Tom McCreary, APSA, MPSA
September 2021 - Tiger Swallowtail Feeding
About the Image(s)
This image was taken a couple of months ago in south western Illinois at a lavender farm. I used my Olympus E-M1 Mark II camera, Olympus 14-150mm lens at 150mm, f8, and ISO 400. I did crop in some (image is about 1/2 the area of the original), and opened up the shadows some in Lightroom. It was a sunny day, but the camera's dynamic range handled the light well. It was so busy feeding that it did not move much once it was on a flower, and my being close did not bother it much. I had been chasing it around the flowers taking images from the top of the butterfly, but got down low and took this image from the bottom.
This round’s discussion is now closed!
9 comments posted
Hey Tom, very pleasant image. A couple of suggestions to make it better, if I may? The lavender perch on the bottom left is a distaction. I would blur it a bit. If you have some space on the top I would include it. Looks a bit boxed in. And finally maybe a wee bit saturation and brightness would make it perfect. Posted: 09/07/2021 08:47:45
Thanks for the suggestions. Like a lot of us, I have a hard time seeing improvements to my own images. In my case, I see what I like in an image and then do not look any more. Posted: 09/07/2021 08:57:47
That makes two of us Tom!!. We do tend to overlook such matters and that is part of the journey of learning. Hopefully over time we become our biggest critics to raise the bar a bit...!!! Enjoy the journey. Posted: 09/08/2021 03:18:00
Great capture. The butterfly is tack sharp on the body and wing o the right. It is a bit confusing with so much bright areas surrounding the butterfly. I would darken that and I would crop it so it is more of a vertical photo. That way the butterfly gets the full bill. Posted: 09/08/2021 14:22:09
Very nice butterfly image, it's important part head and body are sharp. The only thing seems to me, there are too many stuff around the butterfly, special on right down side. I try to use Spot Healing Brush tool and Clone Stamp tool to clean up a bit. It might help butterfly to standing out. Posted: 09/08/2021 20:55:46
Thanks Tony. Posted: 09/09/2021 09:00:36
I love the beautiful butterfly! But I never had chance to take photos for little fly animals like birds, etc. my eyes is no good. Posted: 09/09/2021 21:37:20
Your image catches my eye very well Tom. Your subjects pop to some degree, due to sharpness, saturation and near color opposites. I agree with lessening the saturation of the flowers to the upper left. If I may, my taste suggests toning down the subject lavender plant as well, giving full attention to the swallowtail. I like your image. Posted: 09/13/2021 16:20:57
Wow. What a great butterfly image. I am not bothered by the lower right. I am fascinated with the clarity of the butterfly and the softness of the background.
Posted: 09/28/2021 16:25:25
Posted: 09/28/2021 16:25:25