Tails from the Odessa Steppe

Critiques [Translate]

•  
• volkan (2425)
• [2007-04-04 9:11]

Hi Alexei,
Wonderful capture and nice stand of this papilio machaon.
I like the details and sharpness a lot.
Great job.
TFS

•  
• ellis49 (2254)
• [2007-04-04 9:16]

Hi Alexei,
a beautiful picture for a dedication to Peter, I'm sure will love it.The details and exposure are spot on.
The colours and lighting are lovely. Pity about the straw but thats nature.
Beautiful work, my friend.

•  
• asus_gps (119)
• [2007-04-04 9:38]

privet Alexei!

the great photo, perfect details and even the light on the wings. take my compliments!

regards,
Igor

•  
• fartash (5161)
• [2007-04-04 9:38]

Hello Alexie
Very nice shot of this Swallowtail,
Excellent compo and lighting,
Fantastic Bg and Sharpness,
Welldone.

Good Luck
Fartash

•  
• cedryk (5270)
• [2007-04-04 9:45]

Hello Alexei,
This is a very nice capture in terms of colours and details. I also like the workshop with wing scales seen. The only thing distracting me is that grass at front of the butterfly, however it maybe an element of the composition as well.
Overall a very good job with nice note, as usual :-)
Best greetings,
Michal

•  
• batu (16383)
• [2007-04-04 10:15]

Hello Alexei,
a beautiful light and colour composition. Great depth of field and excellent focus. It's a pity that the plant in the foreground covers important parts of the swallotail's hindwing, such as the tails. In general, however, the plant structures do not distract too much. Light and colours presented in this picture are amazing!
Best wishes, Peter

•  
• jcoowanitwong (13754)
• [2007-04-04 10:15]

Hi Alexei,
A perfect picture. Sun light casted on the wings softly and reveal fine texture. Colors are vivid. The butterfly is proudly pose with all beauty.
JC

•  
• pankajbajpai (16627)
• [2007-04-04 10:27]

wow,
very fine presentation, nicely composed shot, good pov, nice dof, excellent bg, sharp image with good details,peter will love this nice dedication and he really deserves this.
well done, tfs & regards
pankaj

•  
• snaphappy (1948)
• [2007-04-04 11:11]

shame about the oat grass in the foreground but at least the colour blends into this perfect capture of the butterfly behind.

•  
• ridvan (5205)
• [2007-04-04 11:21]

hi alexei ; a great shot of this lovely butterfly, well captured with good pov,the sharpness and colors are good,well done and tfs,
best regards
ridvan

•  
• Argus (50626)
• [2007-04-04 11:39]

Hello Alexei,
Superb capture of Papilio machaon with excellent sharpness, bokeh BG and comp.
You have also succeeded in turning the disadvantage of the obstruction of the oat grass into an artistic advantage by focusing well though it.
Nice dedication to Peter Stoeckl.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

•  
• jmp (8415)
• [2007-04-04 11:41]

Hi Alexei,
Perhaps one of the most brilliant bf portrait possible! Orthogonal pov to the plane of butterfly, exact dof with sharp subject and oof bg, wonderful palette, beautiful light, outstanding composition and a perfect note, awesome details in workshop crop,... Great job mf!
TFS, José M.

•  
• uleko (10940)
• [2007-04-04 12:33]

Hello Alexei,
A truly wonderful capture of the Swallowtail in a beautiful natural environment. Great sharpness and the fine light brings out the colours really well. It stands out very nicely against the lovely soft background.
Many thanks and best regards, Ulla

•  
• vanderschelden (30441)
• [2007-04-04 12:38]

Wow wow wow:-)
Congrats, Alexei.
Beautiful light, great depth, wonderfully composed!!!
TFS
Annick

•  
• ramthakur (56953)
• [2007-04-04 12:46]

What an unusual perspective to capture this elegant looking Swallowtail, Alexei!
At 1/1000 to counter the movement caused by the wind, you have created a masterpiece of a picture.
Amazing sharpness and beautiful sober colours that please the eye.
Dedicating this picture to Peter Stoeckl is a touching gesture on your part towards a man of immense scientific temper, superb artisitic gifts and a warm and sunny nature.
Thanks.
Ram

•  
• smurali (3596)
• [2007-04-04 12:47]

Alex, Beautiful picture. It is a pity that some details are lost behind the flower.

