Eastern Swallowtail Pink Azalea
Nov, 2015Views
212
Likes
Awards
Chatter Award
Zenith Award
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 20 rankTop 20 rank week 1
Top 30 rank
Categories
debhearn
December 10, 2015
Many thanks to the judges for the Staff Winter Selection 2015. Thankful to be part of the Viewbug Community.
Here's to a beautiful 2016 year of great photographs, sharing and enjoying each other's "views"! I guess that's why they call it viewbug!
Here's to a beautiful 2016 year of great photographs, sharing and enjoying each other's "views"! I guess that's why they call it viewbug!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
The beautiful light and dark pink azaleas alongside a couple of pure white ones are located at the end of the driveway next to my home. This beautiful swallowtail butterfly with its brilliant coloring and graceful pose arrested my attention. The missing chunk of wing did not deter the butterfly from gathering the favorite sweet azalea nectar and it was inspirational to think of this little angel as a lesson in triumph and the triumphant spirit over all material handicaps. It is especially appropriate due to the transformation which has already taken place in the life of this creature... once a lowly caterpillar. It is no wonder that the butterfly has been featured in most cultures as transformative, miraculous or "magical" in some way.Time
This is middle to late afternoon on beautiful dapple day... not too bright, not too sunny, foggy or rainy! A perfect afternoon. The butterfly seemed to think so too.Lighting
Sunlight filtered from behind me through the trees and onto the azaleas and butterfly, then onto the rocks and woods behind creating a soft and welcoming effect which draws me into an imagined story of the butterfly! Naturally beautiful lighting on a gorgeous afternoon.Equipment
My favorite camera is the Nikon D-90 and I am very fond of mine! There was no flash or tripod, zoom lens on 250-300, hand held shot.Inspiration
The butterfly itself was the inspiration for this photo. It was torn and a little tattered and yet, somehow, still triumphant. I thought that was like life to most humans. We are all torn or a little tattered in one way or another but we can choose to be triumphant. I took another Swallowtail Butterfly photo this Spring and it is called "Triumphant Tatters" and that butterfly's wings are really in tatters and still... it fights on and goes from flower to flower resting on a white azalea. Butterflies are an inspiration and synonymous with transformation. The butterfly is a true example of "sometimes change is good!"Editing
No special post-processing tools were used to produce this shot.In my camera bag
My Canon D-90 has been the inspiration for me in pursuing photography as a favorite creative memory maker. I have two lenses: 1) Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 55-300mm zoom; and, 2) Nikon DX AF-S NIKKOR 18-105mm. I used the zoom on this shot and generally use the zoom to capture closer photos of my favorite subjects including butterflies and birds. I use the shorter lens to capture beautiful smiles on people's faces and in their eyes. I have a tripod, rarely if ever used, and need to take it with me sometimes! I keep the USB connector in my bag as well as a few supplies and several "cards" to interchange. If I am traveling a good distance away I always pack the battery charger for my trip after fully charging my batteries before I leave! I never want to miss a beautiful shot because I will have it to remind me of the beauty around me everywhere, all the time.Feedback
Look for the beauty around you. Rely on your own eye and what YOU feel is inspiring. Chances are if the visage you see in the viewfinder gives you a feeling of awe or majesty or just a happy moment, a serendipity, it will do the same for others. I have played a piano for many years and entertain others in many different settings and only when I play with my soul does something "transformative" happen in the listeners and in me. That's the feeling I get when I see something as beautiful as this butterfly - it sings to me!
