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Thread: Arctic Blue

  1. #1
    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
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    Default Arctic Blue

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    Another butterfly from the SFSU Sierra Nevada workshop, June 2008.

    Canon 20D, 300mm f4L IS, ISO 200, f10 @1/200sec, 0 EV, pattern metering, manual mode, HH

    PP: Lightroom 2.6
    large crop greater than 50%; tilted flower and butterfly CW slightly
    exp adjustment: set black and white points, highlight recovery, fill light
    enhanced clarity and vibrance, added contrast
    tone curve: brought darks and lights down
    used wacom tablet with adjustment brush: selective sharpening of wings, body and flower, brought whites in wings down and shadows of flowers up
    sharpening and NR, post-crop vignette

    PS Elements: removed distracting leaf and dark spots from BG with clone tool, resized for the web
    Last edited by Julie Brown; 02-20-2010 at 09:32 PM.
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  2. #2
    Fabs Forns
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    Very pretty colors and lovely perch. I may have taken this as a horizontal. 1/200 was pushing your luck for hh macro, especially for 300mm, what ISO were you using?

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    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
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    Thanks for the comment, Fabs.:)

    I shot this at ISO 200 and the lens has IS. Should I match the SS and the ISO with the lens focal length as a rule of thumb, despite having IS?

    Here is another view that I rotated slightly. I chose the image in the first post because the antennae stood out more.
    Last edited by Julie Brown; 02-20-2010 at 09:43 PM.
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    Fabs Forns
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    From a compositional point of view, the second one is much stronger and yes, you should try to at least match the focal length, for birds, and hh, I double it.

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    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
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    Thanks, Fabs. I really appreciate the advice!:D
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    Fabs Forns
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    I should add that I never hh macro, critical sharpness very important. The most I've done is a monopod.

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    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
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    Fabs, since I have joined BPN, I have learned just how important sharpness is!:D

    When I first started chasing butterflies and participating in field seminars, I tried using a tripod, but it was a hindrance (it was also a cheap one). If it is sunny and warm, they tend to move fairly quickly. Also, butterfliers have a rule that you have to stay back until everyone has gotten a look and the species is identified. When I shot this image I was part of a butterfly workshop with Paul Opler, and he kept the group on the move!

    But I do have a Gitzo Traveler now, so I think I will give it another try.:)
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    Julie, I like the second shot better. The tilted body more than makes up for the appearance of the antennae. The wings don't look all that sharp but I think that may just be the subject. Some bugs never look completely in focus, even when they are.

    I have a hard time thinking of shooting with a long lens as macro. When I'm shooting bflies with my 100-400, I'm no closer than 6 feet. How close do you think you were to this bug? I never use a tripod with a long lens for the reasons you already mentioned. Rarely is the ground close to level so by the time you're setup, the bfly has moved on.

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    I like the second shot better as well. And ditto on the difficulty of using tripods to shoot butterflies...they just move too fast for me - I'm lucky to catch them hand held.

    I'm wondering if the focus on this butterfly just got away due to motion blur of the subject or some other factor. I try to shoot insects at around 1/200 shutter speed and generally get fairly sharp results.

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    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
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    Ken, and Allen, thanks for the comments. I agree that the second post is a better composition.

    I was fairly far away from this butterfly-it was a large crop. The focus is probably off due to the fact that when I spot the bug I start shooting and move in, with the goal of filling the frame when I get to my minimum focus distance of 1.5 meters with this lens. I did not get close to this butterfly.

    My Canon 300mm f4L IS is an awesome lens, and I have found it to be useful when both I and the butterflies are on the move. I need to go into my archives and find an image to post that was not a huge crop!

    What I have not done is use my 100mm 2.8 macro lens for butterflies. I need to give this a try for more static butterflies, when spring comes.:)
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    The 100mm is good for small bflies when they're distracted by lots of flowers. If you've got the space, try planting some Lantana. It's a butterfly magnet!

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    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
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    Thanks, Ken. Lantana is an annual in this region, but I love it! I'll make sure I get some this spring.

    Have you looked at Allen's Painted Lady? I'm thinking a longer macro lens might be a good idea.:)
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    Quote Originally Posted by Julie Brown View Post
    Thanks, Ken. Lantana is an annual in this region, but I love it! I'll make sure I get some this spring.

    Have you looked at Allen's Painted Lady? I'm thinking a longer macro lens might be a good idea.:)
    Look for Miss Huff Lantana. It's a cold hardy variety that should handle your winters. I haven't looked at the Painted Lady shot but I will right now.

    BTW, I took a short walk around the property this morning and saw 2 butterflies! They were either Question Marks or Commas.

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    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
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    Default overwintering butterflies

    Ken, thanks for the tip about Lantana. I will look for it.

    It is always nice to see butterflies on a warm winter's day. Makes you think that spring is not far off!:)
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    Quote Originally Posted by Julie Brown View Post
    Ken, thanks for the tip about Lantana. I will look for it.

    It is always nice to see butterflies on a warm winter's day. Makes you think that spring is not far off!:)
    I know those butterflies were mocking me but it was nice to see them anyway. :)

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    Julie I like the second composition too. Good advice from Fabs. I also use the remote timer set on 10 secs, that seems to get rid of any camera shake once I have finished focusing.

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    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
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    Thanks Jackie. When I shoot from a tripod, I use a cable release and mirror lock-up. Is the timer a better method?
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    I think they are both good. I usually forget to bring the cable release.

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    Lovely colours in this Julie. I prefer the comp of the repost. I find a tripod to cumbersome to use with insects and about 99% of my shots are handheld but I know a tripod or monopod will give the best results.:)

  20. #20
    Julie Kenward
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    I also prefer the second image but just want to remind everyone that it's one image per post in the forums - if you want to post a second image, wait 24 hours and post again! No harm, no foul - but I wanted to remind everyone of the rules!

    For me, the detail is there and the composition is nice (especially in the 2nd image) but I do really miss the face - I am just not a big fan of getting them at this back angle. I don't mind photographs where the angle is back from the head as long as the bf is more at a 90 degree to the focal plane. I feel like I'm missing something by not getting at least a partial face - I love good eye contact!

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    BPN Member Julie Brown's Avatar
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    Vida, thanks for the comment.

    Jules, sorry for the second image. I guess I was thinking repost, forgetting it was a different image. :o

    I know you like that eye contact, and don't think I won't remember that when I go out shooting again!:D
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