Regards,
Murali Santhanam

•  
• pvs (14464)
• [2007-04-04 13:32]

Hi Alexei,

This is a masterclass capture,excellent colors ,sharpness not much more to say,great work mf

Paul

•  
• horia (16656)
• [2007-04-04 13:32]

Hi Alexei

Another magnificent macro shot from you!
The sharpness on the swallowtails is more than impressive here and is also underlined by the quality textures from your WS picuture.
The warm lighting here is impeccable and i really love the tones you managed to get with the correct exposure!
Brilliant work!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

•  
• martinmena (1601)
• [2007-04-04 13:49]

Hello Alexei. A beautiful image of that magnifies butterfly. Very good the composition, hurts the grass small branch that there is ahead. A greeting. Antonio

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• cicindela (9226)
• [2007-04-04 14:19]

Hello Alexei!
This is really great picture! DOF is fantastic, also POV. On the other hand it is a pitty that these is some grass on butterfly's wing. But even with this elemets thi presentation is very good :)
And of course great dedication to Peter! I agree with you in 100% He is a true butterfly master! :)
Greetings from Lodz where till now only Nymphalidae and Pieridae can be observed ;>
Radomir

•  
• pvb (1981)
• [2007-04-04 14:48]

Wow Alexei,
A great picture. I like your composition very much. The grass gives great dof. Very good sharpness, focus and I love the colours and light you had here.
TFS Paula

•  
• JoseMiguel (5658)
• [2007-04-04 14:50]

Privet Alexei,
What an impressive presentation!
Only reading your note, and knowing you had the help of our dear friend Peter, I know this is for sure a post of great quality. And in fact it is.
The tonal colour harmony is the most I like it.
A very uncomon one, without the green at background -well it has a little- it really stands out all the subtle beauty of this butterfly.
The slight blue spots on the wings makes the perfect accent to the image, so soft and in a very harmonious way.
This is a remarkable picture.
My compliments and thanks for share it.
Best regards,
JM

•  
• SkyF (8073)
• [2007-04-04 14:50]

Hello Alexei,
this is such a great composition, with the beautiful soft BG and the gorgeous main subject in such excellent sharpness. The details are amazing and the texture specially in the work shop is incredible. Even the grass in the fore ground does not distract, as it acts like an extension of the butterflies wings.
Congrats on this fabulous shot.
Sky

•  
• Hil (5035)
• [2007-04-04 14:51]

Hi Alexei,

Superb macro of this beautiful Butterfy, its a really nice composition with a excellent POV and pose, the details are just stunningly sharp, the warm colour tones and lighting is just beautiful.

TFS Hilary :o)

•  
• GLEM (10)
• [2007-04-04 14:58]

hi Alexei,
un exemple à suivre avec cette image particulièrement réussie. Très belle couleur, composition bien pensée.
Bravo.

tfs

•  
• coasties (28054)
• [2007-04-04 15:01]

Hi Alexei

A lovely capture with very high quality to the image. Nice colour tones and excellent low POV. Very nice work. :-)

•  
• Pictures_Collec (509)
• [2007-04-04 15:54]
• [+]

Hi Alexei,

What a superb butterfly and special congratulations for that unusual and beautiful lighting. Lovely picture...
TFS.

Serge

•  
• Amerek2 (187)
• [2007-04-04 16:25]

Hello Alexei!
Your shot seems fo be perfect -the composition, colours, light, detail and sharpness. Great job!
Anna

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• saeedabbasi (5100)
• [2007-04-05 1:32]

Hi dear Alexei ,
wow... what a nice shot
excellent macro.it has great composed,sharpness and BG.
excellent details.i like colours in this image.
thanks for sharing
best wishes
Saeed

•  
• glazzaro (4605)
• [2007-04-05 1:50]

Stunning detail, a magnificent specimen made so by your skillful camera work, well done indeed!

