photoartflightMonarch Butterfly Series
A series of Monarch Butterfly images taken last weekend at Davidsons Mill Pond Park in NJ. We were surprised there were so many still around. These were probably recently released from their Butterfly Hut Exhibit at the Park. All are taken with an m43 Olympus camera with a Panasonic 14-140mm zoom @ 140mm. (Full Frame Digital Equivalent (FOV) of 280mm). I was testing techniques to get smooth backgrounds and still retain sharpness on the subjects. So I was shooting wide open @ f/4. But with m43 cameras the images seem to be a little “Coarser” then larger formats. So I then “Softened” the backgrounds in a different layer in Photoshop, above the main image and using opacity, letting the original layer show through somewhat to get original details, but “Softer” backgrounds. Most of these are busy feeding on the nectar from the plants near the exhibit.
Monarch Closeup
Monarch In Flight
Monarch Feeding On Nectar
Stunning. Absolutely stunning!
Thanks Pauli! They are fun to photograph!
Very nice collection, Reed.
Thanks Steve! I was surprised we saw so many this late in the season.
Really lovely Reed!
Thanks Belinda! They are a fun photo subjects!
Gorgeous Monarchs, Reed! I was at Blackwater NWR and Poplar Island last Friday, and Monarchs were everywhere at both locations, it was awesome! I tried ‘chasing’ some, lol. 😉
Thanks Donna! Did you get any images of them? We have not been to Blackwater lately, we have to get back! More Eagles should be coming soon!
I did get a few shots. Yes, the Eagles were active that day as well. I was always seeing one along the wildlife drive here and there (I ‘looped 3x), and for one moment, I watched six at once. Soon……many more! 🙂
Nice! Sometimes we see a lot of Eagle activity in the fields before you get to Blackwater. Hard to photograph there usually though! We saw 2 Eagles trying to fly off with a large animal. It was pretty chewed up though. Plus 4 or 5 others were watching. They they started fighting over it.
Beautiful photos, Reed.
Thanks Greta! They are fun to photograph!
Wow, great series, Reed. It’s been a good year for Monarchs; I’m so happy about that!
Thanks Eliza! Yes, it seems like it was a great year for Monarchs! They are definitely fun to photograph!!
I love watching the monarch butterflies cross our Homestead. I hate even have an ongoing post Series where I ride about how many I see each day. I call it my HMBY post which is short for How many monarch butterflies in my yard yesterday.
Thanks Joe! Must be nice to have so many close at home!