P#30: A Photograph of a Swallowtail Butterfly at Rest
There's a heartwarming tale behind this photo of a swallowtail butterfly
Was it luck that helped Kathleen Clemons capture this beautiful shot of a swallowtail butterfly? Actually it was, but the butterfly was just as lucky as Kathleen, as she explains in the story behind the photo.
Every Good Deed Has Its Reward
Kathleen Clemons: This photograph of the swallowtail butterfly has a fun story behind it. I was at the grocery store and just saw this swallowtail butterfly on the ground. I got in my car, put my groceries away, and then I thought, "No, I can't leave him there. Someone will run him over," so I went and picked him up. (click the image for a larger version)
He was alive but obviously injured, not moving, looked fine but wasn't feeling well so I put him on the front seat of my car and drove home with him. Then I put him in my garden where he stayed the rest of the day. I moved him from flower to flower and shot probably three or four hundred photos of him.
Then when I went in the house at one point to change lenses, came back, he was gone so I sort of feel like I gave him a nice place to rest and get well, and that he went on with his life somewhere else. In the meantime I got some wonderful photos of him, and it was a smart move. If I ever see another one, I will definitely bring it home.
You can see from that photo, which is handheld, how sharp a Lensbaby photo can be.
Audri Lanford: Any idea what the aperture in here was?
Kathleen Clemons: I believe that's f5.6.
In Summary
When you're serious about photography you always have to be on the lookout for great subjects, since they can often be found in the most unexpected of places. This amazing handheld Lensbaby shot of a swallowtail butterfly is the perfect example of that fact.
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