Greg

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• clnaef (6814)
• [2007-04-05 2:23]

Bonjour,
Belle réussite. Tout est bien nette.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

•  
• pablominto (14563)
• [2007-04-05 3:26]

Hello Alexei,
A wonderful butterfly image!
Magazine quality, and the dynamic composition makes this a treat to look at...
Great colours and pin sharp details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

•  
• anel (40574)
• [2007-04-05 4:51]

Hello Alexei,
That's one of your best pictures, Alex. A piece of art, with a wonderful subject, fine light and subtle colours. The composition is excellent, much balanced. And your dedication to Peter Stoeckl touching. I'm sure he will be really pleased.
Best regards
Anne

•  
• stevkds (1811)
• [2007-04-05 5:10]

Very pretty shot Alexei. Technically perfect picture. Excellent composition. Well done. Tfs. Stev

•  
• irimi (266)
• [2007-04-05 7:05]

Hello Alexei,
Wonderful capture. Excellent composition and details. Very nice frontal lighting and sharp eye contact. It is a pitty that that the flower was in front of the butterfly but We all know that she would be spooked if you removed it. Excellent as it is. Well done.

Greetings,
Ahmet

•  
• takos1 (2607)
• [2007-04-05 7:54]

Ciao Alex, ben ritrovato!
Hai sempre bellissime fotografie, pure questa è di una delicatezza incredibile.

Grazie.
Franco

•  
• marmottelolo (14697)
• [2007-04-05 7:59]

bonjour alex
seule la graminée du premier plan vient perturber la beauté et la qualité de ce cliché.
la luminosité est excellente,tout comme les couleurs.
merci.
laurent

•  
• captainsgirl (4088)
• [2007-04-05 9:21]

Hello Alexei,

What a beautiful photo, great soft colors with natural tones. Beautiful sharp focus and great DOF background. TFS
Donna:o)


Thamks for your comments on my photo " A Lake Erie Afternonn (12) " ;O)

•  
• XOTAELE (8)
• [2007-04-05 12:14]

Otro bellezón, con unos detalles y nitidez fantásticos Alex.
Mis respetos ante un trabajo tan bien realizado.
Ciao, JL.

•  
• mikou (6093)
• [2007-04-05 12:43]

Hi Alexei.
I like this excellent shot so much.Beautiful diffused light from low position sun and from the right side giving superb sharp details on texture on wing.Very nice you demonstrate in Workshop too.Also pretty pose seen with very good used POV and very nice OOF BG.Precise your work with this great picture with amazing soft tones colors.Thank you for sharing.
Best greetings Milos.

•  
• sily (1934)
• [2007-04-05 12:46]

HI Alex!
What to say except that this is perfect macro,breathtaking, looks more like an art photo, I can't believe that such sharpnes in details is posible!DoF and colors are superb!Just keep posting these masterpieces!

•  
• Silvio2006 (102073)
• [2007-04-05 16:28]

Hi Alexei, splendid butterfly with wonderful colors, great focus, excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

•  
• juanjo (1142)
• [2007-04-05 17:13]

hello Alexei

very artictic close up picture
soft colours and the light of the butterfly and the bg are really very good
shrpness is perfect and POV also

a great shot

regards

jjo

•  
• saguzar (7202)
• [2007-04-05 18:33]

Hi Alexei,
Another beauitful pic. I like the superb sharpness and details. A pity the grass in front of the insect. Light is very nice, gives much texture to wings, but overexpose a bit in a tiny part of butterfly body. But I consider it a majestic photo.
Regards
Hernán

•  
• claudine (0)
• [2007-04-05 20:56]

Hello Alexei,

This is a beautiful capture! Those tones of colors look just great and I love this POV and composition. I'll take time later to read your notes carefully but it is very interesting POV with original and well done management of FG :-) This is a kind of picture that I have not seen often,
Thanks,
Claudine

•  
• arfer (0)
• [2007-04-05 22:27]

Hello Alexei

Perfect focus and amazing lighting.The colours are warm and the BG bokeh is wonderful.A lovely composition.TFS

Rob

•  
• extramundi (13178)
• [2007-04-06 6:15]

Very lovely capture Alex.
I like very much the monochromatic golden atmosphere, with the warm light and beautiful details. The grass is a bit disturbing, but still and beautiful picture to look at.
Thanks very much, MF.
I was thinking in you when wrote the note of my last post, hope you find it interesting ;)
Best regards, Felipe.

