You're a Superstar, Cycad Blue!

[Zookeeper]

Celebrity spotted at AH on Saturday!!!

Cycad Blue as Lin Daiyu in Dream of the Red Chambers


Cycad Blue as Chang-Er


Cycad Blue in "Jack and the Beanstalk"


Cycad Blue on the red carpet at the Oscars!

[sonix]

good shot, the red leave add the color in your photo. Wish the background is nicer instead of black

[oeyvind]

1st and last one stunning!

[Zookeeper]

Thanks folks! Yeap me wished the background was less black and a richer burgundy for the first two pix too....but was handholding so could not go to too low a shutter speed...and anything less than F11, the tiny Cycad Blue not as sharp liow. Dilemma!

[macross]

Well done; Cycad Blue is great!

Consider going nearer next time.

[zenon]

I think the redness lends a very good touch to the pics. Very nice. Really love the 2nd pic, reminds me of powerpuff girls somehow!

[Papilio]

Originally Posted by zenon I think the redness lends a very good touch to the pics. Very nice. Really love the 2nd pic, reminds me of powerpuff girls somehow!

Uh oh... powerpuff girls? AdamGoi's gonna come in here now...

[macross]

This Cycad Blue has exactly the same tear on both its hing-wings.

The 2nd pic looks fierce to me.

[mr_jason]

I like the 3rd pic most, followed by 4th.

Dosen't always have to be about the butterfly 75% with 25% for background. The composition of the vine around the support is interesting, also the combination of green, red and brown is attractive.

[zenon]

Thks folks!

Macross: me cannot go very much nearer liow...coz min focusing distance of my lens is abt 1m...and I think I was close to max telephoto liow. Limitation met...unless I finally buy that Nikon 6T filter.. Wah you look so closely at the Cycad Blue...wanna tell each of them apart ah? kekkeke!

Jason: yup in fact I was trying to experiment with not-so-closeup pix of the butts...but unfortunately most of them turned out looking too cluttered, so didn't post, except for this one. Will keep experimenting and see what I get

[zenon]

aiya, forgot to logout from Zenon's acct.
This is Zookeeper, writing from Zenon's acct okie!

[megaweb]

Originally Posted by oeyvind 1st and last one stunning!

I second that .. those 2 shots are keeper .. keep it up


there is a few ways to make the background brighter
- wait for better lighting
- use higher ISO
- adjust the speed and aperture to best fit the metering
- use support like tripod or monopod and use slow speed

[Zookeeper]

Thanks Sifu for the tips. Me still learning to understand the D70's aperture/shutter settings and the flash...it's usually ok when it's sunny, but once it's overcast, I constantly get underexposed pix, even when I up the exposure compensation. *scratch head* Time to play/shoot even more!

[Garion]

Good series. I like the last shot, good contrast of colours btw the butterfly, the leaf and the BG. Nice composition too. Keep it up.

[Mocha]

Very nice capture! The redish look is refreshing, a depart from the usual "green green" look. Overall, the red leave(s) & branches add a little touch of art to an otherwise usual butterfly picture!

Have you tried higher ISO to brigthen the background?

[Zookeeper]

Thanks Mocha!
Me actually using ISO 400 liow...quite high already?
Maybe next time I try bumping up to ISO 800...try try....

[capricorn]

Best rendition of Cycad Blue I have seen so far.
U wonderfully included a peek of the brilliant blue top forewings.


Like all of them.

Great change to usual green backgrounds and flat on side view.

[Zookeeper]

Thx thx...but actually folks, I'm not the first one to photograph the Cycad Blue against these red plants. Once upon a time, Megaweb shot a Cycad Blue against these plants too - me only got the inspiration from him!