Looking up

[dadas115]

Yesterday we had thunderstorms so I decided to visit the butterfly exhibit at the local museum to do some macro photography. I spent most of the day shooting color with a flash but later in the afternoon it got dark enough that I decided to try something new. I bumped the ISO up to 1600 on my Rebel XT and switched to B&W mode. At the same time I put my flash away and went to work. This shot was taken with the EF-s 60mm f/2.8 macro USM at f/2.8 and 1/30 sec.

I know the DOF is very narrow but I sort of liked the way the legs and antennae were out of focus and just the general feel of the picture. This is the full frame just scaled down for web viewing.

Thanks,

Greg

[CLKunst]

This gives me a fluttery feeling which I feel is completely appropriate with your subject. The parts that need to be sharp are. and the vibration is at least the same in the leg as in the antennae so it seems to feel complete and intentional. Interesting choice of black and white which really emphasizes your choice to display form over color which would be a natural choice for the showy hues one normally associates with butterflies. I like it and am not bothered by the movement in the least.

Regards,

[Seb]

Yesterday we had thunderstorms so I decided to visit the butterfly exhibit at the local museum to do some macro photography. I spent most of the day shooting color with a flash but later in the afternoon it got dark enough that I decided to try something new. I bumped the ISO up to 1600 on my Rebel XT and switched to B&W mode. At the same time I put my flash away and went to work. This shot was taken with the EF-s 60mm f/2.8 macro USM at f/2.8 and 1/30 sec.

I know the DOF is very narrow but I sort of liked the way the legs and antennae were out of focus and just the general feel of the picture. This is the full frame just scaled down for web viewing.

Thanks,

Greg

I love your choice of framing and the fact that you went b&w. Color would seem to be the natural choice for this kind of subject but the tones are so good here that the color become pointless. Beside, I think that the fact that this was shot in b&w further enhance the relatively abstract nature of the photograph and that it makes it unique.

Seb

[dbutler]

I agree. And I also like how the circular eye is mirrored by the probiscus (is it a probiscus on a butterfly as well?). B&W was ideal for this shot!

[srobb]

Normally I would love to see something like this in color, but you have made the right choice in doing it b/w, greg. A very nice image; the focus is just right, nice dof, very good tonal qualities. Makes me yearn for spring to hurry up and get here.

[sweetdeal22]

Your right, your DoF is very shallow but when things get macro like that, its hard to aviod. (especially when your F-stop is at 2.8). I'm actually surprised that the pictured turned out like that with the iso at 1600 because usually the pictures turn out really grainy, but this one has alot of detail.

Good results nice picture, i love the compostion.