Monarch 10th 8DSC_0282_009
Oct, 2015Views
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marthab063
March 14, 2016
Omg I am so thankful for this award!! So much appreciated. I took this on my deck. I planted some wildflowers in a pot to attract butterflies and Hummingbirds.
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
I took this photo on my deck. Every year I plant wildflowers in several pots on my deck to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees so I can take their pictures. This Monarch happened to come around several times for several days. He seemed to like to pose for me.Time
I took this around 3 in the afternoon. I am usually outside everyday around this time in the garden watering. We also have several bee balm that attract the Hummingbirds and Butterflies and many Bumble Bees. So I always have my camera available. Once I spot something. I start shooting. I take many pictures before I actually get "just the right one". The only problem I run into is......I have a Doberman that gets just as excited as I do and I have to put her up because she thinks the little things that flutter need to be eaten.Lighting
My deck faces west so sun in the afternoon is just about right for taking pictures. I can sometimes catch a good shadow from the house so the sun isn't glaring on me. I do live in Michigan so usually we don't have to many sunny days. This year was a plus because we had quite a few.Equipment
I never use a tripod. I always handhold my camera which is a Nikon D3200. No flash. I used a Nikkor 55-200 zoom lens. This was a auto focus. I have since moved on to manual focus which I have found to be so much better. My photos have improved dramatically.Inspiration
I love taking pictures of things I see outside. I couldn't resist taking a picture of this beautiful Monarch on my wildflowers. Just seeing one was awesome. To me nature is wonderful. I take pictures of birds, flowers, insects anything I can. People are amazed at what I see through a lens that they can't see and how it comes out. I only wish I would've discovered photography earlier in my life.Editing
I don't think I did too much to this picture. I cropped it, made it clearer and used some contrast.In my camera bag
I have my Nikon D3200, plus, a Nikkor 55-200 mm zoom lens, a Nikkor Micro 85mm lens, a Tamron Ultra Sonic 70-300 zoom lens, a Nikkor 35mm Aspherical lens and an Nikkor 18-55mm Aspherical lens. I also have a tripod, extra batteries, extra memory chips and of course cleaning materials for my camera and the lenses. I actually have to bags. Depending on where I am going so I don't have to carry all the equipment if I don't need too.Feedback
I have learned to carry my camera wherever I go. Even if it's just from the front yard to the back. I never know what I am going to see. I see pictures (I think) that others don't see as a picture.
