Butterfly
Chased this little bugger all over the backyard before he sat still long enough for me to rattle off a shot!
Chased this little bugger all over the backyard before he sat still long enough for me to rattle off a shot!
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Aug, 2015Views
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Awards
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Amateur Winner Plants And Critters Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Plants And Critters Photo Contest
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
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Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
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nandicmb
November 08, 2015
Congratulations on you Amateur category win in Plants And Critters Photo Contest!
PRO
nelslan
December 05, 2015
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
PRO
Jack_EJ
May 26, 2017
Wow amazing. Plz can someone follow me as I am just starting and it would help tremendously
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at my house, west of Ballarat in Victoria, Australia. I had spotted the butterfly while kicking a football with my son in our backyard and thought I'd grab the camera and chase after it. It was quite a chase too! The little critter didn't want to stay still for very long at all, especially with a human and a camera hovering over him every time he landed. I eventually rattled off a couple of shots and this was the pick of them. For those who are interested it is a Jezebel butterfly.Time
The photo was taken at about 2:30pm on a nice sunny day back in April 2015.Lighting
The lighting is all natural. Because of the spontaneous nature of the photograph I had to just hope that the butterfly would finally settle in a well lit spot. Eventually it did, bringing out the colours in its wings nicely.Equipment
I used a handheld Canon EOS 600D with a 18-55mm lens. The settings were as follows - F/5.6, exposure 1/125, ISO 100, 55mm focal length, no flash.Inspiration
I'm always on the lookout for things to photograph, whether they be landscapes, sporting events, or little critters dashing about the garden. This little fellow was so bright and energetic that I just couldn't resist taking up the challenge to 'shoot' him. It was a battle, but after a long chase the results were worth it.Editing
The photo has been cropped of course, but apart from that I only slightly increased the contrast and gently pushed the colour saturation a little higher.In my camera bag
I'm just starting out really so I only have minimal equipment. I have the camera of course, my trusty Canon EOS 600D with its 18-55mm lens. I also carry a Tamron 18-270mm lens that I mainly use for my children's sporting events. The rest of the space in my bag is filled up with various cloths, brushes and lens cleaning products. Oh, and the instruction manual is in there as well. You never know when you might need it!Feedback
With things like butterflies and birds you have to be ready to shoot at a moment's notice. It is all very spontaneous and you have to be ready. Just a split second late clicking the shutter could be the difference between getting your shot and getting nothing. There is also a lot of luck involved. The subject needs to land in a favourable spot, something that can never be guaranteed. Being observant and patient are the two main attributes you will need to have for this type of photography. Also the ability to not become too despondent if things don't work out as they should.
