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In Hot Pursuit
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In Hot Pursuit

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: EPA 2009Posted August 31, 20091,746 views32 comments
EPA 2009 - First Honorable Mention - Macro/Close-up Gallery

Male/female Giant Swallowtail pair, with the male in "Hot Pursuit. The male will follow the female incessantly from flower to flower. As she feeds, he will flutter in place near her.
F/9, 1/1000th, ISO 1250 with fill. Canon 1D Mark III with a 300mm f/2.8 lens + 1.4x extender & monopod for support.
Original cropped to 3243x2162.

Comments

32 comments
Comment posted by Luke Ormand on August 31, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Simply beautiful. Extremely well done
Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments
Comment posted by Mike Moats on August 31, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Hey Howard, what a fantastic image. You really nailed this very difficult shot. Wish I'd shot it. :wink: :toast:
Registered on October 20, 2004, 892 Posts, 6324 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on August 31, 2009 at 9:57 PM
Howard this is absolutely wonderful! Perfect in every way!
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Jeffrey Mitchell on August 31, 2009 at 11:10 PM
:jump: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: Howard, it simply doesn't get any better than this! If this were my image, I would quit now and give all of my camera gear to some unforunate (like me) who has not been able to capture such a spetacular pair of BF's. :biggrin: WOW!
Registered on April 7, 2005, 171 Posts, 1106 Comments
Comment posted by Sam Rua on August 31, 2009 at 11:19 PM
Awesome capture, Howard. Well done all around. :toast: :toast:
Registered on September 9, 2006, 130 Posts, 2281 Comments
Comment posted by Tom Rojahn on September 1, 2009 at 2:41 AM
Simply beautiful - sharp BF and a nice 'not disturbing' bg. I also like the difference in ligthing of the two BF's - really very, very nice shot :jump:
Registered on April 5, 2006, 72 Posts, 171 Comments
Comment posted by Lon Sharp on September 1, 2009 at 12:21 PM

Wonderful. :smile:
Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on September 1, 2009 at 8:39 PM
What an amazing capture. Both are in such sharp focus and perfectly positioned. :toast:
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on September 1, 2009 at 11:34 PM
Fantastic! Perfect DOF with both BF including one in flight in focus. Very well done. :toast:
Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on September 3, 2009 at 4:08 PM
Howard: This may be the best giant swallowtail shot I've seen in a long long time. Stunning capture! >=))> :toast: :toast:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on September 3, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Great action. Nicely captured.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Scott Fricke on September 3, 2009 at 8:57 PM
This is just one of those Wow! photos, extremely well done.
Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments
Comment posted by mark cillo on September 8, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Awesome! I didn't see this one before.... well deserved pick! :wavey:
Registered on July 27, 2008, 143 Posts, 1483 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on September 8, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Congrtas on the excellent EP!

Sandy r
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on September 8, 2009 at 7:26 PM
This is a great image and you really deserve the EP this week. Congratulations!
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments
Comment posted by Nate Chappell on September 8, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Congrats Howard, great image! :toast:
Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on September 12, 2009 at 10:51 PM
Hi Howard :wavey: A killer shot. :eek: :eek: Congrate on a well deserved EP
Albert Darmo Canada
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Lynn Markarian on September 21, 2009 at 11:32 PM
An absolute beautiful capture Howard!
Registered on August 17, 2009, 35 Posts, 168 Comments
Comment posted by Barry Southon on September 25, 2009 at 9:16 AM
Howard

Superb image of such a very difficult subject.
:wink:
Registered on March 13, 2006, 21 Posts, 150 Comments
Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on January 2, 2010 at 7:46 PM
Amazing image, Howard. Congrats on the EPA.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments
Comment posted by John Williams on January 2, 2010 at 10:08 PM
Magnificent Howard, congrats!

:toast: :toast: :toast:
Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments
Comment posted by Ramamohan Pai on January 2, 2010 at 10:19 PM
What a fantastic Action photo, Howard :toast: :toast: - Simply Spectacular. Congrats on making it to the EPA2009 pick. Well deserved
Registered on November 1, 2003, 550 Posts, 9037 Comments
Comment posted by Patricia Brundage on January 3, 2010 at 12:44 AM
So glad this won an EPA 2009 honor! It is an absolutely amazing capture. :toast:
Registered on March 23, 2006, 1111 Posts, 6531 Comments
Comment posted by Sally King on January 3, 2010 at 10:31 AM
How cool to have gotten both butterflies so sharp and with such beautiful flowers to boot. Congratulations on your EPA.
Registered on December 2, 2008, 416 Posts, 4450 Comments
Comment posted by Guy Rogers on January 3, 2010 at 2:27 PM
Hello Howard.

Congrats on the award

Superly captured with great composition.

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:
Registered on January 16, 2007, 450 Posts, 995 Comments
Comment posted by David Bostock on January 3, 2010 at 3:54 PM
Sensational, Howard. Impressive, and such a clean image at 1250 ISO. Well done. Congratulations on the EPA.
Registered on November 1, 2003, 90 Posts, 2778 Comments
Comment posted by May Haga on January 4, 2010 at 3:47 PM
OH yes, I remember this one. Definitely a winner. Congratulations Howard.
May
Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 5, 2010 at 3:43 AM
The focus on the butterflies is so acute. How lovely this courtship! Congratulations on the EPA, Howard. :toast:
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on January 5, 2010 at 4:34 PM
Congratulations Howard. This is a wonderful capture. In addition to your persistance in capturing interesting and beautiful subjects, I really appreciate the identifications and educational descriptions you provide with each photo.
Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by Cheryl Molennor on January 6, 2010 at 9:29 AM
Im your #1 fan! Congratulations Howard!
Registered on June 30, 2009, 300 Posts, 5051 Comments
Comment posted by Paul Bratescu on January 6, 2010 at 11:57 AM
An incredible capture from a very professional photographer who definitely shows patience is a nessity when trying to capture wonderful momments like these. I would call this one tied with first place if it was my choice. Well done Howard. :toast:
Registered on December 1, 2008, 0 Posts, 8 Comments
Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on January 27, 2010 at 2:50 AM
Congrats on the 2009 EPA! Wonderful image..
Sandy r
Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments