Facing beauty
Hunting for monarchs, but got a shot of this black beauty instead. July 25, 2016
Hunting for monarchs, but got a shot of this black beauty instead. July 25, 2016
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Aug, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This picture was taken in my garden. It really paid off to research into and plant the kind of flowers that are likely to attract pollinators - insects like butterflies and bees - as well as hummingbirds. Instead of always having to head to the park, I can just hang out and enjoy my own garden with its different flowers and insects to appreciate.Time
I got into the habit of taking my camera with me everywhere for everything not long after getting my first dedicated camera after Christmas 2014. Walking the dog in the early morning and evening provides some perks other than exercise - it also provides a valid excuse to be outside during "Golden hour" every day! This particular shot was taken this summer in the morning around 9am after taking the dog on a long walk.Lighting
Golden hour. Golden hour. Golden hour. There is a very good reason that it is called that. I do not have any equipment other than my camera, but Golden hour completely levels the playing field for amateurs like me!Equipment
As with 99% of my pictures, this picture was taken handheld with a Sony DSC-HX400VB. It's an all-in-one (aka: point-and-shoot) camera. No flash, filter or other accouterments.Inspiration
It has been my goal this summer to take photos from a different perspective, a fresh angle, a new view.Editing
The post-processing on this was fairly minimal - just an increase of the white balance to lighten everything up. Light room is a big help with that kind of thing.In my camera bag
It's easy to get bogged down with a lot of "stuff" so I normally only keep the camera (Sony DSC-HX400VB), a microfiber cloth, a hood, and a few filters to take up space in the bag.Feedback
Keep your eyes open. That may seem like an obvious piece of advise, but how often do we just float through our lives looking all around us but seeing nothing? Be conscious of the light, and decide ahead of time how you want to use it. Keep your camera on and at the ready. Butterflies are very flighty. To get a picture of them requires both patience and split second decisiveness.
