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Morph
Morph
MaryO


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Collection: 31 Day 2012 Retrospective
Camera: Nikon D700
Lens: Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR
Location: Springfield, VA
Date: Aug 19, 2012
Aperture: 16.0
ISO: 6400
Shutter: 1/125
Galleries: Insects, etc
Date Uploaded: Dec 18, 2012

Viewed: 212
Comments: 6
Favorites: 0

 Tough photograph to process, because the lighting (flashlight held between my knees) was harsh, the environment was not photogenic, I was shooting though bars, I was at ISO 6400 and the subject was moving. But the process of the caterpillar morphing was INSANELY cool to watch! And certainly the highlight of this period. So I'm sharing despite the photographic drawbacks.

Backstory: several years ago I saw some Milkweed growing by the side of the road where I walk my dogs. It would have been mowed eventually, so I uprooted it and planted it in my garden when I got home. Last year it attracted egg-laying Monarchs but I never saw the caterpillars make it to butterfly stage. They might have, or they may have been someone's lunch. So this year when I had a bunch of caterpillars I made a cage over the Milkweed and covered it with screening (for the caterpillars to hang onto) and netting (to keep all the predatory bugs out). The first to morph managed it unwatched, so then I planted myself next to the cage and waited for hours till the next one transformed. It happens really fast, and they gyrate furiously in the cocoon to get rid of the old skin, and then get quiet while the cocoon hardens. Fascinating.

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AuthorThread
Nikon Z8
Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S
 12/21/2012 06:28:22 PM
very cool image - otherworldly
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS
 12/20/2012 01:59:02 AM
How very cool to be able to sit and watch this!! I like the shot - nice use of what I assume is a texture overlay.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Sony DSLR-A580
Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED
 12/18/2012 11:03:49 PM
Well, I kind of miss the dogs - but not much when you follow them with this amazing moment. Great back story, Mary. I knew it was a cocoon immediately, but didn't realize I was witnessing the brief period of the caterpillar's emergence until I read it. How big is this?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Canon EOS-5D Mark IV
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS II USM Lens
 12/18/2012 01:12:22 PM
Monarch chrysalis. Very good nature event to photograph.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 12/18/2012 11:51:42 AM
Wow I bet that was amazing to watch.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko
 12/18/2012 10:00:36 AM
I was really trying to figure out what his was without reading your description. Once you know what you're looking at it seems so obvious.

Your patience paid off before it's definitely a unique photo.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
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