•  
• fiyo (15161)
• [2007-04-06 7:00]

Great shot Alexei, very good POV and pose. Sharpness,details and colors are excellent.
Very well done.TFS.

•  
• scottevers7 (12309)
• [2007-04-06 12:21]

Hi Alexei,
An excellent shot on this beautiful Swallowtail. Beautiful warm light and a good exposure have the colors looking superb. Nice sharp detail and a well controled DOF. The overall composition is perfect. A nice dedication to Peter.
Scott

•  
• Ken52 (4195)
• [2007-04-06 15:26]

A technically outstanding photo. I am amazed at the sharpness, the beautiful soft, yet well saturated colors, and exceptional exposure. The DOF and beautiful colors in the neutral background really show off the colors of the butterfly and make it pop. Outstanding composition!

•  
• jeanpaul (14962)
• [2007-04-06 16:53]

Hi Alexei
Une belle capture, la position des papillons donne une superbe composition. Les détails, les couleurs, la netteté de l'image, toutes ces qualités et bien plus sont à noter.Pour moi c,est une oeuvre d'art.

Merci et au revoir...JP

•  
• anavazao (3829)
• [2007-04-07 5:48]

Hi friend,
impressing .... powerful macro .... beautiful colors and good lighting! perfect focusing! Take care Ana:)

•  
• Necipp (100)
• [2007-04-07 18:11]

Hello Alexei this is awsome work the sharpness of the detail is well achieved, background is soft and nicely toned. Composition is very nice. Have a nice weekend best rgds Necip

•  
• sunkirana (1143)
• [2007-04-08 1:10]

Hi Alexei, You done fantastically considering that you took this pic in windy conditions. Beautiful. Good work.

Liked the crop as well.... no loss of details, as I see.

Warm regards, K

•  
• hester (11638)
• [2007-04-08 6:00]

Hi Alexei

This is my favourite so far, I love the beautiful colour tones. Wonderful light and a great POV. Lovely composition as well. Perfect focus and nice DOF

TFS

Karan

•  
• izler (44)
• [2007-04-08 6:58]

hello Alexei
i see wonderful macro working on this beautiful butterfly. composition, point of view, blury background, lighting, colours, sharpness and details are great
thanks for sharing
greetings
izler

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• anahory (1377)
• [2007-04-08 7:30]

Hi Alexei
great colours,composition and point of view ...light is perfect also!
really one of your best bf photos,I think!

best regards
pedro

•  
• AnimalExplorer (1997)
• [2007-04-08 14:34]

Beautiful light that falls from the sky upon your lovely butterfly, the warm colors from both subject and environment are very appealing. Very nice Alexei. :)

•  
• scharan1 (820)
• [2007-04-08 16:03]

Olá Alexei

Lindíssima foto...composição excelente.
Cores formidáveis, lindos detalhes, meus parabéns!

Abraços,
Vera.

•  
• Tamrock (1928)
• [2007-04-08 16:55]

great macro with very good
sharpness and fine pov and dof
very good!

•  
• oscarromulus (42)
• [2007-04-08 19:22]

Alexei,
I loved the W/Sed image. It is OUTSTANDING.
This one too is excellent; but the one in the W/S steals the cake.
Excellent notes too.
Best wishes from your friend in Canada, Mario.

•  
• metcher (4284)
• [2007-04-09 12:48]

Hi Alexei.
Nice butterfly with excellent light and exposure. Sharp, well composed and nice BG. The only nit is foreground blurred straw, but it's probably to hard work to get free of it. Better to keep as it is.

•  
• Pentaxfriend (8048)
• [2007-04-09 13:57]

Hi Alexei,

This is a PERFECT dedication to Peter
Compo, colours, POV, details and lightning Are Excellent
the details in your worksop are Amazing

TFS Thijs

•  
• blakitan (5517)
• [2007-04-09 20:02]

Hi Alex,

This is really an excellent shot. Superb sharpness, smartly select a right angle to include all parts of the butterfly within the sharp zone of DoF. Very neat BG. Well composed and very aesthetic image.

