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Monarch and Thistle


Monarch and Thistle
Photo Information
Copyright: Ken Slade (Ken52) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 636 W: 93 N: 1243] (4195)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-08
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon 350D (Digital Rebel XT), Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, 58mm circular polarizer
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Butterflies [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-05-09 14:10
Viewed: 3267
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 44
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another in my butterfly series taken near Grapevine Lake. This is possibly the most photographed butterfly species, the Monarch, nectaring on a wild thistle bloom. Conditions were partly sunny.

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
The Monarch Butterfly is the king of the insect world. Even though they are small creatures, they do phenomenal things. First, they develop from tiny eggs, to a caterpillar, become a chrysalis, and finally transform into a beautiful butterfly. They migrate, traveling great distances to over winter in a temperate climate. Amazingly enough, not one butterfly makes the entire round-trip journey. Winter butterflies are sluggish and do not reproduce. In spring they return to summer homes and breed along the way. Their offspring return to the starting point.

Danaus plexippus is the scientific name for the Monarch Butterfly. Related species in the family are found on all continents except the polar regions, wherever milkweed and related plants are found. It also provides the Monarch with an intriguing form of protection, since the milkweed juices assimilated by the Monarch make it poisonous to predatory birds. The beautiful orange color of the Monarch butterfly serves to teach predators that their intended meal might be toxic. Not all milkweeds produce cardiac glycosides, therefore not all Monarchs are poisonous. However, the warning orange color serves to disguise poisonous from the non-toxic Monarch.
Source: http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/butterflies/monarch/index.html

Aperture = f6.3
Shutter = 1/400s
ISO = 400
Focal Length = 300mm
Aperture Priority Mode
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens
jaycee, Alex99, angybone, shal, JoseMiguel, jmirah, nglen, Silvio2006, mikou, pablominto has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2007-05-09 14:16]

Hi Ken,

Another beautiful butterfly and a gorgeous picture. Colors and details are perfect. I love the thistle and the bud. Beautiful composition and bg.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2007-05-09 14:23]

Hi Ken.
It is really brilliant picture with amazing scene and wonderful execution. Composition of the shot is perfect at high range. Colours, sharpness and details of the butterfly and flower are wonderful. BG is so impressive and excellent too. Superb done refined work. Bravo and TFS.
Alexei.

Beautiful sharp photo! Great colors and that classic pose! :)
Great notes.

Interesting, isn't it...all our lives we were taught that the animal kingdom is, for the most part, color-blind and yet the orange color of the monarch serves as a warning.

  • Great 
  • shal Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 256 W: 64 N: 481] (2140)
  • [2007-05-09 14:32]

Hi Ken,
lovely details and composition,
the combination of colours is soothing :)
Lovely shot,
Cheers :D

Hi Ken,
A magnificent capture!
I like very much the sharpness of the picture, with plenty of clear details on the insect.
The colours and patterns on the wings are so vivid and beautiful.
Very good the composition made with the slight inclination of the flower and the subject.
Great the DOF and the soft background got.
Congratulations and thanks for share it.
My best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • ridvan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 498 W: 0 N: 1136] (5205)
  • [2007-05-09 15:06]

selam ken; excellent close up shot of this pretty butterfly,good details presented ,nice BG and POV well captured with nice colours TFS
regards
ridvan

Hello Ken a superb sharp shot fine focus and detail lovely background contrast with the subject excellent composition really well done tfs rgds Necip.

Hello Ken.

Excellent picture, very good details and colors.

Regards.
Jose Luis.

  • Great 
  • jmirah Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 509 W: 5 N: 1141] (4687)
  • [2007-05-09 15:50]

Exceptional detail, color and definition. Very natural. Informative note. TFS
Jim

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-05-09 15:58]

Hi Ken. This is a first class shot. the detail and bright colours are spot on.very good compostion and detail. with a good DOF. very well done.TFS. Nick..

Hi Ken,
Very good capture and beautiful colours, good sharpness too..!
Very nice shot..!
Regards,
Patrick

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2007-05-09 16:53]

Hi Ken,
Wonderful pose, exposure, details, pov, colours, composition and background. A remarkable capture!
TFS, José M.

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 540 W: 87 N: 750] (10)
  • [2007-05-09 17:27]

salut Ken,
très bon shoot encore une fois, les couleurs sont vives et intenses.
belle compositon, netteté impeccable.

tfs
gl

hello Ken
very nice capture of the Monarch on the flower, it's sharp, there are great details, POV & framing are good, good composition, well done
regards
jo

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-05-09 23:40]

Hello Ken

A superb capture of this monarch.The focus and details are razor sharp.The colour saturation is excellent.Beautifully composed on the thistle.The DOF and POV are very well done.The OOF BG is wonderful.Masterfully done.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2007-05-10 2:59]

Hola Kent.
excelente y preciosa compo,
detalles colores y agradable bg. y pov.
saludos

encore une formidable ken
il est vrai que le monarque est un tres joli papillon mais vous avez reussi a le metre parfaitement en valeur,bon POV et belles couleurs.
bravo.
laurent

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 0 N: 847] (3307)
  • [2007-05-10 5:11]

Hi Ken, a beautiful shot of a beautiful Butterfly. Such sharp focus, clean and sharp. Wonderful POV, colours and light.
tfs
debz

Hi Ken, splendid monarch butterfly, wonderful colors and great details, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 869 W: 68 N: 1479] (6093)
  • [2007-05-10 10:09]

Hi Ken.
Excellent your another butterflies shot.Superb composition,vivid colors and fine sharp details on butterfly as well as on flower.I like your perfect managed DOF with butterfly and flower in focus and very nice blurry BG.Pretty pose and point of view shows very good great detailed on drawing on whole butterfly.Precise your macro work,congratulate and thanks for sharing.
Best greetings Milos.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3089 W: 230 N: 6774] (23770)
  • [2007-05-11 4:05]

Hello Ken,
That is one sharp shot. The details could not be any better focused.
Light and colors are perfect as well. Beautiful composition.
Congratulations.
TFS. : )

Hello Ken,
Excellent details!
Subject is well framed and presented in this pleasing dynamic composition...
Macro work is well done, rich attractive colours and pin sharp details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

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