WOW! Thanks everyone! ... I was in sort of a slump so this feels like a great rebound. Set-Up: A brittle dead butterfly is not the most cooperative prop - I had this guy hanging from fishing line for much of this shoot (a pin through his body attached to fishing line that is), but the just wasn't giving me the right effect. Due to the fact that his body and legs were only partially there, I needed to hide this fact - hence the shadow covering the incomplete part. I ended up holding the pin by hand and cloning out the very tips of my fingers in the end - they might have actually been cropeed out -it's tought to tell.
LIGHT SET-UP: One flexible desk lamp, one directional utility lamp, and the flourscent light in my basement -this took me a while to get right - The more the light came from the side, the more dramatic - but I had to make sure the wings were well lit !
I had a smoke machine about a foot away and activated the button with my foot as I used the camera remote for the shutter (camera on tripod). The smoke mahine is probably the hardest to control for something like this where you just want a little steam :] ... I had a second tripod to hold the clip-on utility light and originally to hang the butterfly from. Anyway -I really liked the idea of using an iron and I really wanted to give the butterfly another shot - the shoot took about 1.5 hours to get it just right and the post was pretty simple compared to many entries. I love the RED RIBBON position - RIGHT in the CENTER of the page!
--PS: I found this butterfly serendiptitously on a sidewalk while shooting a photo for another photo contest - he was already dead and in perfect condition (til I got through with him) - But he's probably more famous than most monarchs so I don't feel too bad :)
Statistics
Place: 2 out of 134 Avg (all users): 7.0852 Avg (commenters): 8.4500 Avg (participants): 6.8226 Avg (non-participants): 7.2281 Views since voting: 18397 Views during voting: 410 Votes: 176 Comments: 50 Favorites: 32 (view)
I love this shot. While it makes no sense at all (LOL), I just love the softness and color of the butterfly against the steel muted colors of the iron. Would have gotten a 10 from me. Congrats on the ribbon!
"Great Job.", I agree with the last comment "Cool" idea with a hot subject.
Just like the band's title, it was suposed to show the juxtaposition of their diverse musical sounds or in life. This is a very emotive composition of two dissimilar objects. Like opposites attract and must exist. Color and almost desaturated iron. Definitely meets the challenge description. Is the monarch's name "Iron-ic"?
Butterflies are tough as Iron. This Monarch is "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" now.
Yes, It's October again. A great month for flying objects becoming winners. Is it? Remember "White-on-White", a year ago? #14 must be a lucky number, too.
Congrats on another great placing for a really fine shot. Must be something about the name 'Davidson'. LOL. Now you are ahead of me ribbonwise. :) Keep up the great photos.
Oh poor pretty baby! This is a good idea and well executed. Love the gray's, the steam and the splash of color. Delicate meets industrial. Back to bump to 8.
This probably would have done really well in the contrast challenge. I don't quite see the connection between the two, but the title sort of explains what you were thinking. Overall excellent image!
Great idea, your lighting and composition are superb! I like the steam. You didn't use a living butterfly here, didn't you? I just hope everyone knows who iron buttefly is/was...
'Iron Butterfly' Rejected Album Art idea #14
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