Monarch
Apr, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at the Butterfly Pavilion located in Westminster, Colorado. I am an aspiring photographer based in Denver, Colorado. I love night photography, steel wool, landscapes, and macro. I am a self-taught photographer in the graduating class of 2018.Time
I remember that this photo was taken in a huge complex where the butterflies roamed free. They were everywhere! I took it around 12:00 on March 3rd, 2016.Lighting
I wanted to capture the energy and peace that the butterflies seemed to convey. There was a nice diffusion from overhead trees. No flash was used.Equipment
This was shot on a Canon Rebel t1i with a kit lens (18-55 3.5-4.5 IS II)Inspiration
I was looking to show how a butterfly can be chaotic and peaceful at the same time. I mentally framed how I wanted the butterfly to look, and then waited for the shot. I was hoping for a vibrant butterfly, and I got more than I expected with a monarch butterfly!Editing
I used a bit of post processing for this photo. I shot a burst in JPEG, so post advantages were limited. I did make some minor adjustments in Lightroom CC, with white balance and exposure. I do recall boosting the saturation by around +5, and the same with the contrast. I finally sharpened it a bit, and then did some chroma fixes.In my camera bag
I currently shoot with a Canon rebel t3i, a Rokinon 14mm 2.8, a Canon 50mm 1.8, a 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 USM that I got second hand, and also an older 70-200mm 3.5-4 lens that I got from my aunt. The 50mm lens is my favorite lens, and has definitely been one of the most used ones I have. I especially like my 14mm 2.8 for landscapes, and for shooting the milky way. A teacher suggested that it is always better to invest in glass, so that it what I'm working towards.Feedback
Macro photography can be tricky, but be patient and persistent. A technique I recently learned involves image stacking; the process of taking as many points in focus of an image and then blending them in post. just remember to keep exposures the same. For macro photography, remember to be patient and lighting is key! Dusk, dawn, and diffusion are the "three Ds" I try to remember when shooting.
