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Black Swallowtail

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted July 30, 2012310 views13 comments

caterpillar (Papilo polyxenes). This is a 4 shot stack of this caterpillar, which hasn't moved in at least 18 hours. I hope it's still alive, then I might be able to watch its metamorphosis. (5D3, 100mm macro L + 20mm ET, f/14, 1/6 s, iso 400, tripod, cable release, & mirror lockup)

BTW, I processed this both in PS5 (as per a Phil H. post in Floral) and Helicon Focus and the PS5 version worked much better.

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on July 30, 2012 at 9:39 AM

Wonderful lines in this Mark.

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 30, 2012 at 9:52 AM

Excellent soft light and natural colors Mark, like the gentle s-curve of the stem as well.
Great details and BG, with the dew drops adding nicely overall.. well composed too.
I've never run across one of these yet, on my wish list

Beautiful work

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy Lea Sandy on July 30, 2012 at 1:52 PM

Beautiful details, classic pose. I love the little droplets on the tufts along his back. Very nice image

Registered on January 24, 2011, 576 Posts, 6942 Comments

Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on July 30, 2012 at 6:28 PM

Very nice! I love all the droplets! What an obliging model!

Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Seaver on July 30, 2012 at 6:54 PM

It's alive. Went back this afternoon and found it eating its old skin, then it started munching on another bloom of this Queen Anne's Lace.

Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on July 30, 2012 at 8:01 PM

Excellent, Mark. Great job isolating this from the BG and yet getting the entire caterpillar sharp. I assume you shot this in the am to get the dew on the CP and stem. Very nice.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Tonia Graves on July 30, 2012 at 9:00 PM

Nicely composed caterpillar against the greens in the background. The natural lighting is very pleasing in this. Nice work!

Registered on October 29, 2011, 92 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Jones on July 31, 2012 at 12:41 AM

Nice one! (Have not seen one in years -- hanging out in the woods instead of meadows, and missing some great stuff.) Background looks great, as do the sharp details of the subject. Excellent stack -- glad to hear PS worked well since I am too cheap to buy a second program to do the same thing.

I was about to suggest that it was dormant before it's final molt to pupate, but I see from your update that it's still got some more growing to do.

Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments

Comment posted by David Thomas on July 31, 2012 at 10:50 AM

Beautiful, Mark, as others have said. Stacking -- another valuable technique to learn, but being retired, I never seem to find the time ............
Dave Thomas

Registered on June 21, 2010, 30 Posts, 178 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on July 31, 2012 at 5:48 PM

Well executed stack, nice light and detail, Mark.

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Basil Greber on August 1, 2012 at 3:36 AM

Looks great. Fantastic background there.

The subject may not win a prize in a beauty contest, but it's an interesting sight.

Excellent light, and the water droplets are a nice addition. Nice work!

Registered on November 8, 2005, 219 Posts, 1340 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on August 6, 2012 at 10:44 PM

Hi Mark

I love this composition, with it's stunning detail , light and color

Albert Darmo

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on August 24, 2012 at 8:44 AM

Excellent sharp image with beautiful BG and lean composition. Thank you very much for sharing and detailed information.

Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments