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ORANGE ON WHITE: Monarch Butterfly Pauses During Migration
505 MEGAPIXEL VAST PHOTO
This photo was cultivated over the course of five years.
While sitting in my backyard one early autumn evening I was enjoying the pleasing, fragrant smell of the Sweet Autumn Clematis in bloom along the southern fence. Clematis only bloom for a few weeks and it’s quite enjoyable to the eye and nose. This blooming also happens to coincide with the annual migration of Monarch Butterflies that swing through the backyard on their way to Mexico. The Monarchs frequently land on the flowers.
Well, after all, I am a photographer … so “light bulb” … a Monarch on the white flowers of the Clematis would make for an interesting photo.
But not just any photo, a photo-stacked, multi-row Immersive Image that would reveal the utmost detail. I won’t go into the technical aspects here, but suffice it to say, it was going to be challenging. Epic, if I could pull it off.
Challenges.
One immediate challenge to the success of the photo was simply that I didn’t like the density of the flowers comprising the hedge. So began years of pruning and sculpting the hedge to get it how I wanted it.
Capturing the Monarch just right I knew would also be a challenge. The biggest issue was that, although they frequented the Clematis, they didn’t spend but a few seconds in one spot, and rarely opened their wings in a full spread. But I was somewhat confident I could photograph one how I wanted, it would just take time.
And finally, as with all this type of photography, lighting, wind (movement), rain and a host of other environmental factors would, in and of themselves, make capturing this image challenging.
First year - first attempt. Even though I didn’t like the hedge the first year I did the prudent thing and practiced the shot. I made several attempts, all were failures.
Second year - fourth, fifth, sixth attempts. All failures.
Third year - no attempts, just sculpting of the hedge.
Fourth year - two attempts. All failures.
Fifth year - two attempts; the ninth and tenth respectively. Failure on the first attempt, success on the second. Overall, this year had good blooms, good butterflies, and good conditions. And, as noted, I also had 4 years of practice.
The detail is amazing and all I had hoped. 1,920 total photos combined to make one photo will tend to do that. One can see the pollen on the butterfly's wings along with other markings that seem to indicate that so far it had had an incredible journey.
Challenge met!
Title Origin: Orange on White just seemed obvious.
Celebrate the annual migration of the Monarch Butterfly in incredible detail by ordering a VAST print today.
Thanks ... and thanks again,
David David
Life Is An Adventure!
| Date & Time | September 23, 2023: |
| Focal Length | 250 |
| Aperture | f/11 |
| Shutter | 1/200 |
| ISO | 80 |
| Num of Exposures | 1920 |
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| Width | 46,800 px |
| Height | 10,800 px |
| Aspect Ratio | 4.33 : 1 |
| Date & Time | September 23, 2023: |
| Focal Length | 250 |
| Aperture | f/11 |
| Shutter | 1/200 |
| ISO | 80 |
| Num of Exposures | 1920 |
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Photo id: 11667