Tiger Swallowtail on a Vitex blossom.

This tripod shot was taken during a moment's lull in the 25 mph wind

that was blowing. The vitex blossom was at the end of a 9-foot-long

cane that had been swaying wildly in the wind. I was amazed that the

butterfly could cling to it during all this activity. The shot is

backlit by the evening sun. Please give me comments and suggestions.

I like the colors and composition of this a great deal. The Swallowtail is a nice contrast to the blues and greens, and the soft-focus of the background is excellent. It may be my monitor, but the Swallowtail focus looks just a bit soft also. Is that my monitor? Or was it still an effect of the wind? Would also be nice to have even lighting over the yellow wings, but being backlit, there may not have been an option, and I'm not sure flash would have helped. Good image!!

You are right, Dick, some of the butterfly is in soft focus. The shadow cast by the flower is in focus though. The butterfly had just opened its wings, and this motion, combined with the residual wind and the slow shutter speed dictated by the Velvia, probably contributed to the soft focus.

I like the composition. I would crop out the right corner - bit of blue. More depth of field would have helped. As it stands the blurred bottom of the flower (lower right)in the shadow doesn't help the image in my opinion and is distracting. Maybe a little fill falsh to bring out more detail there? But as Dick suggested that may take away from the backlit effect.

I like the composition and coordinating colors. I've been on this "punch" kick lately, and this too seems to be lacking a little punch for me. Maybe it's the shadow across the Swallowtail but it seems like the lower left section of the butterfly gets lost in the color of the Vitex. Some of that mysterious "punch" might help it really seperate for me! I like the circles of light in the background.. it adds to the dreamy nature of the photo for me! Thanks

Hi John... I think that this is a nice photograph given the harsh conditions. For one thing, the photograph has nice balance and a fresh look.

Overall it has a lot of potential and some good darkroom work could add a great deal.

Weak points are the crop (not enough), the flatness I think due to the soft focus of butterfly and flower which minimizes seperation and thirdly, the bokeh, which to me is very distracting at exactly the wrong points. I'm wanting to see more of either the butterfly or the flower.