of blue.



Wendy

[maloufn]

Like the clarity, colours and light. Good allround shot Wendy. Which part of Canada are you in?? I lived in Ottawa for a year way back in 1983 doing some postdoctoral research. Keep those butterflies coming. I have to work very hard to find them let alone shoot them. What setup do you have??

nasseem

[ScoutR]

Thanks Nasseem, I'll try to get out to the conservatory again soon. A bit of colour is nice in the winter. I am in Southern Ontario close to Toronto. All the Butterfly shots were taken with the Nikon D3000 and 18-200mm VRII f3.5-5.6 lens. Handheld natural light, which is how I take most of my shots.

Wendy

P.S. Does anyone else have butterflies to share. January blues are coming early this year, It's really nice to see some colour. Perhaps another flower thread is in order also.

[maloufn]

Hi Nasseem: This is a beautiful composition, but to my eye and on my screen it looks quite bright and oversaturated. Unfortunately some of the highlights are blown also. I'm not sure if it could be toned down with PP, but perhaps toning it down and purposely giving it a soft focus look might be worth a try

Wendy

Hi Wendy,

I tried to tone it down. How does this work??
Nasseem

[EatSleepHockeyPhotography]

Wow....amazing work by everyone....especially Steve & Rachel. Stunning detail and all-around quality and beauty. Thanks!

Anthony