Karen Kratz
April 2026 - Turtle and Buttefly
Original
About the Image(s)
While gliding along in a dugout canoe on an arm of the Amazon River last year, we watched this yellow-headed slider turtle and a butterfly. The butterfly was after the moisture of the turtle’s eye. A symbiotic relationship in that the turtle gets a bit of a clean up, and the butterfly gets some nutrient-rich food.
To catch this while we were in motion, and to freeze the butterfly’s wings, I used a higher shutter speed. As you can see by the original, this was a very big crop. I brought the highlights down and shadows shadows up, with sharpening at the end through Topaz.
8 comments posted
The first thing Karen, is that this is an amazing crop! Yet there is much detail in your final image which is a lovely moment. I just think the back of the turtle is a tad bright - and the log as that the brightest part of the image. Posted: 04/04/2026 23:09:26
Thank you Adrian. You're right, it is too bright. I was always so focused (bad pun) on the front of the turtle that I ended up ignoring that fact. Posted: 04/04/2026 23:41:36
Hi Karen - Once again I learned something: didn't know that butterflies had a symbiotic relationship with turtles - amazing! Fantastic to see the butterfly in proximity to this turtle, and are those flies on the turtle's back? Agree with the observation about darkening the back of the turtle's back, but fantastic photo. Posted: 04/06/2026 20:06:05
Hi Richard - yes those are flies. I'd thought about removing them, but figured they should stay and add to the story instead. Posted: 04/06/2026 21:33:15
Hi Karen,
This is a fantastic capture and a great nature story. The image retains a lot of detail, even after such a large crop. I agree with the comments regarding the exposure on the turtle and the log.
Overall, it's a wonderful story captured in this image. Posted: 04/12/2026 18:15:28
This is a fantastic capture and a great nature story. The image retains a lot of detail, even after such a large crop. I agree with the comments regarding the exposure on the turtle and the log.
Overall, it's a wonderful story captured in this image. Posted: 04/12/2026 18:15:28
Thank you Maria. Posted: 04/12/2026 21:16:59
Karen, pick of action indeed with the butterfly approaching the turtle. Agree with previous comments as well. Posted: 04/15/2026 14:45:06
Such an amazing shot, Karen, of this beautiful interaction (I can't stop smiling, nature is truly magical!) between the turtle and the butterfly. And thank you for that piece of information about the give-and-take between these two creatures. Agree with Adrian's comments that bringing down the brightness on the back of the turtle and the log would be an enhancement. And, yes, leaving the flies does add to the captivating story. Posted: 04/16/2026 23:12:06