BL

•  
• Adanac (21378)
• [2007-04-09 20:05]

Hello Alexei,
This capture is simply magnificient, all made possible by your excellent camera work.
Rick

•  
• cecilia (4630)
• [2007-04-09 21:54]

The lighting is impeccable, with great colour, detail and composition...
Very nicely captured....
Well done sir...
Cecilia

•  
• JORAPAVI (4643)
• [2007-04-10 11:30]

Hola Alexei,
Una imagen fenomenal, extaordinaria la nitidez, con una composición, fondo y luz bellísimas. Un cordial saludo
José Ramón

•  
• wishnugaruda (19365)
• [2007-04-10 11:34]

Hi Alexei,
I love your pretty swallowtail, they are so impressive and very rare here in Germany.
You captured it so beautiful, so sharp and the colours are so nice together.
Thanks and greetings
Sabine - wishnugaruda

•  
• star74 (2474)
• [2007-04-10 16:49]

Hi Alexei,
Another great shot from you,
Beautiful colors and details,
Well done

•  
• nainnain (6259)
• [2007-04-10 17:22]

BONSOIR
TOUJOURS DES COMPOSITION MAGNIFIQUES LES DETAILS SUR LE PAPILLON SONT SURPRENANTS BELLES COULEURS NETTES TOUT EST GENIAL
BRAVO ET MERCI
EDITH

•  
• valy67 (9219)
• [2007-04-11 1:37]

Hello Alexei !
Woe, you have a wonderful Swallowtail ! Awesome details and textures on the whole butterfly, your DOF was excellent. I also like the blurred BG and the soft colors of this picture, as well as the composition, the POV and the light. It is a wondertful deidcation to your friend Peter. Very well done !
Valerie.

•  
• wallhalla15 (13829)
• [2007-04-11 14:25]

Hello Alexei,
I see - memories of summer! Fantastic shot my friend - I wish it´s mine. ;-) I love this pictures. Excellent POV, framing and exposure. Great colours, details and excellent composition. Thank you.
Gr.
Heinz

•  
• peter_stoeckl (11530)
• [2007-04-11 16:24]
• - [workshop] [compare] [+]

Dear Alexei,
grasping for words for a few moments: your Swallowtail "from the Odessa steppe" is most certainly one of the most artistic and emotionally appealing masterpieces of butterfly photography ever made. A monument. An icon of the steppe. The sandy colours, the most elegant pose and composition, the pin-sharp details of the butterfly against the plants that seem to be in most effectful motion blur, like touched by a dry breeze.
A most wonderful image that has earned a lot of admiration by our friends here on TN. You are the master, Alexei, and I wished I could reach up to you.
Please excuse my late reply, been away from my computer for a few days, just returned from a short trip.Thank you for your very friendly and touching dedication that is a great honour to me, and I do not know how I deserve such an honour with my humble attempts, my dear friend.
All the best to you! Thank you once more for this very beautiful image, and have a very good day!
Peter

•  
• Juyona (16891)
• [2007-04-11 19:35]

Hola Alexei,
bello trabajo y nitido,
excelente composición,
la iluminación y la textura de las alas
es maravillosa...
saludos
(gracias por tus amables palabras para mis fotos, me ayuda mucho a trabajar mejor)

•  
• Christopher_PL (2685)
• [2007-04-12 14:35]

Excellent shot! Great colours awith perfect sharpness, nice POV and DOF. Thanks

Chris

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• delic (898)
• [2007-04-12 17:46]

Hello Alexei,
I don't know how I missed this excellent macro art of yours. The texture, patterns and colors are superbly recorded. The level of detail is stunning. Very well done.
Best wishes,
Hakan

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• rimas (5094)
• [2007-04-13 1:43]

Hello Alexei,
Brilliant shot. Wonderful presentation and nice dedication of Swallowtail from the Odessa Steppehave. Great BG,nice colours and use of light. Sharpness and detail are spot on. Well done. Thanks.
Rimantas

•  
• Maite (5199)
• [2007-04-13 18:13]

After so many days it is all a pleasure to find such beauties, and this is one of the most beautiful! I love the wonderful colors and composition. The sun upon the butterfly is great. Perfect in all parameters, dear friend.
Congratulations and thank you very much for sharing.
Best wishes
Maite

