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Monarch Pupa
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Monarch Pupa

by Mark Seaver

Gallery: Macro & Close-upPosted July 23, 201821,871 views3 comments
I've had the pleasure of watching this Monarch pupa from it's original formation until it hatched, about two hours after taking this photo.  This was taken after one of the many short showers that we had yesterday.  While I was inside processing the 22 images in this stack, the BF hatched ( cheeky ).  I have a couple of shots of the newly hatched BF, but mostly it was pointing it's wings straight at the one opening through the arrowhead that gave me a clean look and I wasn't about to adjust the vegetation and take the chance of knocking the BF into my pond.  (5D3, 180 mm macro L, 1/15 s, f/11, iso 800, tripod and cable release)

Comments

3 comments
Comment posted by Shirley Freeman on July 23, 2018 at 1:16 PM
Such a great macro shot, Mark, and a great story to go with it.  I know that you were disappointed to not get a shot of the BF hatching, especially after keeping tabs on this pupa for a couple of weeks.  Anyway, I like this shot very much, and so much detail in it, even the little droplets.  Superb!
Registered on May 27, 2017, 77 Posts, 844 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Leggett on July 23, 2018 at 7:46 PM
Now that's a lot of stacking, Mark! That said, this must have been done in really calm conditions. I like that the wings are visible at a time just before adulthood. And the water drops are a nice bonus.
Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments
Comment posted by Ry Birge on July 28, 2018 at 9:33 AM
Great shot Mark... Love the color and comp!
Registered on September 23, 2017, 118 Posts, 278 Comments