Swallowtail

[Gail Spitler]

This is kind of another photographic experiment, especially in terms of post-processing. Comments and suggestions much appreciated.
Is there an ha for butterflies?:)

In the EXIF file, it says I used either 'pattern' metering or 'split metering'. I don't know what that means. I thought I had the metering as evaluative, but with a strong wind and MF happening, who knows what dials got nudged. Can anyone help on this?

Thanks for looking
Gail
Canon 30D with 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 with 25mm ext tube, f/5.6, 1/250sec, MF, handheld, ??? metering, comp 0, ISO 500

[Gus Cobos]

Hi Gail,
I like what you were trying to do here, but the background is a bit busy. I did modifications to your image, I hope you like it. I cropped from the left and right side of the frame, cropped a tad from the top, cloned out and defused some of the background flowers where needed and added some selective sharpening to your butterfly...:cool:

[Gail Spitler]

Gus
Thanks for taking the time to modify the image and to re-post. I knew that a tighter crop with fewer confusing elements was a reasonable option here. You have done a great job. For me, it is a powerful learning opportunity to see your re-post next to my original. Much appreciated.
The butterfly is in a very dense lavender bush, so the image in my minds eye is of a lot of flower in opposition to the butterfly. I'm sure that is playing here in my crop. No matter what crop the flower just below the butterfly definitely has to go.
The other thing is that I'm not sure what "makes" a butterfly image. Sometimes an image that is really close, so that the vividness of the scales is evident, works. "Butterfly approaching flower" can be very interesting. "Butterfly on flower" seems banal, so we might need the book "The Art of Butterfly Photography" ? (smile)
Just mulling, maybe some other folks have some ideas.
Thanks again, much appreciated
Gail

[Lance Peters]

Nice Flutterby - I am as clueless as you as to what makes a good butterfly photo - never the less - Like Gus's repost.

:)

[Gail Spitler]

Gus and Lance
It's interesting...I decided I'd try to work on making the butterfly the most dominant item in the image. I sharpened the butterfly a significant amount, cropped more and tried to blur some of the flowers and got rid of the flowers immediately below the butterfly. Guess what ... my image looked pretty much the same as Gus' except that he is a much better PS artist than I am. Thanks for the comments and suggestions
Gail

[Alfred Forns]

Interesting ...... what makes a good butterfly photo ....... a good butterfly !!!!

Gail I think the butterfly in your image is just about right Love the pose, did well with the sharpness and exp The bg is the only detracting part It is very pretty with the colors but overpowering. Lots of competing elements For this bug I think a plain bg would have been better.

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

I like Gus's crop - I think that the BG is a very pretty foil to the butterfly. My main problem with butterfly images is that it seems hard to tell when the butterfly is really in focus.

[Arthur Morris]

I like both versions and like the BKGR as well. The flutterby is, however, not a perfect specimen as the tails have been nipped off, probably by a birdie.

Lastly, you were in evaluative metering. Most Canon digital bodies like to play Twilight Zone every now and then...I often have images come up as "pattern" metering but have never seen "split." Perhaps you might wish to clean your glasses :) and check that one.