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• RAP (7405)
• [2007-04-14 11:40]

La armonía de colores captada gracias a la perfecta iluminación ofrecen una composición destacable amigo mío.
A ella se suma la gran agudeza y definición realzadas por el correcto OOF anterior y posterior.
El encuadre elegido funciona muy bien con el punto de vista captado conformando una presentación de alto nivel.
Cheers!.
Saludos desde Buenos Aires... Ricardo

The harmony of colors captured due to the perfect illumination offers a prominent composition my friend.
To her it adds the great sharpness and clearness enhanced by correct front and rear OOF.
The elected framing works very well with the captured point of view conforming a presentation of high level.
Cheers!.
Greetings from Buenos Aires... Ricardo

•  
• TAZ (10926)
• [2007-04-17 2:11]

Hello Alexei,
You made a pleasure for eyes here ! In profile this species is wonderful.
The "+++" : composition, subject, pose, sharpness, DOF, nice blurred background, soft tones & colors, light, exposure, useful note...
The "-" : the twig on the wing but it is not your fault...
Congratulations my friend and TFS.

•  
• thistle (9282)
• [2007-04-20 7:19]

Hello Alex,
I love this picture! The colours are very soft and work together exceptionaly well. The focus and details on the bfly's wings are perfect. Clear BG works superb too. Maybe the OOF FG could be a nit cause it disturbs the view and hides bottom of the wings, but I think it also gives a nice depth and that's why I like it.
Great job on this one!

•  
• dew77 (13270)
• [2007-05-14 2:23]
• [+]

Privet Alexei,
Perfect close up.POV,use of light,clear details,simple BG and composition are wonderful.
TFS..:-)

•  
• mlines (3116)
• [2007-05-26 18:51]

Hi Alexei, A wonderful macro you contribute here. The colours in the wings and details are excellent. Inspirational. TFS. Murray.

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• gannu (14761)
• [2007-07-12 2:01]

Nice shot Alexei. But some how I get distracted by the small leaf in front of the butterfly. Ganesh D":

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• lemoineth (2286)
• [2007-07-29 1:41]

Superbe photo de ce jolis papillon, pas un a jeter, les papillons sont tous jolis,des fois je les observe et devant mes yeux émerveillés,je constate que l' adage" la vilaine chenie deviendra un beau papillon" est bien réelle, quoi que la vilaine chenille lorsqu' on la regarde de près, elle n' est pas si vilaine que cela et elle a son utilité dans notre nature. Et les insectes en général sont tous jolis, ils ont tous quelque chose despécial. Certains ont une mauvaise réputation, mais les photographes comme vous, avec votre façon de les prendres attire notre regard et l' explication meme traduite mot a mot nous fait comprendre des fois leur absolue nécessité. Depuis que je vous suis et regarde vos photos et commentaires, je ne vois plus la nature et surtout les insecte de la meme façon,J' essaie de voir les détails et ce qu' ils font d' utile pour notre formidable nature. Merci a vous, les quelques pros qui me font aimer ces bêtes, qui me font rèver. Amitiés Thomas

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• tiklod (3397)
• [2007-12-04 18:26]

Hello Alexei,
SIMPLY F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C !!!!!!!!!!
Amaazing fine details, light and perfect contrast on wings...
Wonderful colours and great BG!
A masterpice my friend,

Claude

•  
• jusninasirun (14660)
• [2008-08-02 2:40]

Hello Alexei. This is such a beautifully closed shot. Super sharp image in stunning details. Nice warm color of this excellent perched and framed butterfly. Best regards. Jusni

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• jignasi (27917)
• [2009-01-04 12:16]

Yo tengo una Paplio también en mi galería, pero al ver esta ... sencillamente impresionante.

•  
• deud (2540)
• [2009-02-06 7:25]

wow! great sunny shot!
amazing dof, details on subject!
great light!

very well done!
tfs

•  
• CeltickRanger (37400)
• [2014-01-03 6:47]

Hello Alexei

Great macro of this butterfly with a wonderful warm light,
fine lateral POV, great focus, sharpness, and details, TFS

Asbed