The butterfly was really digging deep in a patch of red lilies that came up in my yard. Some people gripe when I post macro images from a 600mm lens used with macro tubes. If it's not acceptable here that's cool. Just move it or delete it. I use my 600mm lens with tubes a lot and I personally consider it a tool for macro photography. Especially when the subject won't let you get close (for some reason the butterflies that frequent these lilies leave when I try to get within 180mm macro lens range).
EOS 1DsMKIII
600mm f4L IS with a total of 37mm of Canon tubes
You are perfectly fine to post those types of images here, Michael. Macro is not the lens you use but the magnification you get and this is nicely done. I think you did a very nice job on the image overall - good DOF and you have a lovely BG color against the red flowers. I do wonder if the butterfly didn't get a bit washed out in the process? Perhaps selecting him and deepening the mid/dark tones a bit?
In the case of the butterfly, I think that he / she is a senior citizen. While I was shooting I noticed that it was not as "contrasty" as they usually are. Maybe all that flapping around "slung" it's color off :D But... I think your idea would help the image.
Hey Michael, I like your image. The flowers provide an excelent canvas for the butterfly. I wish it was a bit larger in the frame, I find myself a bit too distracted by those beautifully detailed flowers. Regarding your choice of lenses and tubes: IMO this is exactly the reason why extension tubes were invented! Many of the "macro"images I shoot were simply shot at 500 mm for the same reason! A considerable working distance is a good thing with jumpy subjects. By the way, based on the wing markings and the extensions on the lower wings, I don't think that this butterfly is a Monarch. I'm not an expert on US species, but by the looks of it, it belongs to the Papilionidae family.
- Jerry -
Last edited by Jerry van Dijk; 10-22-2008 at 01:48 PM.
Reason: Forgot to add comment about butterfly species
Your's is definitely a swallowtail, I think probably a spicebush swallowtail, but it's pretty faded (they constantly lose wing scales during their brief adult lives).