Postman on green - spring butterfly

[Guest Foveola]

This fellow was imaged yesterday at my local butterfly conservatory.  The season is just about done here, and the butterflies are looking at bit shop worn, but this fellow was still attractive to my eyes.

 

D4  Sigma 180   Nikon R1C1 flash

 

Advice and comments always appreciated.

 

Please view large.

 

Cheers

 

Randy

[The Swede]

A perfect shot, very beautiful;)

[Guest Foveola]

Thanks Jonas:

 

Lots of fun working these guys.  It was a very sunny day (unusual here this time of year) and the extra warmth had the butterflies being very active, so that many times I would be just settling in for a shot, and they would flit away.

 

No tripods/monopods allowed, so always struggling with getting enough shutter speed and DOF.

 

Cheers

 

Randy

[FrankF]

Wonderful details and colors. Great depth and structure in the leaf too..

[wildoat]

I think it's a superb image with excellent detail too.

[Eb Mueller]

I can't see any exif, but surmise that you got as good as it gets, nicely parallel to the subject.  Curious about the R1C1.  I have had mine for so many years that I tired of it and kept trying other lighting, sometimes a single SB-900 on a bracket attached to the tripod foot and elevated, diffused with a small soft box affair; sometimes, homemade "coffee cup" style diffusers.  I even made one of those for the R1C1.  The problem with diffusers of the "coffee cup" or tenting type is that they reduce the equipment to subject distance, a detriment.  All in all, the bare R1C1 with 2 or 3 heads is the most elegant and least intrusive solution, so well demonstrated here.  I presume the background lighting is purely ambient? 

 

I can talk but can't give any advice, since I would be happy with this shot if it were mine. 

[Guest Foveola]

Thanks guys.  Your thoughts are much appreciated.

 

Erb:  I too have tried multiple flash setups, with SB800s out on a Wimberly macro arm, etc., etc., but keep coming back to the R1C1.  It is an elegant tool for sure.

 

Background illumination is a combination of ambient (sunny day) and a bit of the flash making it that far back.

 

Cheers

 

Randy

[Chris Wahl]

Wonderful Randy!

[Guest Foveola]

Thanks Chris:

 

There is something magical about butterflies!

 

Cheers

 

Randy